Well I went on a road trip to the Grampians, Goldfields and Great Ocean Road with Maxine.

We got up early in the morning and headed out on the open road with the ipods, and tunes cranked. We planned that we coud see it all in 4 days and I tell you it was a push.

First stop was the Grampians. A small national park, somewhat mountiany but nothing compared to the Rocky's. Maxine drove the whole way which was nice so that I could look out the window and navigate. We went on a hike when we got there to MacKenzie Falls, what a beautful sight. Water in the middle of a dry dry country. Where does it come from? We stayed in Halls Gap the first night, and woke to many kangaroos and a light foggy mist. It was a brillant sight. On our way out and towards the Goldfields of Ballarat we drove through some of the forest fire area. Stopped along the way to do a hike to the "bees hive falls" lets just say there was not as much water and it was a bit of a disappointment. But none the less still very beautiful.

The Goldfields, well it was like wallking through Hertiage park. We didnt have enough time to go through the park that day but stayed the night there on site. In a beautiful old fashioned room. Went the a dinner and a show that night there also. we thought the simplier the better. Driving in Ballarat was a little confusing for us. The next day was spent touring the grounds and seeing the gold musuem. I went under ground in one of the old gold mines by myself. With the commitary playing and spooking me slightly.

Then is was off on the Great Ocean Road. Something I was not leaving Australia without doing. And was not willing to go on a tour on this one! We headed towards Geelong and started in Tourquay which is famous for being the surf capital. We stopped for icecream which melted all down my top of course. Dress me up but cant take me out. We made it to Lorne where we could not find accomadation because it was a long weekend in Victoria which we did not know about and everyone from Melbourne was out it seemed. So we got desperate and I made Maxine stay in a hostel. A first for everything right. The good thing was there was great parking. The bathroom was right outside our door, but it was a little rough. We had dinner in the resturant under the hostel and it was brillant. One of the best dining out meals I had in Oz.

We got up super early. mainly because the room was so hot and stuffy that we had the window open and the damn birds definitely do not sleep in there. So off on the great adventure agian. Went on many small hikes along the way. I had many things I wanted to see and do on this stretch of the trip and Maxine was so great to take me to all these places. We finally made it to the Apostles and Gibsons steps, it was so amazing. Another amazing thing was all the people. SO many, cars, buses. If tourists can get there they were there. It was so crazy. This is also the time of day when we are thinking about how far from home we where and if it was worth staying another night somewhere. We decided to drive. I thought lets get some chow, chocolate, and drive to our own beds. We made it at about 2 in the morning we arrive back in Kingston after dodging kangaroos, and slept like babies.

I have a big thank you for John and Maxine Drabsch for putting up with me and letting me stay there. I owe them big time.

I was off to Melbourne next, Jarred took me to the airport in Mount Gambier. Small ass plane and got to sit by a kiwi, lucky lucky me. LOL