Saturday, November 19, 2011

Meandering Adventures to Melbourne


Thursday 17th, Friday 18th and Saturday 19th November

Thursday

Left Apollo Bay today but headed back towards Lavers Hill and Otway Fly Tree Top Adventures.  This is another treetop walk but for those who are a little bit more adventurous there is a Zip Line Tour.  This is where there are a number of flying foxes set up where you move through the treetops like a monkey.  Deb and I weren’t adventurous, we just did the tree top walk.  It took us about an hour.

Dinosaur in Under storey at Otway Fly Tree Top Adventures
Dinosaur in Under storey at Otway Fly Tree Top Adventures
Tower on Tree Top Walk
After we left there we decided to turn left instead of right as we have a want to do.  It took us towards Apollo Bay but on a nice dirt road about 20 km long.  I enjoyed the journey, however I am not sure about Deb.  We went past a couple of waterfalls but only where we didn't have to walk more than 3 kilometres.
Hopetoun Falls
We had lunch back in Apollo Bay and then headed towards Queenscliffe.  The road along the coast was absolutely spectacular.  There was something new around each turn and because the road was fairly windy the speed of travel allowed you to view it all.  I reckon that we have a couple of hundred pictures to show for it.  I would recommend the trip from one end of the Great Ocean Road to the other.
Grand Pacific Hotel - Lourne
House Build on a Cliff near eastern end of Great Ocean Road

Friday

In Melbourne Today.  Got the ferry from Queenscliff to Sorrento and then headed to Melbourne.  The trip across the Port Phillip Bay was really nice, beautiful day without too much wind.  I reckon if there was a bit of a swell it wouldn’t be a really nice experience.  There were about 40 cars and trucks on board.  We were nearly the first off although we weren’t the first on.
Ready to Go when Needed
General Cargo Carrier on Port Philip Bay
Another Way of Getting There
Bathing Huts near Sorrento


We travelled from Sorrento to Frankston along the coast road then headed from Frankston to Melbourne on the highway.  I can’t say I was impressed with the traffic.  We ended up on the toll-way and the sensor in the car was beeping an awful lot as we passed under the sensors.  Don’t know what the bill will be.

We went down to St Kilda to see the sea.  We left the caravan park and the outside temperature was 36 degrees which increased to 39 degrees before we got there.  Just as we got there it became overcast with a bit of a blow and  within 10 minutes it was down to about 25.  It got even lower before we got back to the park
Something We found at St Kilda
We visited the Darebin RSL for dinner.  The meals were nice, Deb had pork belly that had been cooked for 8 hours and I had lambs shanks.  I didn’t have to sign in because I was a member of another sub-branch.  I even got cheaper drinks.

Off to Queen Victoria Markets tomorrow.

Saturday

Early to Queen Victoria Markets.  It is pouring with rain today and cold.  It was fortunate we left early because the traffic wasn’t too bad.  We were able to get some good parking close to the markets, don’t know if it was because we were early or because the weather wasn’t too good.

The markets seemed to have everything.  There was a fruit and vegie area with separate organic section, clothing, food court and a deli section containing more meat, fish, cheese and bread than Melbourne could eat.  A foodies delight.
Lots of Bread
Butter for Andrew's Toast
Terrine's of all Types
I got myself a genuine imitation leather belt to replace the one I have been wearing for years.  Thought about replacing it in Fremantle but thought it would last a few more weeks.  Hasn’t self-destructed yet but is very close to it.  We got some fruit which was reasonably priced as well.

After the markets we went out to visit Ross and Mary Chapman.  Ross is a professor in the Business School at Deakin University here in Melbourne.  We had a really nice lunch and very pleasant conversation which lasted the afternoon.  Time flew and we unfortunately had to take our leave late in the afternoon.
There's not much they don't have
Tomorrow we are heading home.  At the present time we plan to head towards Eden.

Deb and Den

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