Blown away at top of light house
Revisited the Great Ocean Road but this time being chased by wind and rain squalls pushing the van around as well. Gordon was the only one brave enough to revisit London Bridge, the fact that the sea foam was being whipped several hundred metres up onto the road was enough to suggest to the rest of us it would be horrible at the cliff face. Gordon's absence for less than 5 minutes only confirmed our thoughts. Pushed on with The Great Ocean Road becoming more of a goat track with each passing km, rock falls, land slips and fallen trees - with even whole patches having slipped down onto the road, soil, rocks and all. Knew it was horrendous when even the cows packed together trying to get protection from a wire fence.
Climbing the ranges into the Otways we passed through a dramatic change in vegetation from hard spiky ground hugging scramble to lush tall tropical forest. Making our way back down to the coast when we came to a screaming halt at a police blockade, behind about 50 other vehicles. Apparently a milk truck had literally slipped down the slope the night before and they were trying to retrieve it, 2 giant cranes usually associated with high rise construction pulling this very battered tank and its truck which was rather shorter than it should have been. Luckily less than an hour's delay and we were back on the road with Gordon attempting to check out the surf whilst negotiate the "goat track". Some absolutely cracking surf but well over 20 foot swell.
Decided to brave the Lighthouse in the Otways hanging onto Morgan whenever near the cliff once again, Jack braving the 104 kmh winds to look down at the smashing surf. Don't know how people lived there all year round. Left the visitors centre about the local Koala colony to be advised “just look at the trees … there’s too many of them … they are killing all the trees”. And they are – driving back out of the National Park Jack was the first to spot one right at the side of the road just sitting there, managed to spot at least 20 or more in the next 2km just along the road side with some quite low, others hanging on with all their might at the top of the trees and still more with their bottoms hanging just above the roof of the cars over the road.
The night was coming in so made our way to Lorne for the night, quite a pleasant smallish seaside town with not a lot happening.
Climbing the ranges into the Otways we passed through a dramatic change in vegetation from hard spiky ground hugging scramble to lush tall tropical forest. Making our way back down to the coast when we came to a screaming halt at a police blockade, behind about 50 other vehicles. Apparently a milk truck had literally slipped down the slope the night before and they were trying to retrieve it, 2 giant cranes usually associated with high rise construction pulling this very battered tank and its truck which was rather shorter than it should have been. Luckily less than an hour's delay and we were back on the road with Gordon attempting to check out the surf whilst negotiate the "goat track". Some absolutely cracking surf but well over 20 foot swell.
Decided to brave the Lighthouse in the Otways hanging onto Morgan whenever near the cliff once again, Jack braving the 104 kmh winds to look down at the smashing surf. Don't know how people lived there all year round. Left the visitors centre about the local Koala colony to be advised “just look at the trees … there’s too many of them … they are killing all the trees”. And they are – driving back out of the National Park Jack was the first to spot one right at the side of the road just sitting there, managed to spot at least 20 or more in the next 2km just along the road side with some quite low, others hanging on with all their might at the top of the trees and still more with their bottoms hanging just above the roof of the cars over the road.
The night was coming in so made our way to Lorne for the night, quite a pleasant smallish seaside town with not a lot happening.
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