Here it is Wednesday already and tomorrow we will be off and heading to Traralgon to stop for a couple of days.  Yesterday we put the bikes into the back of the car and headed off to Paynesville which is just out of Brainsdale.  Paynesville is a lovely little fishing village, just the sort that you would see on that Escape to the Country show on t.v.  Could pick it up and transport it to the English seaside and it would fit in perfectly.  There were just so many boats in the marina down here, lots more than at Lakes Entrance.  Once again though, pretty boring if you don't fish.  There were plenty of signs pointing to the town centre but the ones pointing to the Raymond Island Ferry just sent us around in circles.  We eventually found it and parked the jeep and took the bikes across.  It is probably the only thing I have seen during our short travels that has been free.  $11 for cars but free for pedestrians and cyclists.  We took the trip across the treacherous waters in our stride, with Deb standing at the front of the ferry as if she was on the Titanic.  Very brave of her as the trip across the turbulent waters took us all of about 2 minutes.

Once on the island it was off to do a bit of exploring.  Deb put on her wildlife locating glasses and was just on fire when it came to picking out the koalas in the trees.  I think she got up to about 14 or 15 by the end of the ride.  I think I found about 3 or 4 but obviously I was more intent on  checking out the terrain, looking for other types of crawlies.  Her safety was much more important that finding koalas in the trees.  Also, being the tour photographer, I have other more pressing duties to keep track of.  Got some great shots of some koalas, the ones I found of course, and also of some birdlife.  We are becoming your modern day version of David Attenborough and wife.  Also checked out the local real estate and the houses on the island are reasonably priced.  Just not sure how you would go crossing every day on the ferry.  Maybe there are special rates for local residents.  The after hours call out fee for the ferry was $222.

 

It was now time to make the harrowing crossing back across on the ferry.  I am sure the waves were now up to 10cm but we toughed it out.  Coming back across we saw heaps of jellyfish at the side of the boat.  I attempted to get a photo of them in the water.  If you look hard enough you can see them.  They were about 20cm round and looked pretty awesome.  I am sure they were of the killer variety as they swarmed all around the sides of the boat but we remained calm.

We then drove around in circles trying to get out of the town.  No sign posts point towards Brainsdale, which I suppose is a good thing.  Anyway we eventually found our way and headed on back to beautiful Lakes Entrance.  I still had the 'devil' awning down from my recent calamities, which was a good thing as it rained over night.  The rain didn't deter the birds though.  I think about 6am this morning every bird in Lakes Entrance met up at the tree just outside our van for a squawking competition.  I think the mongrel kookaburras won, with their mocking laugh, closely followed by the most annoying thousand bird chorus of noisy little chirping vermin.

Aside from our early morning wake up call at least today the sun was shining and we just bummed around Lakes.  Probably caused by our lack of sleep.  Went for a ride this morning to the café and Deb spent part of the day cooking up some wonderful concoction in the Ecopot.  Just a relaxing day for our last day here.  Should be in bed by 6.