I escaped catalogue tat picking and packing and went to Bathurst for the famous Bathurst 1000 V8 supercar racing. It was fantastic, a massively hot day, about 60-70,000 other people, lots of cars, great atmosphere and a 7 hour race all viewed from the aptly named Mount Panorama. That was last Sunday. Monday I flew to Melbourne and have been staying with Ernie in his beautiful but as yet unfurnished flat with a fantastic view of Port Melbourne and the beach accross the road. For those of you that don't know Ernie he has just been lucky enough to have been transferred from his job in London out here for 2 years. It beat any backpackers but I must say I have never had an ensuite floor before..at least it had carpet! Tuesday was 32 degrees - that's very hot with no ozone layer to protect you...and it's only spring. So I decided to paddle for 15km's up the beach in the blazing heat..obviously! Great tan and great to be able to stop and swim in the sea to avoid sunstroke! Wednesday I went on a tour down the Great Ocean Road to the west of Melbourne. Stunning beaches and views of rock coloumns out in the sea. Amazed by 6 American girls on the tour who read their books the whole time.......look at the views..!!! Yesterday (Thurs) went on a tour to Phillip Island. Now this was both good and bad. It was great, I held a 15kg 'baby' wombat (about the size of a 2 year old and the weight of two!). Went to the Penguin Parade which happens just after sunset every evening when the small blue penguins come ashore to their nests. Quite humbling to be so part of nature, very difficult to describe. As I said this tour was also bad. Bad in the way that being a nonce It didn't occur to me when I booked my flight back to Sydney that the Motorcycle GP is on at Phillip Island this weekend. Gutted!! There were bikes everywhere, I so want to see it...so I shall have to join everyone else and plonk myself down in front of the tv and watch the race....doh! Today I have been footling around Melbourne city. It's a great city in that it has lots of history and lots of little lanes. I've even been to the cottage Captain James Cook grew up in - of course it was transported from England as part of Melbournes Centenary celebrations! And I went on a tour around the Victorian Parliament. Every state has its own parliament and own laws. Back up to Sydney this evening then on to Byron Bay on Sunday night en route to Surfers Paradise where the indy cars and V8 supercars will be racing in a weeks time...not that I'm a petrol head or anything.....!