Good night's sleep, sun streaming into tent, lake like a millpond, the wind soon got up but from a different direction. decided we will stop a few nights. A fellow camper (Mary) told us how to find the library in Colac so we can finally update the blog and she said plenty of op-shops so hopefully can get some new books. The colombian family brought ove a bag of groceries to us as they are giving the campervan today, (tomato sauce, blackberry jam mmm) which was kind of them. Went off into colac and eventually found the library, brought the blog up to date with photos as well, took nearly 2 hours. Drove into town and parked outside an auto shop where Colin got a small grease gun and grease ($40). Found a bakery and bought a pasty and a pie then sat in park to eat, they were full of flavour, then went to camping/hardware shop on way back to Landrover, managed to get poles for awning. Back at camp after a cuppa colin used his new grease gun and greased all the propshaft joints (he's moving a bit better now!) and put some grease in gear box as well, no drips from diff-hooray. Had a shower but the wind kept it a bit chilly. Had a walk after dinner and chatted with neighbours. Everyone we meet loves the TV programme Escape to the Country, don't think they watch anything else, maybe Grand Designs.
7 January Saturday
It is sunny/cloudy with slight wind this morning, view is great, we have been watching our elderly neighbours packing up their caravan, it has been a hoot. They have a small trailer as well with doors at both ends, she had packed the trailer but was unable to lock the door properly at the back, he went to the other end and packed some more stuff in which then proceeded to push an empty container out of the back door, wish we had a video of it. Colin did some more maintenance of landrover, greasing etc then we just spent some time chatting with neighbours. A volunteer fire ranger stopped when he saw landrover and told us how to get to Red Rock Lookout, which overlooks Lake Caragamite (2nd largest inland salt water lake in Oz) had dinner out of tins tonight, spuds with mince and veggies followed by fruit and custard (getting our 5 a day). started to rain and wind getting up before bed.
8 January Sunday
It blew a hooley last night with a fair bit of rain. sun out but wind still gusting. Went out to a market at Birregurra and bought a cucumber then found an op-shop (charity) and found some books. Decided to drive back to Red Rock Lookout, amazing views
the area used to be volcanic thousands of years ago and you can still see the craters,
can see for miles over the lakes.
Took different road back to camp and even found a dirt road.
Nice post-box
Got back to find the wind had knocked one of the tent poles over. There are waves across the lake and Colin has put some more pegs around tent, you can see the toilet tents bending in half in the wind, Maurie (nbour) says forecast is severe gusts up to 40 knots easing later this arvo. Hope so as we are sat in landrover out of the wind and it is being rocked. The caravan owners are taking down their awnings and toilet tents. Just had pancakes for dinner and went to bed to keep warm.9th January Monday
The wind finally eased off, never been in anything like it. Cloudy this morning and Rose has trousers on, wind not so bad . Decided as long as not windy will leave camp tomorrow. Mundane day, went into Collac charged computer at library then into town food and fuel shopping. Colin suggested whilst in town we visit a couple of cheap $ shops(he needed cotton buds). By the time we got back to camp more blue sky than clouds but still very gusty winds. After dinner of stir fry and garlic bread(done under grill) had a short walk then bed, its warmer.
10th January Tuesday
The wind died down in the night but had a bit of rain. Putting the tent away in sunshine then it decided to rain again, Ozzie weather cant make up its mind up what to do. Left site after 10 after saying goodbyes. Arrived at Winchelsea and fan belt went(good job we had a spare), fitted fan belt only to find out bearing was knackered in adjustment pulley. A nice man(Glen Orchard) in a white van took Colin away and they got the old bearing out Then went to buy a new one, we are parked next to a company called Knuckleys who are agricultural engineers where they went to get the new bearing(what luck) Colin came back with bearing, business card and a bottle of beer. we are meeting so many nice people. Back on the road again and heading for Anglesea missing out Torquay, going across country via Moriac. Popped into info centre at Anglesea for local maps of the Great Ocean Road. The scenery is stunning and different around every bend,
good job lots of lay byes. We stopped at Aireys Inlet and walked up to Split Point Lighthouse
from there you can see Eagle Rock Marine Sanctuary.
