Keep left to turn right!

I have just spent the day cycling round a city with possibly the most confusing traffic laws in the entire western world! At one point I was so confused by where I was meant to be that i cycled round the block 3 times - with the people in the cafe watching with increasing amusement. The source of my confusement is Melbournes famous right hook turn. Drivers wishing to turn right at certain junctions (not all - that would be too easy) move into the left lane and then wait in the middle of the junction until all other traffic has gone through before crossing the middle of the junction to turn right. to make maters more confusing cyclists are expected to follow suit at some junctions and are expected to utilise the pedestrian/cyclist crossing at other junctions (no warning as to which is which until you reach the traffic lights). Apparently the reasoning behind such madness is actually quite sound - Melbourne has quite a comprehensive system of trams (riding trams and buying tram tickets is also unnecessarily confusing), cars waiting on the left leave room for the trams to go through... needless to say this meant that as well as looking out for cars attacking me from the right to turn left I had to look to the left for cars going right!

Once I'd figured out how to turn right (I decided the safest option was to always get off and push!) i had quite a pleasant cycle ride down the river and then along the coast to St. Kilder. St. Kilder is a beach type resort suburb on the south of Melbourne. There is a beautiful Victorian pier with a kiosk (good for hot chocolate and shelter from the cold wind) and an old fashioned Blackpool like rollarcoaster! I found a gloriously foodie cafe on the Esplanade and settled down to a fish breakfast (highly unhealthy but really yummy). There is also an art and craft market there every Sunday which is why I set off to the beach with an overcast sky. I nearly purchased a fantastic painting of the Melbourne sky line and a really pretty didgeridoo, however sense kicked in as I mentally calculated the cost and hassle of shipping a 6ftx3ft canvas and a 3.5ft 'didge' home to England...

After I had exhausted St. Kilder (about 30 mins before the sun came out which would have made a beach day very enjoyable!) i left to cycle back to the river and to explore the Moomba water festival. this is Melbourne's largest free festival with everything from water skiing competitions (quite impressive), fun fair rides, kiosk food and the obligatory children's entertainers - (I was picked on by a man dressed in a gnome costume who made me dance to the bob the builder theme tune!) I then found the music corner and listened to quite a good swing band - I even danced without the help of the man in the gnome costume!

Yesterday was my Phillip Island trip mainly to watch the penguin parade. Every evening at sunset hundred of fairy penguins (now to be called little penguins because the gay rights activists complained to the Victorian parliament!) waddle out of the water and walk up to their nests. They are possibly the cutest penguins I've ever seen - thought admittedly my penguin knowledge is fairly limited!) Before they pluck up the courage to walk across teh beach (the most dangerous part as they are totally exposed) they get in and out of the water a couple of times. Its really quite funny to watch as they waddle out of hte water and then scurry back in only to be knocked over by a wave. Once they have plucked up the courage to wander across the beach they head up the sand dunes to their nests in the thick scrub bushes. Its amazing to think that these little birds know exactly where to go and are unperturbed by hundreds of tourists wandering amongst them and trying to take photos (photos aren't allowed as the flashes hurt the penguins eyes so I can't post pictures here :( ). The day trip also included cuddling a koala bear and trying to find wild wombats (I am a most unskilled wombat spotter!).

Oh well I have one more day in Melbourne before the great ocean road to Adelaide (via the Grampians too). I will probably not be able to update the blog on tour but I will keep notes. On another now I now have over 900 photos - I will be looking for volunteers to sit through the slide show when I get home ;)