Ballarat to Adelaide - (Part 4 of Brisbane to Alice Springs)

Ballarat to Colac

28/11/2014

Well the plan for leaving early went right out the window, not because we slept in but driving our motorhome one has to have zero alcohol in the system and having a headache indicates there is some remaining in the system so we waited for some time before driving.

We are heading to Colac to see Nancy's daughter Ange (Angela) and her partner Alison but we are taking a detour to Geelong  to visit Nancy's sister Marion who lives near there. We had lunch with Marion then headed for Colac. Ange works for Fisheries and helps coordinated environmental works on the inland lakes, she lives on a farm where she rents a cottage. Ange met us in Colac and gave us directions to her place.

(Nancy and sister Marion)

(Traffic in Geelong, photo by Nancy)

(What makes you think this could be a chicken farm? Photo by Nancy)

Unfortunately I could feel a cold coming on with burning sensation in the back of the throat and nose, I started pumping vitamin 'C' and Panadol into me but I think it was coming anyway.

We had the weekend with Ange and Alison having a BBQ dinner the first night and on the next day they took us for a drive around the lakes some being fresh water and some salt, Ange works with the Aboriginal people that have told her some of their dreamtime stories, it is very interesting. We had lunch at an old country pub and it was great.

(Ange and Alison's place)

(Parked in front of Ange's shed, Nancy had washing day)

(Ange and Alison's neighbour, an Echidna)

(Stock holding yards)

(The lakes at Colac area)

(Incredible views from the hills)

(Alison, Nancy and Ange)

We had a great weekend thanks girls..

Colac to Port Fairy

01/12/2014

It had rained during the night and there was still some drizzle about as we headed off after saying our goodbyes to the girls. Ange warned us about the winding and slippery road  that can be hazardous in these conditions many tourists have come to grief on this road. Local knowledge is always helpful it does not matter how experienced one is.

(Not the best of days)

(Misty view, photo by Nancy)

It was a very hilly and winding road with the added drizzle and fog to contend with, it was good to get down to the Great Ocean Road where the weather had cleared although still cloudy making it a bit of a dull day.

The Great Ocean Road is worth the drive naturally it would be better on a sunny day which we did not have so next time we hope we have some sun. The main attractions are the Twelve Apostles , well there used to be twelve but a couple have collapsed due to sea and wind erosion, drive a bit further and you have The Arch, London Bridge, and Bay of Islands.

(The Twelve Apostles, well not exactly a few have fallen due to erosion by sea and weather)

(Gibsons Steps, the steps lead to a beach)

(Apparently there has been a few accidents from tourist flying in and hiring a car just to do the Great Ocean Road)

(London Bridge, yes Australia has one also built by Mother Nature)

(The Arch)

(Walk down to the Grotto)

(The Grotto)

(Nancy by the Grotto)

(One of the many bikes)

Websites.  http://www.visitgreatoceanroad.org.au/media/34776/great_ocean_road_touring_map_2012.pdf

http://www.visitvictoria.com/Regions/Great-Ocean-Road/Things-to-do/Nature-and-wildlife/Beaches-and-coastlines/Coastal-attractions

As we drove along this road there were many cycle riders we found out that they are a group riding from Sumatra to Sydney. We continued to drive along the road to Port Fairy. We sailed into this place when we circumnavigated Australia and I loved the place, plenty of historic homes and boasts the oldest pub in Victoria, commonly known as the 'Stump' officially known as the Caledonian Hotel. WE booked in at the Southcombe Caravan Park   Port Ferry  which had only opened today it only opens during the summer months. It is a very nice park very clean and plenty of room.

(Plenty of room in the caravan park.

(The Caledonian Hotel known as the Stump)

(Some of the lovely old homes)

(The main street)

(Port Fairy it is really something to sail into this port.)

We walked into town which is only about 10 - 15 minute walk, we walked down to the docks and then into town and of course had to have a beer at the Stump.

Port Fairy to Kingston

02/12/2014

We got underway after breakfast and headed for Kingston to catch up with old sailing mate Leigh, we did try to ring him but the deaf old bastard would have the radio blaring if he is working in his shed. The country is also very dry around these parts Leigh lives in Kingston but has a farm out of town so we hoped he would be home when we got there.

(Parked in Leigh's driveway, the shed ahead has his 13.5 metre ketch, a motor boat that he is working on and fishing boat and a camper trailer he is building, Photo by Nancy).

We arrived at Leigh's and he was standing by his house just come down from his huge shed, he did not hear us. I got out of the vehicle and yelled out g'day. He was surprised and pleased to see us as we was him. Leigh is a great sailor he has circumnavigated the world over a 13 year period in the ketch he took 12 years to build, he has no trade qualifications but he is an incredible tradesman, carpentry, fitting and turning, welding and fibreglass work he is amazing. His knowledge helped us greatly when we sailed the Pacific together. Like us his sailing days are just about over, his ketch is in the big shed he has on the block next to his house, this is a 13.5 metre ketch and it takes up about a third of the floor space in his shed. Also in his shed is a motor boat that he is working on for a friend and behind that is a fishing boat that he is doing up for himself and on the other side of the shed is a camper trailer that he is building, he also works the farm. He is 71 years young and can't be slowed down. The unfortunate part is that Leigh is lonely, he would like female company but in the past sailing days he always set his sights to high and was looking too hard for his ideal woman which he never found.

We had a good night with him, we supplied the vegies and he cooked his famous roast chicken, having a couple of beers whilst all was cooking and a nice bottle of red with dinner.

(Visit to the Dump Point in Kingston before heading off. photo by Nancy)

Kingston to Adelaide

03/12/2014

We left Kingston after breakfast and headed for Adelaide via Mt Gambier and Murray Bridge, the roads have changed since my last journey through these areas which was back in 1994. Like most places in Australia the highways bypass the townships, this is good for traffic and not having bottlenecks through business districts but it is not good for local businesses, many businesses have closed due to this and the other thing we see is on the highways close to the towns there are major fuel companies set up like Shell, BP and Caltex and along with these are McDonalds, KFC and Subway or alike businesses which we all know are attached to Coles and Woolworths and we wonder why there is little work in small communities.

 (Some of the buildings along the way, photo by Nancy)

(Old house, photo by Nancy

(Salt lake opposite side of the road from Parnka Point)

(Met this little fella on the road going into Parnka Point, Stumpy Tail Lizard, photo by Nancy)

 (Three views from Parnka Point inside Coorong National Park)

Well we arrived in Adelaide traffic and found our way to West Beach and booked into the Adelaide Shores Caravan Park which is right next to the beach, very nice large park with everything children would love as far as the playgrounds they have there.

(Sunset at West Beach)

(Looking along the beach to Glenelg)

We had a nice quiet night after watching the sunset at the beach.

Cheers