2015-02-14

The G.O R.

Melbourne is a beautiful city, no one can deny that. It had many things to offer we don't see in Brisbane or see very little of. The majority of the Brisbane shopping areas are large to very large Shopping Malls. Some of them are so large they seem to swallow you up and you constantly need to check were you are so you can find your way back. I am sure Melbourne has them equally as large but also has very many so-called Strip Shopping Centres or Shopping Streets like you find in Europe. The vegetation is different to Queensland as well as the climate is a lot cooler here in the south.

Outside Melbourne there are some very nice areas to visit and one of them is the Great Ocean Road. This is one of the nicest roads in Australia and per definition the most scenic road in Victoria which runs- as the name implies- along the coast of the Tasman Sea and The Southern Ocean.
After Geelong the road hugs the coast and winds along its foreshore. Within minutes you can either drive/ride a meter above sea level followed by steep climbs with twists and turns reaching 200-300 meters. The many bays make for good fishing or pleasant pick nick spots.

Things changes over time-many years ago I visited the small village of Lorne which had now become a resort town. I had been here in my early days when I was a motorcycle dealer. During one of our open day customer rides we had arrived here with 30-40 motorcycle and where immediately requested by the local police to leave town. Not smart as we all just wanted to buy lunch and drinks, so the town’s shops missed out.

My local paper (The Dandenong News) took up the story as one of their advertising men had become a client and was with us that day. The headline was "The Cop who watched too many movies" I still have the newspaper cutting- very amusing.

The road leads to Apollo Bay, an excellent place for a half way stopover. From hear the twisties run through the Great Otway National Park and hugs the coast again at the famous Twelve Apostles National Park. And so I arrived at another Icon of many annual Australian Calenders showing the natural wonders of the Country. The coast has eroded away over thousands or millions of years leaving large chunks behind standing by themselves, just off shore. I had often seen pictures but once there, it is an amazing sight. Check them out. The road back to Melbourne runs first to thick rainforest to Colac, and are again in excellent condition, The only danger are the many Chinese tourist in hire cars. Their driving and parking skills are atrocious to say the least. My bike was hit by one and almost hit a second time a minute later and that was without me sitting on it.
Along the coast I have never seen so many signs with “In Australia we drive on the left” .These signs are placed at the car park exits. Not a bad idea as it has happened to me too (In Europe) coming out of a car park or one way street that you automatically go to the wrong side of the road. I feel, however, that these signs should also be written in Chinese. The many Japanese tourists would be ok as Japan drives in the left as well. A hot ride (36 degrees) back to Melbourne with a cooling stopover in Geelong at the restored Pier.