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Island Hopper, Issue #045,, Water Challengers February 03, 2020 |
February 2020: Issue #045 Hello, Welcome to Island Hopper! I hope you will discover lots about Phillip Island and the surrounding area.
Water ChallengersFebruary on Phillip Island brings a few challenges for swimmers and surfers.The famous Channel Challenge will be held on February 8. Hundreds of competitors will swim across the channel between San Remo and Newhaven at slack tide, then run back across the Phillip Island bridge. Don’t miss this very popular event!
On February 22 there are more swimming challenges with the Cowes Classic which consists of a 500 metre swim followed by a 4 kilometre run through Cowes. The Classic is preceded by a beach aquathon, the Little Penguin Dash, for children aged 7 to 14. Also on February 22 is the Phillip Island National Surfing Reserve 7th Annual Surfing Teams Challenge. Teams consisting of different surfing styles and ages will compete at Woolamai Beach for the Dave Fincher Memorial Trophy. Watch some great surfing, bring a picnic or purchase food at the beach.
Food and WineI love Tex Mex food and was sad to see the closure of Tex Mex Panhandle on Thompson Avenue, Cowes.However, it has now become Sambreros, and still serving up the old favourites. The only thing missing is the kitschy décor of tex mex memorabilia and paraphernalia. After ordering drinks, we are served with complimentary salsa and corn chips – a reminder of when we were in Mexico – and a very welcome and lovely touch.
We are felling hungry so started with nachos – always a delicious favourite. We opted for the regular but you can add chicken or beef, beans or chile con carne if you want to really ramp things up! Being unable to decide on a main course, I order La Combinacion – enchilada, and taco with rice and beans. Of course, it was all way too much for me to eat but it was so good to be back!
French IslandThe recent bushfire on French Island, as well as the other fires around Australia, has made me think about our national parks and native wildlife.French Island is a special place, with access only via passenger ferry and, for the locals, a barge. The koala population on the island is special in that it is chlamydia-free – the only area in Australia. Koalas from French Island were re-located to areas around Kinglake after the Victorian Black Saturday fires in 2009 decimated the koala populations there. Let’s hope the fires did not have too much impact on the French Island koalas as they may be needed to help re-establish populations in other areas of Australia once re-growth is at a sustainable level.
What's On In FebruaryFebruary 1 onwards – Wild Sand Sculpting February 8 – Island Craft Market February 8 – San Remo Channel Challenge February 15 – Island Foreshore Market February 16 - Sunday Jazz February 22 – Cowes Classic and Little Penguin Dash February 22 – Phillip Island National Surfing Reserve 7th Annual Surfing Teams Challenge February 22 – Churchill Island Farmers Market February 22 – Market on Chapel February 28/March 1 – 2020 Superbike World Championship
Comments? Ideas? Feedback? I'd love to hear from you. Just reply to this e-zine and tell me what you think!
See you next month!
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