January 14, 2009

Travelled from Port Fairy to Portland. Arrived early so decided to get in some sightseeing before we went out to meet the Logans. We are going to stay out with the Logans until Friday morning and then will have several long days to make up for the time we had to spend coming down due to the flood. The Logans have a place in the country and it is a change from staying in build up areas or cities. Thursday we meet some of the extended Logan family who are related to the Hay family. A wonderful afternoon going over the family tree and just trying to figure out the photos. Cynthia and Stephen are wonderful. Have enjoyed my stay with them.



January 16, 2009



Today we took the scenic tour from Portland to Clair. We have not gone into Adelaide as we do not have enough time. I have called Ron Morgan to tell him that as much as I would like to see him that there is no way we will have time. This area is has a very diversified agricultural makeup. Dairy farms, vineyards (miles of them) sheep and cattle farms, and wheat farms. Did not stop to take any photos . This route took us through the Barossa Valley where a lot of vineyards are. Stayed overnight at Clair.



January 17, 2009.



Started out early, temperature in the morning was 14C and when we arrived in Coober Pedy it was 37C. Was a beautiful drive - the road passes through some rather different terrain. From areas that are covered with trees and bush to just bush and also areas when it is very dry.

Photos enclosed. I drove all morning and although you can usually know when I want to turn right because the windshield wipers come on, have not drove anyone else off the road or scared the life out of Donna yet. Will be here for the 18th also as we plan to take some tours of the place. So will continue when we get to Uluru and Ulara.

Just hanging around in the trees

Our new wheels

Boats at Apollo Bay

The Twelve Apostles - now only eleven

Tuesday January 13, 2009.

Spent the day along the remainder of the Great Ocean Road. Today we went from Apollo Bay to Port Fairy. Most of the way we travel along the majestic coast but we also do go inland. The area in land is mainly large dairy farms of rolling hills, deep gullies and large fields that go down to the ocean. Very beautiful , but a stark difference from the coast.



It started out cool in the morning and we went for a long walk along the beach at Apollo Bay. and then started out for the rest of the Ocean Road. We had visited the Cape Otway Lighthouse (the most significant lighthouse in all of Australia) and on the way back came across several koalas in the tree along the road. They were not camera shy so got some good photos of them.



The coast is just one beautiful vista after another and it is hard to say which one I would pick as the best, but the apostles is high on the list.



Tomorrow we will travel to Portland and see the other Hay relatives.

Split point at Aireys point .

Entry to the Melbourn Harbour at Queensclifffe

The headlands at the bay enterence

Melbourne to Apollo on the Great Ocean Road.

January 12, 2009

Today we started to travel again after three days in Melbourne. We had turned the camper van in and now have a Toyota Rav4 to travel in. The camper van was not a economical as I had thought as when it rained we had to have get a motel room or villa at a camper van park. This is because Donna was using her tent.

It is very beautiful along the coast but the road is a bit of a bother- very twisty with very tight corners.

Tomorrow we will be going but the rocks that they call the Apostles, there were twelve but one has fallen into the ocean .

Just south of Melbourne at Queenscliff you can see the opening to the harbour of Melbourne. The Harbour is a circle shaped bay ( Port Phillips Bay ) . The entry to the bay is about one 1/2 mile across from Queenscliff to Portsea.
At Lorne we did a little side trip to the Erskin falls. Not what we would call falls but they are Australian ones.