The Great Ocean Road-- Sun., Dec. 2

AKA Chance Encounters with Glow Worms.

We had a nice night in The Lakes Entrance. Bob was up early and did a walk along the Cunningham Arm Inlet from the Tasman Sea. He saw the staging area for a triathlon to be conducted a little later in the morning, and dolphins swimming and spinning in the inlet.

From The Lakes Entrance, we headed west on The Great Ocean Road and stopped in Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia for brekky (breakfast). The Court House is historic with beautiful architecture. Breakfast was unremarkable.

Court House in Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia.

We continued to the town of Sale to see The Swing Bridge. The Sale Swing Bridge is the only swing bridge left in the world that can swing 360 degrees. This site was very picturesque, not only for the bridge but also for the Sale Common River Heritage and Wetlands Trail. This was a good stop to stretch our legs and learn the history of the area.

The Sale Swing Bridge.

Bob's happy face. He liked this stop!



 

The mechanism swings the bridge 360 degrees.

Sale Common State Game Refuge.

Both of us enjoyed this stop. The day was pleasant and this spot was a welcome relief in a long road day.

Our goal today was to get past Melbourne in light Sunday traffic, spend the night in Lorne, and drive The Great Ocean Road on Monday. I got one photo of Melbourne traffic as we were driving through. And, yes, that freeway decor is supposed to be askew. More on Melbourne when we spend the night there in a couple of days.

Today a lot of time was spent driving through the plains of Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. Yes, it was flat and, as the lady in the Info Centre said, "You can only see so many gum trees." She recommended we make a fast trip of it.

After finding our way through Melbourne freeways, we took the edge off with a fish and chips lunch. We took lunch to Point Danger in Torquay and ate at a picnic table in a howling, chilly wind while we watched surfers and a kiteboarder.

Torquay, Victoria, Australia.

We then made our way to Bells Beach where the Rip Curl Pro surfing tournament is held each Easter.

Surfers at Bells Beach.

Always a good reminder.
 

The above signs are posted frequently along the Great Ocean Road.

Torquay is the eastern starting point of The Great Ocean Road. We headed west and passed by the Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch. The road was hand built by returned World War I soldiers in honor of their fallen comrades and officially opened in 1932, it is also the world's biggest war memorial.

The first part of our day was lots of driving, but from 4:00 p.m. on, we had a jam-packed afternoon and evening. At Aireys Inlet, we stopped for a short walk to see Split Point Lightstation and some viewpoints of the coastline.

Split Point Lightstation.

 

Our stop for the night was Lorne, Victoria, Australia. We arrived with enough daylight left that we had time to drive up to Erskine Falls and hike a short trail to the upper falls. (The lower falls trail was closed for repairs.)

Erskine Falls outside Lorne, Victoria, Australia

We also drove up to Teddy's Lookout on the recommendation of the clerk at the Best Western where we stayed.

Teddy's Lookout.

The setting sun was dramatic!

With daylight keeping us company until almost 8:30 p.m., we drove around Lorne. Here's a photo of the historic Grand Pacific Hotel.

Grand Pacific Hotel, Lorne, Victoria, Australia

Upon our return to our hotel, I noticed two laughing kookaburras sitting on the railing of the hotel balcony. They were not the least bit afraid of me and I got to within three feet of them.

The best things in life are free. Tonight we had a chance encounter with glowworms. When we planned our trip to Australia, glowworms were not on my bucket list of things to see. However, two of our tourist maps made passing reference to going up Gray River Rd to the picnic area to see the glow worms after dark. Okay, I'll bite.

We drove about 15 minutes west to the little village of Kennett River, then up Grey River Road approximately 6 km. Along Grey River Rd., we saw a wallaby standing by the side of the road, and a kangaroo bounded across the road a little way ahead of us. 

When we arrived at the Grey River Picnic Area, a van was there. Bob went up to the car and talked to the couple. They are visiting from Bavaria in Germany and are on a three-week caravan (rented camping van) trip. They, too, were there to see the glowworms. It was about 9:00 p.m. and there was light left in the sky.

We stood chatting outside until it got dark at 9:30 p.m. (and we're talking REALLY dark--no streetlights or moon about). One of the interesting tidbits we learned from our new German friends was that koalas live in the campground where they're staying in Kennett River. They said koalas are all around and come down from the trees and roam around the campground. We'll be checking that out tomorrow on our way west.

