3 June 2023 - Mornington to Barwon Heads (by ferry)

Up betimes to discover a damp drizzly day. Only the second time in 39 days that we have encountered any quantifiable rain!

The Prop, in his wisdom (some would say cowardice) decided to avoid having to drive around Port Phillip Bay - and thus, through Melbourne - and decided to take the Tadpole and Mrs P on the vehicular ferry between Sorrento and Queenscliff.

Taking the coastal road from Mornington to Sorrento we first passed through Safety Beach which is undergoing rapid redevelopment. Many of the old "fibro" shacks that formerly fringed the coastal road have been "dropped" (as property developers would say) and have been replaced by some pretty ordinary architectural specimens that that put budget over style.

Examples of what passes for architecture in Safety Beach

Then through Dromana, Rosebud, Capel Sound and Rye before reaching Sorrento.

The coast between Rosebud and Rye consists of one semi-continuous caravan and camping park stretching over about 10 kilometres! Most of it was closed - it being the off-season- but one can only imagine the huge influx of temporary inhabitants that invade "the Peninsula" in the high season.

In the Prop's mind, Sorrento (Vic) is inextricably linked with the song by Tina Arena (formerly Tiny Tina Arena)

See:https://open.spotify.com/track/29PjjyolSTf3pWgPxEFYE2?si=HAqakhfSQmy0-wudXqwoew&context=spotify%3Atrack%3A29PjjyolSTf3pWgPxEFYE2

Sorrento - nice but not the one in Italy

The Tadpole lined up and waiting for the ferry

The Tadpole safely aboard the ferry - but disaster awaits!

On board the ferry

It is at this point the Prop is bound to make an admission against his own interest. 

In an uncharacteristic episode of neglect, the Prop failed to bring the keys to the Tadpole with him when he vacated the vehicle. Put shortly, the Prop locked the keys to the Tadpole INSIDE the Tadpole with no spare key to be had anywhere in Christendom!

Long story short, despite the best efforts of some of the ferry operator's best amateur car thief's, the Prop had to consent to them breaking the passenger side quarter vent window in order to re-gain entry to the Tadpole!

Running repairs - duct tape and a plastic bread bag

Frankly, the Tadpole deserved better than this. 

Happily, thanks to Google, the Prop has been able to find a replacement quarter vent in Brisbane which he can fit upon the Tadpole's return home.

Upon arrival at Barwon Heads Caravan Park we discovered possibly the only caravan park in Australia that has an Australian Rules Football ground in the middle of it! 

More surprisingly still, when we arrived there was a game well underway between the local Barwon Heads side and nearby Anglesea.

A traditional country AFL match with supporters seated in their cars around the boundary

Barwon Heads v Anglesea. Barwon Heads won by 30 odd points.

Im-perfick!