Only 3 More Weeks

I can't believe how quickly this week went by.  We'll be home in less than three weeks now.  Activities this week included more trips to the park for the boys, plus they went fishing to a nearby lake on Friday.  (Pretty cool having a saltwater pier 4 minutes away and a lake 20 minutes away.)  Jarrod has also been fishing in downtown Melbourne at Docklands a couple times with his mate Hayden.  Jarrod caught four Brim plus a weird looking fish that Hayden said to not touch because it was poisonous.  Brim are like a large crappie or blue gill and taste delicious.

We're also planning our last couple weekends here plus our upcoming stay in New Zealand.  As much as we've enjoyed ourselves we are sure missing people and things from home.  Ryan wants to ride his bike and play on the swing set in our backyard.  Kyle wishes he could have brought more toys and games.  I could simply say I want everything from inside our house, especially a full closet of clothes instead of what would fit in two suitcases, plus my bed and pillow and the conveniences of a fully equipped kitchen.  Jarrod really misses being about to go out in his shop and build something.  But with all that I'm still very glad we're here as this has been a positively excellent experience for all of us!

Surfies Point

Our last stop before heading back to the house was at Surfies Point, a surfers beach on Phillip Island.  This is where Jarrod thought it might be his last chance to step foot in the ocean before leaving Australia.  He couldn't very well miss out so off with his socks and shoes and into the ocean he went!  Kyle and Ryan soon begged to follow.  Ryan didn't last but for just a few seconds since the water was really cold. 

After I helped Ryan get as much sand brushed off as possible and back into his socks and shoes then it was my turn.  OMG was I crazy?

We finished off our trip by walking along the beach and watching the sun go down.  What another fantastic weekend in Australia.  We are looking forward to being home but will also miss all the wonderful times we've had here.

Kangaroos!

Both too and from the Nobbies Centre we finally crossed paths with kangaroos close enough for the boys to see.  They even got to see one hop, which was a much anticipated event since the ones at the zoo have always been lounging or just standing.  This particular kangaroo was eating in a field just off the road.  When Jarrod got out of the car to take his picture the ding of the open car door really caught the roo's attention.

The Nobbies Centre

After leaving Kilcunda we stopped at the San Remo Fisherman's Coop for lunch, known for the "freshest" fish and chips.  We had our first taste of Flathead and it was yummy.  From there we drove over the bridge to Phillip Island.  It was on the road headed to the Nobbies Centre where we missed a turn.  After going past then circling back we cut it too sharp and went up the wrong way.  Fortunately we were able to pull off and let traffic pass then zip on up to where our lane joined in.  No worries!

Once we arrived at the Nobbies Centre we toured the boardwalks along the cliff face.  We had our own binoculars to look across to Seal Island, which was literally covered with seals.  Plus we spotted several more playing and fishing in the waters closer to us.  The scenery was amazing.

Kilcunda East

Just up the road from Kilcunda Foreshore is Kilcunda East.  This beach is known for a large span of beach along the sand dunes.  This sounded like a perfect backdrop to fly the kites we picked up at the Coal Creek gift shop.  Plus with this storm brewing we had plenty of wind to keep them afloat.  We had a lot of fun flying for a while before getting chased off by the rain.

Kilcunda Foreshore

So back on the road... our next stop was the main beach at Kilcunda.  Kilcunda Foreshore is known for tidal pools and cliff backdrops.  Unfortunately the tide was in so we couldn't browse through the pools much, but we were able to walk along the beach and look at shells.  Plus we took a break at the playground to let off steam from the ride.

These tea-cup rides are popular at Australian playgrounds.  The faster you pull the wheel the faster the ride spins.  This is the type of ride where Ryan nearly lost his lunch before so we didn't let him ride much before getting in the car again.

Drive on the Left

For those of you avidly following this blog we interrupt the account of our adventures to bring you a public service announcement:

I'll give you a hint we only drove into oncoming traffic once during our trip but it was because the road only went one way not because we were on the incorrect side of the road.  A little light flashing and horn honking but no major incident.  Now you'll have to wait until tomorrow night before I finish writing up the rest of our weekend travels :-)

Sunrise at Wilsons Prom

We got up early since we had a lot planned for the day.  Upon stepping out our front door we were greeted with a dramatic sunrise over Mt. Oberon.

We walked down to the beach at Norman Bay.  It was another beautiful sight.  But make no mistake, it is definitely winter in Australia.  We all had to 'rug up' against the cold.

After our refreshing walk we headed back to the room for pancakes and eggs before checking out and starting our journey once again.

Lorikeet Unit

For our night's lodging I booked a Lorikeet Unit, which was a step down from a Cabin but a step up from a Hut, and advertised as a hotel-style accommodation.  The place was a bit basic overall but the oven did just fine heating our delicious homemade lasagna Jarrod had prepared ahead of time for the trip.  Good thing since the store and cafe closed at 4:30! 

