Port Campbell to Warrnambool, Ellerslie, and Ballarat

The day starts at Port Campbell after a great snooze and lie in. Again the weather is with us - rain that is.

Doll Heads displayed at the Port Campbell Tourist Information Centre found from ship wrecks.

The view of Port Campbell.

Well, who'd have thought such a little distance could take such a long time to travel.
So much to see:)))))))) Grotto, London Bridge, Bay of Islands, Bay of Martyrs, Crofts Bay, Boat Bay, Massacre Bay probably more.

London Bridge has fallen down

Kept watching the waves crashing on the coastline.

We had the tourist information staff laughing at Warrnambool when we said we'd had a busy day so far. We had left Port Campbell the largest suburb next door to Warrnambool and travelled 6 hours. The distance travelled way less than 100 kilometres lol. Too busy having fun, stopping every five minutes -  well it seemed like that anyway - to traverse the tops of the GOR coastline, take photos, gaze in absolute
adoration at the sights before us, and wonder at Mother Natures magnificence. So much in fact, anyone who asks, will get a descriptive monologue of everything you can see while driving on The Great Ocean Road.

Stopped in to the supermarket and picked up supplies for a picnic. Then there was the - do we stay here or do we gone on monologue. We decided to go on a bit further. On the top of the mountain range I was perusing the maps when His Lordship mutters - whoa- and slows the car. He thought there was a dog sitting in the middle of the very busy road. In fact, it was a weary looking adult male Koala!! Soft, grey fur fluttering in the breeze. All I could think was, please let the car coming the other way see it - we put our flashers on and pulled to the side of the road so other cars could see why we were stopped as we tried to usher him off the road. The other car coming towards us came to a halt - in the middle of the highway - and opened his car door onto the Koala's back pushing him on. He didn't move, so together with the other driver we scooted him off the road and into the line of gumtrees we could see some 200 metres from the road.  I hurried back and drove the still running car of the other person onto the side of the road as there were some big prime mover trucks coming up. The driver nodded in appreciation and both cars headed their seperate directions. Thats even closer than the last Koala encounter. Lucky for this one - he did not get run over.

At the side of the road at Ellerslie is an old bridge with the cleanest BBQ/Toilet and picnic area we have seen throughout our travels. So we stopped and partook our feast before travelling on to Ballarat.
Got onto a website to help us find accomodation for the night, booked it and stopped. Busy road though - a little noisy, but Lord S did not notice as as soon as his head hit the pillow he was out like a light :) Nite S No cuppa tonight - the proprietor forgot to give us milk.

Nite all :)) Till the moro comes

Sunday - There's Still Rain. Supposed to be Showers

What a day - yesterday was. Still on a high - pun intended - after flying above our Earth checking out The Great Ocean Road by air. My back pain is exacurbated - but worth it. Meds are used - as you can see by the basket - and the patches changed today - so there should be little residual pain. I am happy that Steve is also having a great time - hopefully not too much walking today as I don't have anything but a walking stick to help me along.. His Lordship says this is the best ever gift bestowed upon him - he says .....

We are off to see from the ground what we saw from the plane. The Twelve Apostles, then as far as time and our persons will take us. I hope to drop into the Cheese Factory and a wonderful Patchwork shop I have seen in magazines. I will take photos for you to see it too if I can. (Unfortunately its closed so I did not get to see inside :( )

Just about time to leave our lovely Beacon Point accommodation. Had the last of the croissants with coffee and juice this morning so that'll keep us going till later on. Had showers and feel refreshed and ready for the coming days activities and adventures. Everything is about to be packed into the car. Ooops neighbours - putting out the rubbish. Just as well we are dressed and ready to go LOLOL

Stopped in to see the Farmers Market at Apollo Bay this morning - MUM your Markets at Forster, NSW are amazing! Enough said ? A very little market with vegies, plants and displays of local cheese and wine.
Continuing our way along the GOR and the coastline to the west we came across so much - I must warn you all that a few days down here is so NOT enough. You need to add a week to see everything - because if you don't you are going to miss out on so many sights. And you have to keep stopping on and off because that coastline beckons you to view it - inclement weather as well. It lures you and pulls you to it.

Stopped to view Castle Cove - amazing - once again I have little descriptive words as you can see for yourself what you get to view....
We came upon another great town called Beauty Spot - must be a cool and wet place as the farmers fence posts are covered thickly in lichen. Stopped to see the ocean at Yuulon. A container Ship was visible in the distance. The locals here have the most amazing sights to behold. I imagine they get little done when working - butmost are grazing cattle.
The sun came out and I said to my hubby the words - sunshine and happiness - and we both started singing at the same time. Made us laugh.
Listen to it on the net - it soo fits where we are at the moment.
http://www.redbubble.com/people/kazm/works/1092814-sunshine-lollipops-and-rainbows



10 kilometres tro Princeton now ---- raining - again - but no Apostles here like we thought - its the start of the Twelve Apostles National Park. There is a couple of Cafe/Shops etc for information and coffee and heaps of accommodation. So close to seeing the Twelve Apostles. Am so excited as we have been waiting so long to do so. Four years of planning and four times we have had to cancel due to inclement weather - February and September four years ago, last year we had to take out holiday early and had to cancel due to family ill health and Christmas so thought February - nah that didn't happen - where we ever going to see the Twelve Apotsles and the GOR? Well this time almost got cancelled again as a family member needed help with accommodation. BUT we decided to help first but still go otherwise it wouldn't happen.

Want to live by the GOR and the coastline so close to the Apostles? Well there is 96 acres here for sale. - Southern Ocean Views the advertisement at the front of the block states.

Stopped at the Gibson Steps !!! FREEZING and blowing a right gale. Here we got to see - yes we are there - the First Apostle!!!!! WOW Further along the road is the official spot to stop, park and walk to the Apostles viewing platforms. OMG OMG OMG - you have to be there to appreciate them. Helped overseas visitors take photos of them and the Apostles behind them. So easy to understand the finger points to the button to ouch to take photos. Many thanks in different languages. Lovely to see people just smiling and sharing his magnificient sight, that we Aussies have in our 'backyards'. Spent quite a while gluing our eyes and etching what we see in our minds eye.

Back at the Kiosk many people buy coffee - we are all so cold! Rain on and off but helicopters offering all types of flights from $95 for 10 mins to hundreds of dollars for longer trips. Saw heaps of helicopter flights today. Didn't go on this one though - the weather was atrocious - I would have been a little to full of adenilin.

The sun and rain take turns in showing off what they could do whilst touring the Apostles. Was actually wonderful. Glistening drops of water and darkened rained filled clouds then sparkling sun complete with rainbows showing the various hues of yellows and ochres of the sandstone that makes up the Apostles.

I have no more words that can describe the beauty and magnificence of the Twelve Apostles. Not all can be seen at the same time as some hide behind each other and not all areas for viewing can enable the viewer to see them - unless you're in that helicopter I spoke of.

COFFEE!!!!!! Thanks to his Lordship who walked through the rain with my little purple umbrella to stand in line for coffee and banana bread (made locally at Timboon), though I know he was thinking of his tummy as it was approaching late morning tea time. LOL

Reddened noses from the freezing temperatures and eyes weeping from the cooling winds blowing across our faces - also icing our fingertips.. People from the 'world' gather here to share the beauty of our coast - I find this wonderful as there is no anomosity or dislike here.

Loch Ard and its hidden treasures were our next stop - where we seemed to lose time. Down came the rain again and we stood by some bushes sheltering from the icy side falling rain. Good smooching spot though - gotta warm up somehow. Here we spot more caves and soft sandstone. No wonder there are signs stating stay away from the edge or it could collapse and you will DIE! Yes it states that- so many people do not stay behind fencelines - we even saw a couple on one spot near Shearwater River and the waves crashed so high it almost caught them. Wonder they weren't dragged off by the waves - no-one could have saved them. We were about 500 metres away but there was a gorge & heathland between us.

At Port Campbell, I walked to the top of a rise for a photo op - no fences here - to find the edge - scary that. Took some pics and calm back to the car. Looked around and noted that the road stopped suddenly with poles in the middle of it - did it disappear at some time? Got to find that out tomorrow. Looking for accommodation because our short 100 kilometre trip has taken us 6 1/2 hours!!!! No wonder we feel hungry - what happened to lunchtime?

Stopped at the Port Campbell Tourist Centre - lovely display of ship wreck finds - to talk to a lovely lady about sightseeing and somewhere to stay for the night. If we travelled any further we would miss the Arch - well whats left of it and London Bridge - yep there is one apparently - a sandstone one - watch for that tomorrow, so decided to stop. Found accommodation and the manager  Mark - told us the pub just 500 metres away had great food. (He showed me through and turned on the air conditioner to heat up the room for us.  So we walked there after unloaded our baggage and sat companionably while we waited for the bistro to open.

