On The Road Again
After I tossed in my high-pressure job, I thought before I started chasing up work, I should take a holiday in the event I couldn't ever afford another. I hired a little Toyota hard top campervan and drove throughout country Victoria and NSW with Jack (The Wonder Dog). We headed off for 5 weeks of driving at a leisurely pace and stopping when and where we liked a place.
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Great Ocean Road
These pictures are of the coastline around The Great Ocean Road in Victoria. The top photo is of the Loch Ard Gorge - one of Australia's most famous (and tragic) shipwreck relics. The Great Ocean Road is a most spectacular coastal drive, extending from Aireys Inlet to a few kilometres east of Warrnambool.
The picture to the left shows the Twelve Apostles - a spectacular example of the rugged coastline along this area yet still abundant with wildflowers. When these pictures were taken (in November - our Summer) I had to stand like a tripod - rather difficult with only two legs - as the wind was blowing so strong!)
National Parks on this route are abundant with native plants and birdlife.
The picture to the right is looking towards the east of the Twelve Apostles.
Interesting towns to stop at along "The Road" - (too many people do the Great Ocean Road in a day) : Portland, Princetown, Port Campbell and the pretty little town of Port Fairy.
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Daylesford (Victoria)
Imagine your mother's maiden name being McDonald - imagine pulling into a camp ground and hearing bagpipes playing. Walk to the source of the bagpipes and drums playing and then stand and listen... feel the goose-bumps... as you witness a massed pipe and drum band playing "Scotland, The Brave". This is the spectacular sight and sound I drove up to in Daylesford, Victoria.
I was blessed with arriving in Daylesford during the Forty-Fourth Highland Gathering. When I arrived at the camp-ground most of the 50 bands that were competing in the Band Competition had finished, however I did get to see and hear the spectacle as they all marched off the parade ground, as "one". That early evening and late into the night - you could wander through the grounds and see groups and single pipers playing. There were even "jam sessions" with members of various bands, playing together, their favourite pop songs as well as old Scottish favourites. 'Tis truly a wonderful world we live in here, in Australia.
It is here in Daylesford that the early Colonials "took the waters" - Daylesford has natural mineral springs that are still working to this day. Visit Daylesford and you will still see the old Baths, you can taste the waters from the original water fountains. Or you can step into today - be it just an afternoon by the lake for a Devonshire Tea (tea and scones, jam and cream) ... or a few days at any of the wonderful bed and breakfasts that abound in this area.
The Convent Gallery is worthy of a visit. Not only does it house wonderful artworks and jewellery for the keen collector to take home with them, but also boasts a wonderful restaurant and "tea room". Privately owned now, it had originally been a Catholic Nunnery and then a boarding school for "Young Ladies". The Convent Gallery also has a wonderful chapel where I was so very fortunate to hear rehearsal of the Melbourne Choral Group.
To the right is part of the pretty cottage garden that blends so well with the Australian native plants that surround the Gallery.
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Have a massage, visit the galleries, or take in a walk - you will find so much to enjoy in this lovely country town.