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On Friday 12th Jan, we arrived in Melbourne and went straight to meet Sar and Boyks, it was fantastic to see them again. We spent a couple of days in Portsea at Boyks parents (Barb and Gaz) pad on the beach, and amused ourselves by laying in the sun, drinking and hanging out on Gaz's boat - it was heavenly!! We got to see all the famous sights we'd heard so much about, where Sar and Boy got married, Portsea pub and Sorrento hotel - all of which slightly under the influence, which is a common side affect when were with Sar and Boy!
We then headed to Melbourne city where Sar;s parents live and stayed with Karin and Neil for a couple of days, and continued the same pattern of hanging out around the beach, drinking etc. We had the pleasure one day when the temperature reached 43 degrees - with a northern wind - which means going anywhere outside - including the beach had the same affect as sitting in an oven with a hairdryer blowing on you. Just to add to this uncomfortable climate the bush fires had severed the electricity throughout Melbourne so we couldn't even find comfort in air con!! This lead the city into a complete panic, over a 1000 traffic lights stopped working and all the wanabee traffic police where out of their cars attempting to direct the traffic - it was rather amusing!
Our next trip was to drive along the famous Great Ocean Road, this is a coastal road that has magnificent views and famous sights along the way. Our first stop was Torquay where we got to briefly meet Lorna in a car park - of all places outside their rented van with the cookie monster plastered all over it! It was lovely to see her all be it brief! We then headed onto Anglesea where I finally, after six weeks in Oz managed to hunt down some kangaroos on the golf course. Somewhere between avoiding random golf balls, and skirting round some aggressive looking roos, I managed to find a perfect spot to take some pics, Ben sat miles away shaking his head with one eye open waiting for them to pounce on me, they were cute although looked slightly irritable - probably from everyone taking their photo!
The highlight of the great ocean road was the 12 Apostles at the end of the route, these are cliff faces that have been washed away by the sea to leave big rocks standing in the sea - I guess you have to see them appreciate the beauty. It was an awesome sight even if I did see them through a one centimetre gap from the jumper wrapped round my head in an attempt to beat away the flies, there was 100,000,000,000s of them - no exaggeration! This was our last stop in Oz and we have had the most amazing time here, It was so lovely seeing Sar and Boy again and really appreciated their parents and their hospitality.
I would recommend a trip to Australia to everyone, I've decided the Auzzies are very much like the Irish -but with a tan - lots of drinking very friendly, tell it like it is (note the drink driving sign) and always up for another drink without the car of course! Next stop New Zealand!!
previous travel blog entry
James & Cathy says:
Sounds like Qz was a great experience and we are definitely going to take your advice and spend some time there in the near future. In fact, I have decided that I should take a gap year -the year before I retire!- and spend it down under. Don't fancy Melbourne though in the summer!