The main event of the trip to Australia was attending the opening round of World Superbike racing at Phillip Island. I'd heard many times that the race circuit there is the most beautiful in the world, and I have to admit it's the best I've ever seen in person (but I'd like to visit all the tracks in Italy, Portugal and Spain just to make sure).
The track itself is beautiful, flowing up and down hills with many long sweeping turns, and the coastline is absolutely gorgeous. Imagine Carmel, California, but instead of Pebble Beach golf course, someone built a racetrack there. Those Australians are geniuses!!
The racing was fantastic. In addition to the superbikes, the Australians raced some historic motorcycles that for an old man were gorgeous to look at.
In addition to the racing, Phillip Island is also famous for the "Penguin Parade". The worlds smallest breed of penguin (approx one foot high) lives along the coast, and nests at one particular beach. They feed all day and then at dark all swim ashore and waddle up to their nests in the sand dunes a couple hundred feet from the beach. It is an amazing site to see, and they waddled right by us without even noticing. Over 1000 penguins swim ashore each night. Here's a pic of what the little fellows look like...they are actually blue, not black; and also the beach where they came ashore about 45 mins before the parade began.
So that's about it regarding the vacation. In addition to the interesting animals and scenery, I also discovered I enjoy Aboriginal artwork. I hope you all get a chance to go somewhere fun soon.
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