Having troubles this evening at Port Campbell trying to upload as I can only get two bars on my internet reception - probably because we asre in the ,ain street at a lovely upmarket backpackers - in ?? Street. Nice clean and comfortable motel style accomodation with a comfy bed, small kitchenette and TV as well as a well appointed ensuite - not expensive and just what a busy traveller requires at the end of the day.

Had dinner at the pub - yum. Took a walk after tea towards the shoreline of Port Campbell where a new wall has been built to keep the sea from swallowing the lower township up. Pics tomoz as its a wee bit dark for moi to do. Had a fall - yep - that's my luck again. The walk to the waters edge is pavers and my luck was some sticking up and down I went.  Knocked the wind out of me as I landed on my right hand , knees - more off the right one - and my chest. LOL you say. I am still hurting. The local policeman just happened to be cruising the streets and stopped to see why this lady was laying down on the footpath with a man kneeling next to her - hubby. They helped me up and the very kind police officer offered us a lift back to the accomodation. We thanked him for helping. Hot shower and write up the blog was the agenda but the internet is so slow I may have to send in the morning.


http://www.redbubble.com/people/kazm/works/1092814-sunshine-lollipops-and-rainbows
Sunshine & Happiness lyrics
Like a beacon on the ocean, you guide my way
You replace that empty feeling, whats left to say
You just smile in times of darkness, that lights my day
Bringing joy inside of sorrow, on a holiday
Like a flower blooms in spring time, sweet and complete
Making my life worth the living, you set me free
A ray of light you shine so brightly for all to see
In the midst of stormy weather, you cumber sea
You are my sunshine and my happiness (4x)
In the middle of the evening, I'm all alone
Cuz im thinking bout you baby, I'm dying of cold
Searching and im always finding, the joy you bring
Cuz you're patient through the hard time, that makes me
sing
Many times within my weakness, you gave me strength
I give thanks for what you've shown me, you're heaven
sent
----------------

Nite all - sweet dreams - I reckon mine will be walking and viewing over and over agian the sights I have taken in today :))) Dee

Saturdays Adventures and what amazing ones they were!!!

What to do today? We planned to visit the markets in Apollo Bay and what else, well we hadn't planned though we had an idea but weren't sure if we could do it.

So we drove down to the 'markets' only to see four stalls in the carpark with little to look at. I know it was drizzling and wet the previous days but there were only dark clouds and spittles of rain today. I really thought there would be some great artesians work here to see :( 

Oh well - next plan? We thought hard about a helicopter trip as we had seen a sign at Marengo which is the next suburb along the GOR. SO we drove in and asked the young fellow there - Jay - what was on offer. We saw a small plane and thought aha. Is this what we would be going it. It was confirmed by the pilot. He shows us the map and explained which flights we could do with him, He told us the price which we were happy with and so we then chose the flightpath to The Twelve Apostles and back!

In the single engine Piper plane :) About to go! I was apprehensive, scared, excited and all other sorts of feelings were going through me.

Amazingly beautiful coastline GOR

Our first view of the coast was of the oceans shoreline. Places we would never have seen by car as the GOR doesn't get that close in some parts. The plane was jumping all over the place. The wind and the sea were taunting us. Ooops I hit my head and Lord Steve laughs. Jay our pilot explains the currents in the air, and I still keep my foot braced and my hand on the chair next to me for safety feelings. The adrenilin running through my body must have been at its peak, because I was scared but I was smiling with excitement.  Worked that one out. Just truly amazing and other words I can't even think about . WOW.

And then the Twelve Apostles :))))

We never imagined how beautiful the Twelve Apostles were. Words can not describe the feelings we had. I was now calm, happy, excited and feeling so small and insignificant when viewing the majesty of this coastline.

WOW WOW WOW OMGoodness !!!

Heads in the clouds

I had to take the photo of the clouds. It felt like we were walking among them. Soft, fluffy and very white. If this is what you can see from heaven, everyone will be happy to know.

Caves and sheer cliffs.

OOPs - hit my head on the roof.

Sometimes the gusts made the plane jump, in turn so did we. Laughing when my head hit the roof. Even with the seat belts on! I was safe and Jay checked on us that we were okay.

Approaching the Twelve Apostles.

About to land back at Marengo.

Amazing. Has 45 minutes passed already! We were having so much fun.

Dancing amongst the clouds

The adrenilin running through us has made us calmer than we could have possibly ever known.

Our plane

After the plane ride what more could excitre us?  Koalas!!!! A colony of Koalas were living in the trees above the road to Cape Otway. Eating there way through many many trees. You could see where they had been, A great concern though as the trees that they had eaten the leaves from looked like they all have died,

Koals colony on the road to Cape Otway

Give me that leafNOW!!! 

