The Australian Bush and The Great Ocean Road

We are home from our amazing weekend trip to the Australian Bush and Great Ocean Road. I can see why they talked so much about it! Dramatic first comes to my mind....along with charming, friendly, spectacular, amazing!

THE TRIP





Wally hanging out the window



With Wally hanging his head out the window....tongue wagging in the wind....we headed off to the Australian Bush. Sheep farms and small little towns would be a good description of that....with fewer people. It felt a bit like traveling back to the 1950s .... a much less complicated world. We arrived late and driving down that dirt road looking for our cottage in the dark reminded me of so many times Larry & I found ourselves going down roads to nowhere....knowing we were going somewhere together.

The cottage turned out to be lovely.... a farm type atmosphere....with the appropriate pond, goats, sheep, cows and horses. Before long Wes had a great fire going for warmth.....and Missy had our dinner of a nibbly tray ready for us to devour. Wally kept running off into the dark which sent us shouting after him ....afraid he would find some great hairy beast. The night sky was a sight to behold. The whole Continent of Australia has about the population of the state of Texas and they all must go to bed early... it was dark out there!!! The heavens nearly sat on top of us! The stars were huge.....and the dark night so clear. The constellations are upside down from the way we know it in the northern hemisphere and we searched the night for the southern cross that pointed the way to the south pole.




Wes & Wally with the goats






Eventually Missy headed off to the bedroom ...an exhausted mum to be...who had greatly depleted her energy on the road .....and we were not too far behind her. Sometime in the night something large landed on the roof....... like a cow or horse. The roof didn't cave in....and my bed was warm.....so I decided in the Australian Bush one doesn't make a fuss over something like that and let sleep win the tug of war with consciousness.



Australian Bush Cottage















After cinnamon toast & coffee we were off to The Great Ocean Road. We made a few stops in darling little coastal towns, hugging the sides of the Otway Range that is full of waterfalls, rain forests and great peaks and glens. In Apollo Bay I had a vegetable and cheese pastie for lunch with a chocolate eclair that would make you cry... :-)













Back on the road Missy said I should start watching the trees along the road for Koala Bears. Somehow I imagined them in an animal reserve....rather than like squirrels in trees along the side of the road. Before long I was yelling.... " Stop the car...stop the car! I see them!" Hopping and jumping I made it to the tree line to find my Koalas and carefully aiming my camera I found them dotted about here and there in the trees .....hugging the trunks!! We had to make several more stops as I couldn't seem to get enough pictures of these amazing little bears.




Koalas


Soon we saw signs posted on the side of the road.....that had a picture of a Kangaroo....instead of deer....to indicate that they were in the area! Sadly the only Kangaroo I saw had gone on to meet his maker....much like Armadillos do on the side of the road in Texas. We also saw a Dingo in a similar fashion. Wes & Missy told me I would have another opportunity to hopefully see some live ones on our trip next weekend....and I can hardly wait!


The Great Ocean Road

No wonder they call it Great! It is surely a wonder of the world! Sheer amazing cliffs and dotted about in the surf are the twelve apostles.... tall remains of a surf and weather battered coastline.

At one point a sign that referred to the great expanse of ocean before us said

Next Stop Antarctica.

I pose for a sign that says Next Stop Antarctica!!! That was sobering to look out on that huge stretch of ocean knowing that just south is Antarctica and the south pole! Wow!

After walking the whole observation area we began our scenic drive back to Melbourne.

When we arrive home we settled Wally in and headed off to Nachos Cantina for Aussie style Mexican food. We all shared a huge plate of respectable nachos and Missy & I shared an enchilada plate. It wasn't like home but it was mighty good to this Texas girl hungry for some Mexican food. :-) We watched the movie Ironman and then off to bed.






Nachos Cantina




Missy & I are off to get the baby cot ( crib ) and we are working on the baby's room today.

May you have a blessed sabbath!
Elaine

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