Thursday 31 January 2013

ON TO THE CITY

Here we are again checking out the churches.   They really are  pretty special and must have been a mission to build in some areas, but are so far proving to withstand the passing of time and remain inspiring.


We continue to find some beautiful spots to stop for lunch.  This was our lunchtime view in Peterborough.


My fascination with signs continues and I just have to share some of the more unusual ones.  Not sure if everyone will get the message but it will make them think....

And Dave continues to try and photograph interesting stuff wherever we go .  Unfortunately there was nothing interesting around so - - - - - How about a self portrait!!


All along the Great Ocean Road there are interesting places to stop, with unusual rock formations, great views, wildflowers, memorials etc.  We seemed to be stopping a lot. Sometimes though it was a bit of a mission to get to that special spot.....

But it was always worth the effort.


But it wasn't all sunshine and warmth.....This was out of the ordinary though!!!

 Most times the views and the weather were both spectacular



And they just get better!  How glad am I that the times of paying for developing photos is gone. Otherwise we would be robbing a bank to pay for all the photos we've taken........

We found so many great free campsites along the way and met a heap of lovely people. There were also other individuals that seemed to want to get to know us......



Maybe it was the good company or perhaps the offer of a few tasty crumbs!!


This was one such campsite at Johanna Beach.  Lovely rolling green lawns to camp on and they are constructing long drop toilets.  But we were not without as they had a bank of portaloos there for everyone to use. All we had to do was provide our own shower which is the reason for the little green tent.  Add a black bag of water that has warmed in the sun and a 12volt shower pump and there is nothing better............welllllllll  it was pretty good at the time!!!
 

And the nights were not too bad either - who needs television, Air Conditioning,  walls and a roof when you can have this!!!



But ever onward - and this whole experience can't go on forever.  We are headed towards family and friends - to catch up with after a long time and spend a while together  which will be great ...........................so we are city bound  - CITY???? -The question is.........
CIVILIZATION  OR SUFFOCATION!

Tuesday 15 January 2013

SOUTH TO THE COAST AND CIVILIZATION

As we continued on Southwards we were still surprised with the least likely things!  This cloud formation for instance......Looks like something is brewing!!!!!

And even though we were in a lot more fertile part of the country, it is still quite apparent that water is still a precious commodity.  this town had the right idea for their median strips and used a surface that required no watering, except for the odd tree that is!

As we had travelled through the bush, I had noticed on many occasions small round orangy or yellowy balls on the side of the road.  The first time I saw them I thought it might be part of a trucks load that had fallen off.  But then this was happening way too often for it to be that.  Eventually Dave just pulled up after I commented yet again that I had seen "those funny little balls again."   I flew out of the car and went and got one.  It turned out they are 'paddy melons'   Not good for anything much - sour to taste - Shame, as they appear to be able to grow where nothing much else does.


We knew we were nearing the coast when we came across this structure - but in the middle of the a town with no sea in view???


As we were travelling alongside the coast the road wound through miles and miles of pine plantations.....they seemed to go on forever..........
Although the idea behind this trip is to discover parts of Australia that we have never seen, there are a few places that we will pass through that we have seen before.  This place was visited 37 years ago on our honeymoon.   I think it was cold then too!!!    The Blue Lake in Mount Gambier.
We continue to admire the old buildings.  Even though our 'old' buildings are no where near as old as those we saw in Europe - they are none the less fascinating and inspiring.  And unique to our History.


We stopped to check out a free camp site at the base of Mt Schank. We decided not to camp there but I thought that the walking trail looked interesting.


So why not give it a go..




a nice looking little walk up to look at the crater that is Mt Schank.

Finally got to the top of the crater after what seemed an age.....
This is the inside of the crater - a bit hard to capture the feeling of the place

The views were pretty spectacular outside the crater as well........



Then it was back down the 339 steps to the bottom of the hill.........Guess we needed the excercise!!!
Half way now and we can see the car way way down there!!!

After we eventually climbed back to the car, we headed for Pt McDonnell

and a nice little campground just beside the beach


As we traveled along the coast there were just so many places to stop and Dave was getting quite a workout as our official photographer.  But even that can get tiring and I found him having a little rest.


We were enjoying almost everything about our country and our trip........everything except for the wind and the flies!!!!

But at least now there is a use for the wind which has been harnessed......



Now all that needs to be done is...................

Find a use for FLIES!!!!!!!

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM??