Julia Woolgar: January 2012

Monday, 30 January 2012

The Long Drive Anglesea

Jan 25

The sight at Johanna soon emptied out with Phil and Fay on to another site stopping off to buy a water hose. I got back on my computer try to finish what I started last night. I spent most of the day sorting out my photos and blog. It was good and peaceful to day with not much traffic I had empty spaces all around me. I took a walk up to the top camp site not many flat spaces left.

Fay and Philips Van

Johanna Beach

Jan26

I was awaken by a family of Italians trying to park up right by Plod. I walked out side still bleary eyed in my nighty. I will be moving soon if you would like to park up here, thank you was the reply but they still kept trying to manoeuvre their van in a tight corner and every one talking at once. I hastily packed up and went on my way to Beauchamp Falls Reserve which I was told about and supposed to be good, I arrive at the site and again it was on a slop apart for the tents which had a good flat grass area and the falls was a 2 km walk. I retreated and had my lunch at a good flat grassy area by a road with the sun shining upon me at a pleasant heat.

My lunch spot

Binns Road

I went on to try my next site down a beautiful unsealed road to Apollo Bay which was packed with many people. I drove straight through on to Lorne which was a very slow windy road. Lorne was just as busy too. I eventually arrived at my camp site Big Hill Campground again it was rather sloppy but I managed to find a spot. By the time it was dark the site was very full and I had a van park right next to me a bit mean I thought. Most of them had been on the beach all day.

Big Hill Camp Ground

Jan27

Off to visit Dave and Val to day in Anglesea I left early and stopped at a picnic area on the beach to have my breakfast which was far more pleasant than an over crowed camp site. Many joggers and dog walkers were on the beach four young men went to go for a swim and found the sea far too cold and made a hasty retreat.

I arrived at Dave and Val’s and was greeted with warm affection. Happy hour was upon us then dinner by the time I went to bed we had consumed a few bottles of red.

Happy Hour

Jan28

My Old Morgan now rebuilt by David Taylor

Val cooked a fab breakfast. Dave took me to the shops in his Morgan and on to see a few friends of his that own Riley’s and Lancia’s we had a great day not to mention happy hour, a group of woman but very full on woman of my age group.

Lancia

Lancia Engine

Riley

Every day car Riley

Kookaburra at Happy Hour

Happy Hour

Jan29

We were all up early to meet Greg and Christine in Sorrento which is across the water we took the ferry and met them in their new fab toy a Packard and what a specimen it is!

Packard

Christine Val Dave and Greg.

Rye Ocean Beach

We had a wonderful drive around the country and stopped at one or two beaches.

Then we went to a very good restaurant and had a light lunch. After lunch we met the original owners of the Packard for a strawberry ice-cream then we went back to his home to see his collection of cars and what a collection he has. Unfortunately he had the cars so packed in it was difficult to photograph them.

Arthurs View

Greg's new addition

Strawberry farm

Mr B Bone cars

Mr B Bone cars Austin 7

I had a fantastic day, being driven around like a Queen in an immaculate Packard. Back on the ferry to Anglesea

The Ferry

Wednesday, 25 January 2012

The Long Drive Mt Clay State Forest Sawpit Campground, The Great Ocean Road.

Jan20

Just pottering around today Ian and Bet and the parrot asked if I would like any shopping in Portland as they are going in to get a few supplies. We decided to light a fire and cook outside so we went in to the woods and brought back a few large logs Ian got his chain saw out and cut them in to smaller logs then Ian got his axe out and started to split the logs so I just had to have a go. Bet cooked some veggie rissoles and I cooked some pancakes, a Swiss couple came and joined us as they had run out of gas.

Jan21

Dinner with Ian and Bet

Ian and Bet cooked a very good lamb stew for our dinner. Then I went for a stroll heading for the lookout but I got way laid at another camp fire talking to some young Germans Michael got his didgeridoo out and played a tune and very odd he was to.

Camp Fire

Michael plying his didgeridoo

A Great Fire

Jan22 Sunday

I was going to download my photos but I had put my cable in a save place and that save place was not to be found I turned Plod up side down but still no go, a shame because they was a mountain bike race through the woods and that meant I missed most of it quite a large gathering as well.

Mountain bike race

Mountain bike gathering

Ian and Bet went in to Portland, strolling down where the fishing boats are what luck a boat had just came in with a good catch of snapper. Bet came back with three large fish thinking of me as well, which we promptly descaled and gutted. They also gave me a carton of red what lovely people. Red wine fresh fish and a party of people went down rather well and I had one two many still that is not often. A woman gave Bet a chocolate sponge cake recipe to cook in a camp oven it turned out fantastic very light and fluffy.

Snapper

getting ready for our BBQ

BBQ

Cake cooked in a camp oven

Jan23

I packed up and I still could not fined my lead, still Phil had a cable I could use to download my photos then off I went on my way. Ian and Bet had just gone on there way to Adelaide.

My first stop on The Great Ocean Road was.

The Crags Coastal Reserve

I then went in to Warrnambool town to buy a lead. I parked up a very busy town much larger than I anticipated. I had a good look around brought a lead and strolled back to Plod my neck and shoulders were quite painful after chopping up and collecting the wood for our fire, I must remember I am not a young chick. I topped up with water, fuel and the like and off I went. Boat bay was my next stop a small very steep boat launching place for the small fishing vessels.

Boat Bay

I did not make my intended night stop but stopped at Bay of Island so I would have more time to investigate the rest of The Great Ocean Road.

Bay of Island.

Jan 24

Well I never, I found my cable, I had definitely put it in a save place with my clean underwear how I missed it before one would never know. To day is rather on the hot side, on went my tropical gear long trousers and my walking boots as the mash fly’s just will not leave me alone. Another stop at the Bay Of Martyrs

Bay Of Martyrs

Then on to The Grotto

Steps going down to The Grotto

The Grotto

Next was London Bridge and The Arch

London Bridge

The Arch

I reach Port Campbell lookout and went for a stroll along the cliff top.

Port Campbell

Now Loch Ard Gorge was a big one in a fact much walking was needed and it was a very hot day still I plodded along with water bottle in one hand and my camera in the other.

Loch Ard Gorge

Loch Ard Gorge Thunder Cave

Loch Ard Gorge Thunder Cave Entrance

Loch Ard Gorge, Broken Head

One more to go, The Twelve Apostles, this was a very busy site with tour coaches, caravans, cars and hundreds of people milling around at least we have not had to pay to enter any of these sights like Stonehenge and many others in the U.K.

Twelve Apostles

I stopped off at Gellibrand River a tranquil picnic spot with people fishing in the river.

Gellibrand River

Almost at my night stop at Johanna Beach

On the Blue Rd to my night stop

I arrived quite early in the afternoon around 3pm and cars and vans were coming in fast I saw a spot and pitched up. Started to sort my photo’s and Blog out when there was a very loud knock at the door with a few comments. What a surprise it was Phil and Fay they just about parked up and then a few more came in. I have never seen a camp site so full. I joined Phil and Fay for a beer taken in the fresh air of the evening until those little midges started to bite.