This morning we were up early; we walked to a little café
for breakfast, then Ray went off in the hotel shuttle to pick up the rental
car. We set off for Adelaide via The Great Ocean Road around 10:30 a.m.
After a few “circles” on and off the highways, we managed to
get on to the M1 and head to Geelong. Do you ever feel as if you are incapable?
Sometimes the roads come up so quickly and in amongst so many signs neither one
of us is able to interpret the direction in time. Then you get stuck on a
highway for ever until an exit comes up, then you find you can’t get back on
the highway in the opposite direction, and you end up in circles! Life gets
complicated, and you just have to stop, think, chill, and follow your instinct!
Anyway, reason won out and we found our way back to the M80 that led on to the
M1 heading to Geelong!!
The first part of the drive to Geelong was nothing special;
motorway in great condition; characterless countryside that could be the 401 or
any highway through flat lands. Just
before Geelong we pulled into an Information Centre and met Terry. He was
amazing. Gave us a very detailed
description of The Great Ocean Highway into Adelaide. Have I told you about the
“Information Centres?” There is a very informative tourist information system
throughout this part of Australia. We haven’t figured out whether it is
federal, state, or municipal, but it is terrific!! They have brochures
galore…..and anyone who knows me, knows that I love paper; I have a bag of
“paper” that I have collected over the journey to date and it must
weigh…..well…..it is heavy!! The good thing about our trip to Africa was there
was no paper information on their various “tourist” sites, but here in
Australia the information is first class. The Information Centre staff are extremely knowledgeable about all
the local activities and great places to visit; and they book accommodation for
you. Terry is a volunteer, and gave us down to earth, honest information! Thank
you Terry.
We slid off the highway at Geelong and drove through the
industrial area before reaching the waterfront. There is an amazing track along
the front that was well used by runners and walkers. We walked out into the
ocean on the Cunningham Pier. When our way was blocked by restaurants, we
realized this was a private pier, and they capitalized by providing a “car park”
down either side of the pier. It was a pleasant walk, and the shoreline was
very interesting, but we are not really into big towns.
We continued our journey along the Great Ocean Road into
Torquay. This is definitely a surfing town! It was modern and had a long flat
beach, posted with “Danger” signs! And surfers galore, paddling their way out
through huge swells to find just the right wave to ride in on. Amazing to
watch, but do you ever think how they, the surfers, think? To the onlooker they
look so vulnerable stretched out on their
surfboards paddling straight out into the wild ocean, but in their minds they must
feel invincible! They are powerful, strong, fit, people, and lying on their
boards, bobbing up and down in the ocean, they must feel they own the
waves!! I would love to have their
courage, and self confidence.
Next we investigated Bells Beach and Bones Road! More
beautiful, deep blue, and aqua ocean, and surfers….and para-sailors.
In Anglesea we sought out The Anglesea Golf Club….and Terry
was right!! From the parking lot of the golf club we saw kangaroos galore!!
They were mixed in with all the golfers! I had’t realized how noisy they were;
it is sort of a dog bark but it is a kangaroo!! And…..they “hop” all over the
place; slightly ungainly looking, but none the less an effective gait.
Then it was off to Aireys Inlet and Split Point Lighthouse
built in 1891 and still operating today. The scenery around the lighthouse was
overwhelming with great ocean views looking directly out to Tasmania.
As we entered Fairhaven, we stopped for a few moments at the
Memorial Arch. The Arch commemorates the building of the Great Ocean Road as a
memorial to people from Victoria who served in WWI. The Arch was built by 3000
ex-service men at the end of the war. It was simple, but exquisite.
Then we continued our journey on the Great Ocean Road, one
minute down at sea level where you thought the ocean might cover the car, and
the next soaring up through the “S” bends to the top of cliffs and great views
over the ocean. And thus we found ourselves in Lorne around 6:00 p.m. and
decided to stop for the night. We have a nice-enough and comfortable apartment
at The Anchorage Hotel Villas.
While waiting for Ray to pull the car into the motel I had a
lovely chat with Olive. She was about 4 and was having a wonderful holiday with
her parents. She proudly told me her Mom was at the supermarket. Her Dad
remarked that this was a new-found skill to “talk” to strangers….especially
women…so we discussed favourite colours, and favourite names, and she told me
about her swimming and the fact that she didn’t live here…..she was lovely!! A
very precious moment!!
So we followed her mother’s example and went off to the
supermarket and bought dinner, and breakfast, and lunch. Came back to the
apartment and cooked dinner and thoroughly enjoyed our home cooking once again.
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