We went to bed early since it was dark, raining and there was no TV.  We drifted off to the sounds of our heater and refrigerator in competing cycles, while some bloke played a terrible clarinet out back.  We contorted to avoid the bed springs and seams where the twin beds joined together as a king.  Of course I don't want to sound like I'm complaining because we truly had a wonderful time, and the place sure beats a tent.  (For $131 it should!)  The boys never even noticed their surroundings; as long as they are fed and loved they can make themselves at home anywhere with their bag of toys. 

Plus a non-digital but very lovely alarm clock woke us up the next morning.  Perhaps he was a lorikeet?

Walkerville

Oops!  I got out of sequence but I'm not going back to re-enter my blog posts.  After Coal Creek we stopped at Walkerville, known for its historic lime kilns.  This is where over 120 years ago they burned calcium carbonate to create calcium oxide for the production of mortar and the concrete of the time.  We hiked to three different kilns plus the town cemetery. 

We also saw one semi-historic fisherman and his mate coming in from the bay.  He stripped off his pants before beaching, then after trailering his boat he wrung out his undies before tossing them in the back of his truck and putting on some dry shorts.  All in plain sight.  How's that for a bit of culture difference?!

Squeaky Beach

After arriving at Wilsons Promontory National Park we checked into our accommodations at Tidal River and headed to Squeaky Beach.  The quartz in the sand squeaks as you walk.  Ryan had a close encounter with a big wave but kept his smile on even after being soaked past his knees.  We watched the sun go down in a beautiful closure to our day.

Coal Creek Historic Mining Town

Coal Creak is on the site of the first profitable coal mine in Victoria.  The courthouse is an original building from the late 1800's.  The rest of the town has been recreated to scale depicting the townsite which covers 25 acres.  Each building is like a museum filled with historic artifacts.  The hill is mined in three faces down to 800 feet.

Loch

Our first stop was at the village of Loch.  A suspension bridge over the gorge bounced with our footsteps as we crossed.  We enjoyed a break at the adjoining playground, stretching our legs before resuming our journey.

Wilsons Promontory

Sunday morning we hit the road early headed for Wilsons Promontory, the southern-most tip of mainland Australia.  The trip promised lots of wildlife and beautiful scenery.  We had many wonderful adventures on our journey so I'll create a blog entry for each major destination.

Snail Mail

Our mailbox gives a new perspective to the term snail mail.  We saw paper sticking out so after not having checked the mail since we got here it seemed time to give it a look (or a Captain Hook in local terms).  Low and behold there was a snail inside eating holes in the junk mail.  I think I'll stick to email!

Well another week has gone by.  The weather has included frequent rain but Jarrod and the boys have still made it to the local beach a couple times and out to some different parks.  On Thursday they were graced with the beautiful site of seeing dolphins in the bay.  How awesome!  Plus they saw a big starfish and a jelly fish that had washed up.  Today we had a lazy day then went swimming to another wave pool.  We had a great time.  I'm so proud of how well the boys are doing on their swimming, especially since we missed the usual lessons this summer.

Tomorrow morning we're headed off to Wilson's Promontory.  It's about a 3 hour drive southeast of here to the southern-most tip of mainland Australia.  We should be able to find some new beaches and maybe even see some wildlife.  We'll take a scenic route along the coast on the way back Monday.

Back to the Grind

Our Great Ocean Road adventure is over so it's back to the daily grind.  Jarrod and the boys stayed home yesterday rather than walk in the wind and rain.  (They had no car since I had to take it in for inspection, but we have a new one now.)  Today was an improvement though and they made up for lost time by walking along the Mordialloc pier and beach and visiting two different playgrounds.  One of the playground rides spun so fast with Jarrod pushing that Ryan nearly lost his lunch.  Plus the boys played catch with their new footballs bought at the Queen Victoria Market on Sunday.  (They have about wiped out the souvenir money Grama gave them but they love their treasures - thanks Grama!)  All three boys were full of smiles when they picked me up tonight.  This evening was busy with more paper boat making.  Kyle and Ryan's room is looking like a used boat yard with half-constructed models of various shapes and sizes (or sunken remains).  The one in this picture is a ferry that hauls Lego's and Hot Wheels around the utility room sink.  Jarrod even got creative and sprayed it with water-proofing first to to see if it would float longer.  Boys will be boys!

Smash at Mackers!

This morning we took it easy after our long day yesterday.  Then this afternoon ('arvo') I took the boys swimming.  They had a lot of fun, especially when the wave pool would wind up every 30 minutes.  I treated them to ice cream and french fries ('chips') at McDonald's ('Mackers') on the way home.  Unfortunately the guy in front of me was all frustrated over the lady spilling a Coke in his lap and after pulling out of the drive-thru to exit the 'car park' he must have decided to come back in to complain or get napkins or something.  He put his BMW in reverse and rammed me.  Oops.  It was only the second time Jarrod turned me loose with the car and I got it 'smashed'.  Hopefully they don't take the car away on Monday :-)  In a long weekend of adventures the boys got to experience their first minor car accident.  We were all safe and sound though. 

Queenscliff Ferry

We finished off our day by taking the Queenscliff-Sorrento ferry back to our side of Port Phillip Bay rather than driving back up and around through downtown Melbourne.  It was the first time either Jarrod or the boys had been on a ferry.  We drove the car in the hold then headed up top.  Night had fallen by then so we didn't get any good pictures from the gently rocking boat but the skyline was pretty.  We finished out our trip with an hour or so drive up the coast and back to home away from home.  It was a wonderful couple days with journey by car, plane and boat.  We'll have memories to keep with us a lifetime.

