Early
Unlike the week days I had to get out of bed this morning as I was meeting a group from the tri club in the park. Getting out of bed when you have a reason to is no easier that getting out of bed when you don’t. It just happens quicker
Meeting
I met the group at the club rooms. There were a few more than last time and one new member. The new member seemed very keen and looked to be quick. I felt that she probably wouldn’t align with my more haphazard way of doing things
Ride
We did a route similar to last week. We went down the highway to the end and then turned right to head up to the port via the sea front. At some point after we hit the coast road I hit the front and started pulling. I was on my mountain bike again so I didn’t feel that I would be on the front for long. After a while I looked back to see that the train only consisted of two others. They were quite happy to sit behind and make use of me as a great big fat windbreak. We carried on to the port, there were some of the fast boys out in front and some slower ones in a group behind. We waved at both as we entered and exited the port.
Return
The other two decided that we would take a slightly shorter route back to town. I didn’t have a problem with this as it meant that someone else would have to take the front as we neared town. I didn’t even mind that they would have a tail wind.
Sustenance
I ordered a vanilla cream filled doughnut and a large hot chocolate. The doughnut was inhaled and the hot chocolate was drunk too fast to appreciate. I’d forgotten to eat breakfast and I’d not taken enough water with me. I’d like to think that it is just part of the acclimatisation proves, but I have always been this poorly prepared
Café
There were a few more people at the café this week so it was nice to be introduced to some new faces. They all seemed very pleasant in a focused triathlon sort of way.
Plan
Loved One had a plan. She felt it was such a lovely day that we should go to the wildlife park and look at animals sleeping in the sun. I thought this was a wonderful idea but my legs were objecting to the possibility of standing for the rest of the afternoon. I over ruled them
Views
The park is up in the hills. It is so much easier to go up the hills in a car than it is on a bike. Being the passenger, I could look at the views too. It was wonderful to look down on the city and out to the gulf.
Flu
When we arrived, we were informed that the Koala cuddling had been cancelled as some of the Koalas had flu. I didn’t even know that they could get flu. Contracting Koala flu isn’t on my list of things I would like to do before I die, so I was quite happy to give it a miss.
Devils
We were in time for the feeding of the Tasmanian Devils. I was slightly disappointed that they didn’t look like Taz from the Warner Bros. cartoons. These ones were quite old as Tasmanian devils go. They bumbled around quite happily missing the food that the keeper was throwing at them. It was a bit like a Tasmanian Devil nursing home
Dingos
Next, we went to see the Dingoes being fed. These were much livelier. I hadn’t realised that Dingoes weren’t a native species. I guess that is one of the reasons these sorts of parks exist: to inform. I liked the look of the dingoes from behind the fence but I could imagine they would be an intimidating sight out in the wild, especially if they were hunting and I was the prey.
Birds
We stumbled across the feeding of the water birds next, it was obvious that something was going to happen as a small crowd of both birds and visitors had gathered. The giveaway clue though was the strange man wearing the volunteers’ polo shirt and muttering to himself. He had been present at the last two feedings, I doubt it was a coincidence.
Aviary
To me the best part of the whole trip was visiting the aviary. We had it all to ourselves. If we moved slowly and carefully the birds would start to ignore us and settle on perches close by. The array of colourful local birds here is just amazing. If only they weren’t so camera shy.
Emus
I’m convinced that an emu is an ungodly alliance between a compost heap and small dinosaur. Their bodies look like a pile of dying vegetation and their faces; let’s just say that they are full of malice and malcontent. I’m sure that I would steal my wallet at the first opportunity.
Kangaroos
I had the kangaroos eating out of my hand, literally. It helped that I had bought a small packet of food on the way in and that all the kangaroos in the park knew that. Some even sidled up suggestively before letting their true intent be known by nudging my pocket.
Wombat
I like wombats. I can never get over how big and strong they are. They look at one with themselves. They have the attitude that the world is there purely for their pleasure and they are going to exploit it for all it’s worth, in a minute, after a nap. There wasn’t time to play Wom with them though.
Echidna
The echidna was probably the least strokable cute creature that I have ever seen. It wondered around poking its nose into anywhere that there might be food. It seemed happy in the knowledge that no one was going to stroke its spines.
Wildlife
There were Kangaroos beyond the confines of the park. These I think were wild Kangaroos that had gained the knowledge that visitors would often leave with handful of food that they needed to get rid of. I was no exception. I had them eating out of my hand…