We've been on the road for several days and have been
pleasantly surprised to find older motels in small communities that have been
updated, are clean and reasonably priced. Greg has this driving down pat.
Except he keeps turning on the windshield wipers to signal turns. Yes, I laugh.
Every time. Kilometer after kilometer we've noticed few billboards...and most
of them are PSAs regarding safe driving habits.
We passed through Melbourne on our way to the Great
Ocean Beach Road which we drove from Torquay to Port Campbell. At Bells Beach
we watched the surfers and I couldn't help but think of you, Jacob. Also
stopped at Addis Point and Split Point lighthouse.
Best serendipity happened after we stopped at Teddy's
Lookout to snap a shot of the road. We were a bit butt-tired so decided to
stretch our legs in the adjoining park full of eucalyptus trees. Y'all, it
smells so great walking among eucalyptus trees!
I was looking up when all of a sudden Greg stopped
dead in his tracks and started pointing ahead. I couldn't imagine as he was
pointing about eye level. It WAS a koala! We approached slowly and got fairly
close to this old guy before it even started shimmying up the tree. What a fun
creature to watch.
I was thinking anything else for the day would be
gravy. The next stop on our itinerary was Cape Otway Lighthouse, the oldest in
Australia. Well, they were closed so we had to hike a ways to get a glimpse.
Check. Got back in the car and as we were driving down the access road we
noticed more furry marsupials beginning to move about in the tree tops. Counted
another 8-10 koalas. Fun.
One last stop at the Twelve Apostles (limestone
formations) before calling it a night in Port Campbell.
Happy Halloween! First stop was the Grotto. Man, this
ocean drive has been one stunning coastline view after another. Made an exec
decision today--not going to try to spend a day on island of Tasmania. Going to
turn north instead and drive until we see some outback. How can we come to
'stralia and not?
A bonus between the coast and some true wasteland
desert are the Grampians. Drove the southern road and stopped at Brambuk
Aboriginal Culture Center. Got a veggie pastry and ice cream then tackled the
north west corner. Boroak Lookout was sweeping and
Mackenzie Falls...well...they were pretty swell. It's
just that the weather changed since I last checked it. Hottest day so far and I
dressed for a cool, rainy day. 750 meters, steeply downhill. No problem.
Uphill, whew, about overheated. There should've been a cheering section at the
top to welcome folks back.
We tried to visit a very off-the-beaten path Ngamadjdj
aboriginal rock art station but it was closed due to a recent bush fire.
Consolation prize was seeing two more kangaroos and an emu.
Stopped for dinner in Warracknabeal and booked at the
ONLY hotel in Hopetoun. Hope everyone gets more treats than tricks.
Few more pictures: https://picasaweb.google.com/115749256765182993897/DownUnder
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