Ross’s birthday – woo hoo.
An early morning wake up call courtesy of the turd family opposite who though it a good idea to break camp in their giant rental motor home at 5.00am. For 30 minutes, they sounded like they were loading 40 boxes of packaged Arsehole, and dancing around in wooden clogs.
Then they thought it was a good idea to warm up the diesel motor home and leave it idling whilst they finished making an arse of themselves with other packing.
Ross got a chocy bar and a surf book, and surprise bacon and egg breakfast to start what was beginning as a glorious day.
After breakfast we headed off to the tourist attraction A Maze “n” things, which is a place chock full of puzzles and optical illusions along with a putt putt and 3D maze.
The first thing that strikes you at A Maze “n” Things is the wonky house with a huge tap hovering over the roof, filling the house with water pouring out the windows. 
It seemed at first impression to be a little expensive, but after spending almost all day there it turned out to be good fun and relatively good value.
There were tilting rooms, false perspective rooms and other clever and entertaining exhibits, most of which are interactive … including a barbed wire and spider toilet seat.
Ross tried the vertical drop slide, but couldn’t convince Barb she should have a go
Barb was almost channeling Captain Short Beard with this one ….. what the hell are those eyes in the port hole.
After A Maze “n” Things we headed to Smiths Beach, a surf beach, for a walk and then to The Nobbies for a look.
Smiths Beach was a great beach with some nice waves, but the water was arctic. There was a school group having surf lessons on the beach, so we nonchalantly strolled up close to listen in and maybe get some tips for free.
At The Nobbies, there were signs everywhere about eco this, conservation that, fauna protection blaa blaa blaa. The old worn out boardwalk was partially closed for repairs, there were at least two dead penguins lying rotting next to the track, too many dead gulls to count along with take away rubbish in the so called protected regeneration areas.
It was really disappointing and another example of “cashing up” being covered up by riding on the conservationist coat tails. The Fairy Penguins are an internationally known tourist draw card. When a whole industry revolves around these little guys, and a lot of people pretending to care, it was embarrassing and a little disturbing to see the carcasses of the little cash cows being left to rot in public view.
The coast along the Bass Straight side of the Island is powerful, rugged and rough, and mesmerizing to look at.
We headed back into Cowes for a fish and chip dinner on the beach to cap off Ross’s birthday activities. Poo Poo Head did his best impersonation of Laura Ingalls form Little House on the Prairie.
Just a chip off the old block … the Poo Poo Head found some real treasure on the beach.
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