The walk to Port

The thirty minute walk seemed tro take ages. The trail was sigposted at the Great Ocean Road walk but we couldnt fint he one for Cape

The above pic shows the view to ....

Our journey took us throughOtway National Park to where we saw amazing rock formations on the shoreline. The beach was clean and oure with much seaweed. WQe spoke to a local man who was about to go fishing and he told stories of how he thought he had a great catch pnly to find he had caught a massive piece of kelp!

Blanket Bay Camping area

Rock formations at

The rock formations weree colcanic and sedementary, hard basalt pebbles that had been carried through an ancient river and thn ecame the rock you can see here

Again I say WOW

Lord Steve looks a little worried huh? LOL

Got his Lordship to stand near a great mound of rock, saw some waves coming in and let him know. He said hurry up and take the pic before I get wet and freeze woman!!

Our little dinosaur - Otto

ALong the trip so far, I have see 'Fairy Houses' at Triplet Falls, Hidden Caves near cliff faces of the shoreline and now the remnants of 'Otto" - only kidding. It certainly looked great enough to write about so I hae made him up to be my little dinosaur friend......maybe a friend of the fairies that live in Cpe Otway National Park :))

The adrenilin has abated nbow and this traveller is very weary. So again Goodnight and sweet dream to all

Dee

Day Four - Into the Hinterlands

Its still dark! So we snuggle back under the covers and wait till the light comes through the curtains. What's that you say? The curtains at my window seclude one inside and unless you open them, you don't know that its 5am or 7am. Woke up to birdsong amid the howling westerly winds. So, I opened the curtains and was happy that it definitely was a gale and not rain :))  Trips planned today was from Skenes Creek to Colac and back via Triplet Falls and Apollo Bay. There was a bit of rain along the way, but the day grew dryer as it went on. A little warmer in Colac than we thought it would be too.

At the top of Skenes Creek is Cape Otway National Park

Stephenson Falls were closed  :(  Flooding had almost ruined the camping area and is closed off till November 2012. Repair work is being completed for the Christmas rush I suppose. Well there was another we went to see as well, but the weather had beaten us. This caused Sabine Falls walk to be extremely wet and dangerous and was too difficult to traverse for me and another sign said a three hour return trip. So we headed to Colac Information Centre where the staff advised me which other falls were still open. Thanks to you both :)

At this juncture, we travelled towards Colac to see what it had to offer the traveller. Not quite what we expected - a big town but a quiet town - though we don't know what that was exactly. His Lordship went off to look at some things that he has a hobby with while I went looking for Patchwork or Craft outlets. Only found one in town - McMahons. You walk through the door to be greeted by window dressings, a little further in is the store and toward the back or is that side, I found what I was looking for.  Two more bits of fabric for my Victorian GOR Hexagonal Quilt and a pack pf lovely Moda Antiuque Rose coloured fabrics for similar...... not sure what to do with them at mo - just divine fabric for the stash :)) I also found a lovely pattern too!! The lady who served me said it was the last one and she was a little disappointed that I wished to buy it. Should have put that one away methinx.

McMahons Colac - Patchwork

After a bite tp eat we headed off back towards Binn Road to the GOR. So Triplet Falls was the destination and the advised time to complete the track to see them was a  2 hour trip! .  The sound of the water cascading downwards was amazing. To walk or not to walk? My head said maybe but the body said you have to be joking.!  So we set off, amazed by the scenery, and the coldness of the dampened forest. Guess what ? We finished it in two hours 15 minutes. Not bad with dicky tickers, and back and knee surgery go wrongs. I am very proud of myself that I did it and so is Lord Steve. Even he with his current medical woes was happy to see these beautiful falls. Mother Nature in her fury gave us such a show to behold. Well worth the trek. Can't believe how well this photo came out as I was a little tired with the ups and downs of the track. Invigorating really. Triplet Falls in all their glory though today there was actually Five seperate falls.

I found a very large tree and just had to give it a hug. Reciprocal really. It was begging to be hugged and I just had to oblige. The aroma of the eucalypt was truly uplifting. Around this area a gent called Mr Knott was the owner of a mill which he and his employees fell an amount of huge eucalypts for building.

You just had to be there and look up towards the sky. These trees are wonderful.

Heading back' to our accomodation we stopped to take in the vista of Apollo Bay - from the western side this time. The sun was abating though it gleamed upon the sea as I took this photo. Lovely huh?

Markets to come this weekend -  hope I can see and purchase some lovely local crafts and foodstuffs tomorrow. Then heading off to see some more of GOR coastline and probably the lighthouse at Cape Otway. We also have plans for seeing the remnants of the Twelve Apostles, a cheese factory and a chocolate factory. Will tell you more tomorrow.

Nite from the weary bodies - Dee

Day Three - The Bucket List continues ......

Well would you believe I had written half of my blog when I wanted to add a photo for you to drool on while I write more, and bang its gone. So to start again ........

Our comfy bed at The Grand Pacific

We woke this morning to another happy rainy day :)) LOL I took a few pics whilst the wind blustered around the pier and looked westward toward the ocean to see black forboding clouds. More rain and high winds forecast for the day. Just as well our travel is in a vehicle which has a roof - abliet a sun roof to peek out - and windows that close - lucky us. Lets continue on with this, our GOR trip - its on our bucket list.

Sunrise, the pier and pines at Lorne.

We headed into town to look for some brekky as our hotel didn't serve such through weekdays. Though they do supply a kettle, tea etc so you can have a much needed caffiene start to the days travels. Thanks for that. The town of Lorne dosen't wake up much before 9am though there are some great shops to window shop in. We happened upon a bakery whose window announced that they had the Apprentice Baker of the Year ensconded within. I think I met him as he ladened the shelves with chocolate filled pastries. I ordered two coffees - which were the best we have had for some time and an Apricot Danish for moi. ... yummo.

We headed back from whence we came as we wanted to take a pic of the entry point to The Great Ocean Road - now throughout our holiday to be known as GOR. We turned into the layby and was met not with just the sign across the road, but written and shown in a statue the whole reason the GOR was there in the first place.

From 1918 when our returned servicemen came back from World War 1, two gangs at a time, built the GOR. They worked tirelessly hewing and digging the road to make the road us Australians take for granted. I did not know till this point that the reason that the GOR was built was to re-assimilate these ex-servicemen back into society.  His Lordship and I said the same thing at the same time and that was , this is how they rewarded these men? By re-assimilating them this way? Hand picking and digging, slogging away - not many young men would do this now - as money came in to build.

A truly lovely tribute

There at the beginning of the road is a monument to these men and their tireless work. So our thoughts were very much with these men as we traversed this difficult start to the GOR. We stopped at the plaques dedicated to their work and read them with gusto.  Even though the sky was black in parts and the rain splattering against our window, we kept thinking about these WW1 men and what they had achieved so that we may enjoy the fruits of their labour. To them we say a heartfelt THANK YOU !!!
We will remember you every time we see our photos.

Along the GOR there are many plaques for the traveller to read. If you are visiting - please stop to read, you will be amazed at the information there.

Great Ocean Road in inclement weather

The rain had caused some land slips along the way and there were verious groups of workmen cleaning up, and it looked as they had been there for some time previous. We reached the township of Apollo Bay and stopped to take a peek at the Tourist Information Centre. Helpful staff there gave us maps and brochures of things to see and do for the coming days.  Lunch was freshly cooked fish and chips (the fish rolled in rice flour for everyone and much appreciated by me since being diagnosed as a Coeliac) - Butterfish :)) Yummo.  After sitting at the beach which had been beaten by furious Mother Nature in the days preceding, we ate lunch and then we headed off to our accomodation for the next few days - Beacon Point Ocean View Villas. And they did not disappoint - Have a look below at the view from our deck. We can see the same from the bed in the main bedroom and the lounge dining area. Gorgeous!!

We were given breakfast supplies for the time we are at this accomodation, as well as a welcoming bottle of wine from a local winery. Thank you again. We shall enjoy that one evening. The villa is well appointed with everything you need - comfy bed, premade for the tired traveller. This was not expected as we thought we had to bring our own linen, so bonus :)) Coffee grains for perculating sat in the fridge - will go nicely with brekky. There is even a dishwasher, washing machine and BBQ. As the weather was turning cold and starting to rain again, his lordship loaded up the fire, after fixing the fire door handle (theres more) - funny work always seems to comes with us - we sat and gazed into the flames like mesmerised butterflies. I chanced to look out the window towards the deck and a little wren came to say hi.. So close to the window, dashing and darting about, I had to keep up with it to get a photo. Shortly, the wren was joined by two others and I truly enjoyed watching them.

Planning tomorrows journey at the moment while Lord S snoozes. The fire is still glowing and keeping me toasty warm while blogging.  Hoping you are enjoying my travels with me. Till tomorrow ......

Dee :)

(Please excuse the pics cloudiness - I am an amateur photographer - but keen. You can get the idea though of the beautiful scenery)