The GOR is the worlds biggest memorial. It was hand built by returning WW1 soldiers in honour of their fallen comrades and officially opened in 1932. There is a memorial arch across the road at Eastern View.
The houses overlooking the ocean seem to be clinging to the side of the hills(they must cost a fortune).
Camped for night at Big Hill Campground north of Lorne in the Great Otway National Park, only put out Awning so will sleep in L Rover tonight. Campers coming in thick and fast. Started raining at 5pm but no wind under trees. There is a bloke in a small camper van parked on a slope and he has cooked a dinner with his cooker on a slant-amazing.
Campsite now full, so many coming in and driving away. But some are pitching tents on slopes
(should be fun in the night).
11th January Wednesday
Rained all night, glad not in tent. Trying to be sunny then rainy again, even had hailstones. Of the tents pitched on a slope only one remains, it seems they slept in car and tent blew away to our side of the site(great fun). The young couple next to us have just rolled up their tent into a carrier bag and thrown it into their car, took pity on them and made them a cuppa to try and warm them up. Finally left site(now muddy) and drove on Mount Sabine Rd to Erskine Falls.
They advise you not to take trucks/caravans down the access road, can see why, very steep. When we arrived at car park we had to use the parking barriers as our brakes(oops). Walked to the Falls, very pretty, surrounded by rainforest.
Back at car park got talking to an Irishman from Killarney who had to stop at the L Rover(as Colin says nobody stops to talk to us they stop because of the Land Rover). Sorry Mick and Lisa he didnt think much of the Irish in Wexford, they are nearly English. Left and drove into Lorne for a walk around, it is a pretty seaside town. Waiting for Colin outside loo's when the heavens just opened with hailstones.
We thought we were in Austalia!!!!! When it stopped we walked around the shops and bought a sheet in an Op shop then had a pie and cup of tea for lunch. Restarted our drive along the GOR, there are not enough words for just how amazing it really is
(thanks Dodsey), the road hugging the cliff side and with wind today the surf is stupendous.
You have to keep stopping to take photos,
even saw some seals at one point. We decided to look for camp site with cover and found free camp ground at Aire River East in the National Park, it is a lovelly spot. When we got tent out it was a bit wet from the rain, but didnt take long to dry in the sunny spells. Had a walk after dinner up to bridge across river, on way back stopped to chat with a couple of Geordies who have hired a campervan. Camp site filling up slowly.
12th January Thursday
Lovely nights sleep, heard a Koala in the night. Colin said had a bit of rain. Finally had breakfast at 10 30 after long chat with Geordie couple, gave them details of camping at Warrnambool Showground. Clouded over a bit as morning has gone on. Eventually got moving and drove to Cape Otway Lightstation, on the road people had stopped and stood in road taking photos of Koalas, there are quite a few in the gum trees(Koalas that is). Didnt go into lightstation as it was $17.50 each so just looked in shop and bought a sticker for Colin(lots of people complaining about cost). Drove back along GOR to Glenaire then drove to camp along Sand Rd.,it skirts around Lake Costain which has no water just fields with cattle in.
Didnt do a lot rest of day.
13th January Friday (do we feel lucky)
As of today we are going to start a Friday fact about Australia.
Fact:- The Great Ocean Rd is the biggest war memorial in the world.
Packed up and left site by 9.30, back on the GOR,
weather mixed. Just past Moonlight Head we dropped onto the Old Ocean Road, it is a dirt track that drove round an underground lake in parts, made a change from tarmac. Rejoined GOR at Princetown and stopped to see the 12 Apostles
(raining) then onto The Arch,
London Bridge
where the plaque showing your position and the coastline was the wrong way round,
it is back to front like a negative,then we drove onto the Grotto,
it is really an amazing coastline
and the weather is improving(no jumpers or raincoats). Stopped for lunch at Peterborough in a car park overlooking the beach,
started to rain again. Onto our camp site for the night at Warrnambool Showground, not bad $20 for the night with electric hookup and proper toilets and hot showers. Walked into town, just under 2kms,Found Aldi and treated ourselves to a bottle of wine $2.49 and a bar of chocolate(same price), yummy. had dinner and wine Colin pissed Rose happy. If there is anything sad about today its because its the end of the Great Ocean Road apart from that Friday 13th has been a good day.
No comments:
Post a Comment