Time to set off in search of the glowworms! The directions Bob read said to head back down the road we came in on and cross the bridge. That's where Bob and I headed. The other couple went the other way on the road. We had to be completely quiet and could not use flashlights or other lights.

I found the glowworms. What an eerie sight! It's like a bunch of eyes looking at you from a completely dark forest.

The other couple hadn't found any and were getting in their van to leave. Bob ran over to tell them we had found them so they came over. We all oohed and aahed and marveled at what a wonderful sight they were. Bob thought they looked like stars in the night sky.

Apparently, glowworms are usually seen in caves, so these glowworms in this part of Australia are unusual. We feel so fortunate to have seen them.

Interesting facts about glowworms: Glowworms are not worms but rather the larvae of fly-like insects called fungus gnats. Larvae produce threads of sticky silk, their glow attracts prey which are ensnared by the sticky threads. Where does the light come from? The end of the abdomen is luminous. The light is actually emitted from tiny tubes (malpighian tubules) which open into the gut of the larvae and are visible through transparent skin at the end of its body.

Wow, what an end to the day. I'm worn out.

Travel Bug with lights out!

New South Wales into Victoria State, Australia -- Sat., Dec. 1

 

We are making tracks. After checking out around 10:00 a.m., we stopped at a patisserie/bakery in Batemans Bay. We took our goodies to a park overlooking the bay and islands.

Today has been a day of coastal views, beaches and more beaches, small towns, and a waterfall. I'll let the pictures tell the story today.

Batemans Bay.

Ominous clouds over Batemans Bay.

Eurobodalla National Park, Dalmeny Beach.

Bridge to Dalmeny Beach.

Do you remember yesterday when I told you the flies are a nuisance and annoying? This photo of a man walking in front of us shows all the flies on his back. Yeah, that's a lot of flies! Bob and I keep shooing flies away from each other's backs.

For all our RV friends, here is a painted trailer out in front of a caravan (RV) park.

Caravan park at Dalmeny Beach.

Yabarra Beach.



Yabbarra Beach.

 

Batemans Marine Park.

Cute sign.

Mystery Bay.

Young at heart, Mystery Bay.

As we drove on Highway 1, the Princes Highway, there were kangaroo and wombat crossing warning signs. In one place, we saw a wallaby standing by the side of the road. Then a little farther on, I saw what looked like a tall person standing in the middle of the road. It took my brain a moment to process that it was a 6' or taller kangaroo. I slowed down and the 'roo hopped off the road. I drove by cautiously just in case it changed its mind and hopped back out, but it didn't. We saw several dead 'roos, wallabies, and a couple of dead wombats along the road.

When the road turned inland, the scenery varied from verdant, hilly farm country with cows, sheep, horses, or llamas to eucalypt forests or, in other places, ferns and rainforest environments. We also passed several lakes and rivers.

The Info Centre in Narooma was unique. There is a history involved with the lighthouse which is explained in the museum inside.

One of our favorite stops of the day was Mumbulla Falls. It reminded us of a waterfall in Oregon where we used to take the boys swimming. You could slide down the falls into a pool and jump and dive from different levels of rocks. Bob REALLY wanted to join them. I encouraged him to do so, but for some reason, he wouldn't go. I know he's going to regret that decision for years to come.

Mumbulla Falls.

A local kid sliding down the waterfall. Fun!

The Snowy River in Orbost, Victoria.

Our temperatures today ranged from a humid 85-90 degree morning to 75 degrees this afternoon, dropping to 16 C (60 F) this evening. We are staying in a town called The Lakes Entrance. Earlier this evening, there were thunder and lightning storms here, and many puddles remain in parking lots.

Tomorrow, we plan to make it past Melbourne so we can drive The Great Ocean Road. At an Info Centre today, we found about eight more waterfalls to see in another national park. However, tonight when Bob was researching those waterfalls online, it seems there has been a huge flood and most of the trails to the waterfalls in that park are closed. I guess we'll be sticking to The Great Ocean Road. We will stop in Melbourne on our way back to Sydney next week. 

We checked into our motel at 8:15 p.m., then went to dinner at Pinocchio Inn where we shared minestrone soup and Chicken Avocado. A delightful meal!

Time for sleep. Travel Bug conked out.