Autralia Day Weekend

Happy Australia Day weekend. Australia Day is 26th jan. This year its the 220th anniversary of the landing of the first fleet in Botany Bay. The First Fleet being the first settlers (convicts mostly),

And I have found myself in Bright in the Victrian Alps. The weather has been very hot the last few days and I wanted to go somewhere that may have some celebrations but where I could also go for some walks. And I landed here. Happily this weekend is the one that they hold the Bright Alpine Audax (cycle races). www.bonjourbright.com.au. A series of cycle races up the rather large hills around here. 200K, 140K, 130K and 72K. The longest climbs up to Falls Creek - a 1000m climb then back into Bright and then up to Mount Bright another 1000m climb. And its 30C too. Bloody hard work. However, I am jealous and would love to be doing it becasue the roads are very alpiney in nature, long windy climbs.

The town of Bright , one again, was settled by pastorists and then they found gold. Not quite as much as Ballarat so its retained a kind of faring charm. It has had a french market, bands by the river and outdoor cinema. A fantastic weekend - my last in Australia!

Since Thursday I've done quite a few miles - 500 to be factual. I went to Philip Island and was not very impressed. It has a seal colony about 1K off the island which you could just about see with binos and also the penguins parade. However, the penguins parade was so commercialised it was untrue - worse than a zoo.

Went to the GP circuit hoping to get a go-kart around. Unfortunately as it is Ausralia Day weekend they had a vintage bikes festival on so no joy. It is a bit like Donnington Park, except for the spectacular camera angles as the track sweeps down to the sea.

Its sunday afternoon and I'm hanging around in Bright until later this afternoon then I'm heading North. Am going to call in on Canberra on Tuesday, Bondi Beach on Wednesday and drop the car off in Sydney on Thursday. I then leave for Bangkok on Sunday. More later!