Mon 11 Nov 2013 - The Great Ocean Rd

Left Port Fairy after looking around the town and the port.

Although today was overcast and windy, it was still a good day for seeing the magnificent scenery, as the sun kept breaking through at appropriate moments. We saw the Bay of Islands, the Bay of Martyrs, London Bridge and the Twelve Apostles and Rodger went down the Gibson Steps to the beach. They all looked absolutely stunning.

Bay of islands

London Bridge

at the Arch

12 Apostles

Dead birds lining the shore

We also stopped at the Cheese Centre, just outside Warrnambool. We weren't allowed to go into the factory, but there was a DVD on how they process the milk and make butter and Rodger was able to go cheese tasting. Naturally, we ended up buying a big block of cheese and they also got some lovely honey. We went round the museum and saw old cheese and butter making machinery and one of the first milking machines - it was all really interesting.

As we drove along the road, it was all lush, green pasture for dairy cows, this is where all the milk comes for the cheese. It all looked very English to me, except on a much larger scale. Just before Apollo Bay, the landscape became hilly and wooded, but opening up occasionally to water meadows with cows and wild flowers.

When we came to the camping ground at Apollo Bay, the manager said that they've had no Spring this year, it's just been Wintery and wet, which explains why everything is so green. It's the direct opposite of the Kimberley, where it's so dry and arid and the cows have to look carefully for every mouthful of food.

Our camping spot was by a river, given to us as it's the spot most sheltered from the wind. Rodger got excited and decided to go fishing, even though it's freezing. I got a phone call from our friend Carol, and while we were chatting, Rodger appeared with a large brim! As I've already got an apricot chicken cooking in the Dream Pot, we'll have it for dinner tomorrow.