Addis Point

Addis Point was our last stop on the Great Ocean Road.  It's an area known for many historic ship wrecks.  From the observation point we looked at Pixie Caves during high tide then hiked down to Red Rock Beach.  The boys were over-confident playing chase the waves and got a bit wet but we had spare socks and shoes.  It's been so fun watching the boys laugh and play.  I wish it were summer here but we're enjoying ourselves anyway.  Ryan was telling me how if I were a boy and a lot younger then I could run fast like him and have a lot of fun too.  I had to grin and tell him I had fun just watching.

Erskine Falls

After our plane ride we reversed direction and headed back toward Melbourne.  The winding curves of the Great Ocean Road make you feel like a road rally driver.  The boys kept head-down with the DS and Gameboy though and to our delight didn't even get queasy.  We headed inland a few kilometers and hiked into Erskine Falls.  We didn't worry about the sign that tells you to not slip and fall while hiking, don't drown trying to cross the rocks, don't let a tree fall on you and avoid the snakes.  We stayed safe and enjoyed the views and foliage!

A Flying Adventure

Friday morning we decided to treat ourselves to an anniversary present and fly to Twelve Apostles rather than drive.  A man and his son from the U.K. were also inquiring about a charter that morning.  Kyle and Ryan were small enough to share a seat so we split the cost, filled the 6-seater plane and off we went.  The weather was marginal but the sun would pop out every now and then to give us rays of sunshine and even a rainbow.  The views were so spectacular that I can't even describe.  We saw much more than had we driven and hiked the whole day.  We flew as far as the Bay of Islands then circled around for the return flight.  The boys did ok although Ryan's tummy was feeling pretty yucky about 40 minutes in so he hid inside his coat curled up against the side of the plane.  Kyle started playing his DS and stopped asking about why the ride was bumpy.  However when asked if he still wanted to be a pilot some day he excitedly answered yes and said his stomach would get used to it.  Our landing was rather exciting.  The sideways slide down the muddy runway only gave us pause for a few seconds then we could all breathe again.  But obviously we made it safe and sound since I'm writing this blog :-)

Seaview Motel

The light was fading fast so we headed back to town.  We spotted one kangaroo on the trip back but just like spotting deer in the wild he was on the move and didn't wait around for a picture.  We ate dinner at a food court where the boys got a cheeseburger and Jarrod and I shared fish-n-chips and a Fisherman's Catch.  We got to taste scallops, prawn, a seafood stick, fish fillet and more, then stopped at the grocery store for dessert and refrigerated items.  We were comfortable in our rooms for the night despite the 'firm' bed (Jarrod said we could use it to drive nails).  The next morning I watched the ocean from our patio for a while then walked down to the beach while the boys slept in.  We cooked ourselves a wonderful breakfast of scrambled eggs, pancakes with chocolate spread and fresh strawberries.  We were sure glad we came prepared with our own food and rented a place with a kitchen.  A bowl of cereal was priced at $7 at the place we dined at the night before.  I can't imagine what a full breakfast for four would have cost!

Cape Otway

We continued on to Apollo Bay and checked into our hotel.  After resting for a short while we continued on toward Cape Otway Lighthouse, where we had instructions for finding Koala's in the wild (thanks Aaron!).  Sure enough we got just past the cattle guard on the Cape Otway road and looked in the tree on our right and there they were.  Then we started looking around and spotted them over and over again in trees all around us.  Most were sleeping in the crooks of the trees but a few popped up to look at us.  They are the cutest little guys!  Unfortunately they are rather clever at avoiding the camera, and it seems we mostly got their backsides on film.  We couldn't get any closer because there were cattle all over the road.  Ryan was fascinated by the cows more than the koala's, crazy kid!  We again missed the last lighthouse tour of the day but that was ok because the koala's were worth it.

Aireys Inlet

From Torquay we continued west to Aireys Inlet.  We were attracted by the lighthouse but got detoured by lunch and more playing on the beach so didn't make it in time for the last tour of the day (they close early mid-week).  That was ok because the beach was a lot of fun.  I was busy trying to get pictures and a wave snuck up on me.  Jarrod's yell gave me just enough time to run like crazy before getting drenched.  The boys really got a kick out of watching me sprint away from the water.

Bells Beach

Bells Beach was our first stop after getting out of town.  This was just outside of Torquay, the surf capital of Victoria.  We enjoyed watching the surfers catch the waves, or crash trying.  We saw one guy hit a wave so hard he flipped upside down spinning through the air.  What a site!

Great Ocean Road

Thursday morning we pointed the car for the Great Ocean Road.  It's an area known for awesome scenic views.  The weather was hit and miss but fortunately the rain would stop long enough for us to play at various beaches along the way then start back up while we were driving.  I'll split up our major stops in separate posts but even then it was hard to pick out just a few pictures.  We had a wonderful time celebrating our 16th wedding anniversary.