Mar 2. The Great Ocean Road.

It's was a pretty early start to the day as we gathered in the parking lot of a local college to pack a van for the trip along the Great Ocean Road. Our route looked like this.

It was about 570 km of driving and took us about 12 hours in total. Owen did a great job behind the wheel and Jan and Andrew had brought along lots of food and drink, so we were well looked after.

The Great Ocean Road starts in a place called Anglesea where we made our first stop for morning tea. It has a nice little park that were were told was usually packed with tourists but because of travel restrictions (and general fear) we had it pretty much to ourselves.

There were some interesting mini climbing rocks we know some grandchildren would like and I talked to a group of young people who were waiting to teach school kids to surf as part of their school program. Much like we do skiing at home.

Climbing rocks

Wet suits and Surf Boards ready for class

We were back on the road which hugs the coast and has lots of switchback and steep parts. Andrew said it was built mainly by hand starting in 1919 and was not finished until 1936. Men returning from WWI and without work in the depression were involved.

It's a rugged coast for sure with a pounding surf. There were lots of pull outs to let us get some pictures. 

At Kennett River we stopped to feed some wild birds (Cockatoos, parrots and a Kookaburra) and we saw a Koala. Without our local guides we would not have known to stop.

Jan feeds a parrot

Sulfur Crested Cockatoo 

The Koala

Pretty neat. 

We stopped for a picnic Lunch in Apollo Bay. It was originally a port to support the fishery and a place to transport goods inland. Now it depends on tourists and holiday people. Business is off. Neat place. 

The real jewels of the route are the spires and arches of which there are many. The Twelve Apostles are famous (we can't count 12 but were told there we more).

The arches are also famous. London bridge was a double arch connecting it to land but one part collapsed (stranding two hikers).

The Loch Ard Gorge was also interesting. It was named after a famous shipwreck. The only two survivors were swept into this gut and managed to climb out. There have been a lot of lives lost in shipwrecks along this coast.

The whole group got together for a shot at our last stop

We turned north at Port Campbell and traveled through vast areas of beautiful farmland. While it was dry you can see it as productive.

We had a quick supper in a town of about 12k called Colac. Colac serves the agricultural base around. Most of us ate at the Noddle shop which was good food. It seems the place depends on tourist traffic as well so business was down.

Jim saw a bike shop that was unfortunately closed. It had some retro bikes in the window he liked and he would have liked to see more.

It was about 9 pm by the time we got back to Melbourne. A great day.