Saturday 11 May 2013

The Great Ocean Road

An early rise to ensure a full day driving along the amazing Great Ocean Road. This road is a war memorial to the fallen soldiers of World War 1 and was constructed by 3000 returning soldiers from the war to give them employment between 1912 and 1932. It is 243 Kms long from Warrnambool to Torquay. The first stop was at the Bay of Isles and then to London Bridge. It is a rock formation which is now separated from the land. A couple of walkers walked over to it in 1990 and the middle collapsed into the sea leaving them stranded. Next was Loch Ard gorge. It was named as a ship called Loch Ard was wrecked in 1878 and there were only 2 survivors, Tom and Eva. There are two arms to this part and they are named after these survivors. Too bad Tom drowned 7 years later. This coastline is notorious for shipwrecks having suffered more than 600. Richard in our group knew that there was to be a partial eclipse around 8.25 am and brought us all the appropriate strange glasses. We looked a fine bunch! Unfortunately it was a little cloudy but it was still visible. Thanks Richard. The next stop were the amazing 12 Apostles (even if there are only 9 still visible). These are limestone rock formations up to 45 metres high sticking upwards from the ocean and a result of erosion that began up to 20 million years ago. There is a 2 cm erosion each year. Magnificent sight and previously called the sow and piglet. On to a rainforest in the Great Ottway Park in Melba Gully. It was a bit of an uphill effort but the scents as well as the views made it so worthwhile. It turned out to be a loop so didn't have to go back the same way - phew. There was Annie's Cascade a small waterfall known to house platypus but there was not much water in. Spotting platypus brings good luck but alas I did not. Another waterfall later at Carisbrook and we were on our way to Melbourne. Our last night together. Back to travelling on my own from tomorrow. A daunting thought.

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