MELBOURNE TO HOME - 16 TO 25 APRIL 2022

 16 APRIL

MELBOURNE

We arrived at Melbourne on the ‘Spirit of Tasmania’. The journey was overnight and we had a cabin.

After stopping for breakfast, we drove to Marty and Suzie’s home.

It was a fun day drinking good wine and eating nibbles.

Marty had to visit friend.

17 APRIL

MELBOURNE TO ANGELSEA

After breakfast, we drove to Anglesea and settled into Nick’s house.

Marty and I had a surf on a beach break west of Anglesea and the girls went to another beach for a swim. The surf was okay with a very strong wind.

We had a relaxing afternoon and ate pizza for dinner.

18 APRIL

ANGLESEA TO ALBURY

 My birthday! 66^th year!

We said our goodbyes and left Anglesea for Albury.

It was a long drive in off and on rain and some traffic.

19 APRIL

ALBURY

It rained all day.

20 APRIL

ALBURY TO WAGGA WAGGA

We woke to sunshine.

I had a mountain bike ride at Nail Can Hill. It wasn’t that good as the tracks were heavily eroded and there was a need more directional sign.

Later, we sat at park on Murray River. It was very pleasant in the sunshine, watching the river meander along.

We parked in town to see the Mama Art Gallery. There wasn’t much on display.

We drove to Wagga Wagga and settled into a camp beside the Murrumbidgee River.

21APRIL

WAGGA WAGGA

An easy day.

22 APRIL

WAGGA WAGGA TO SUTTON

In the morning, we left the camp area and we had a fun cycle around Lake Albert.

After that, I had a mountain bike ride at Pomingalarna Mountain Bike Park and Jacinta had a walk. The tracks were very good and the ride was heaps of fun.

We left Albury and drove to Sutton. We stayed at Mark’s new home.

23 APRIL

SUTTON

We had a tour of parts of Canberra.

Later, we had a big dinner and a fire afterwards at Chris and Matilda’s place.

24 APRIL

SUTTON TO KIAMA

We said our bye byes and left Sutton.

It was a wet drive and a steep and windy road to the Jamberoo Pub where we met long time friend Beacon and Meryl. It was a great venue and a great afternoon chatting and enjoying each other’s company.

We drove to Kiama to stay with other long-time friends, Grotty and Helen. It was a fun afternoon of chatting, drinking and lots of board games.

25 APRIL

SUTTON TO HOME

After a leisurely breakfast, we farewelled Grotty and Helen and drove back home.

The end of another road adventure. Time goes by so fast and it seems the trip was a blink of the eye.

PHILLIP ISLAND, VICTORIA - 9 TO 12 FEBRUARY 2022

 9 FEBRUARY

PHILLIP ISLAND

It was a bit of a drive – 4 hours but the roads were good and the scenery variable.

We stopped at Bairnsdale to get a component for the GPS – successful. We passed through some pretty towns and decided that we will do a dedicated Victoria trip on another road trip.

We arrived at Phillip Island settles into our camp area and wandered down to the beach for afternoon wine in the closing rays of the sun.

10 FEBRUARY

PHILLIP ISLAND

After breakfast, we had a short sit on the camp beach to decide today’s activities.

We drove to Smiths Beach firstly to check the surf. It was about ½ foot and onshore.

Next stop was Pyramid Rock. The road in was very corrugated but it was worth it. A boardwalk leading out the point with sweeping coastal views to the south and north of the island. The immediate coastline was rugged and looked difficult to access but the clear water looked inviting for a snorkel.

Bumpty bump and back to the main road and on to Kitty Miller Bay. The tide was low and the bay was lined with a sandy beach on the immediate foreshore then a vast low lying rock platform dotted with rocks. The two points of the bay were small cliffs. It was very pretty. Endangered birds nest in the area. Tread carefully.

Next were The Nobbies. There were board walks at various levels with nesting boxes scattered everywhere in the sloping hillside for penguins. The views of the coastline were magnificent with rocky inlets, rock pools, deep water, a large rounded headland and a small offshore island. There were large birds fossicking and we even saw a copperhead snake (venomous).

Two short stops to look at the coast and surf at Cowrie and Shelly Beach which are on the inland side of the island. Very pretty with very small waves.

Our last stop was Swan Lake for some bird watching. There was a boardwalk that led to two bird hides for viewing. A great idea! We saw cormorants, black swans, swallows, ducks, swamp hens and many other birds, as well as, a large kangaroo with a white stripe on either face cheek and a blue tongue lizard.

What a great day! Back to camp for resting.

11 FEBRUARY

PHILLIP ISLAND

We drove to Wallamai Bay to check the surf. The wind was strong and onshore but the wave size had increased. There was a major surfing contest.

We decided on a cycle at Owens Reserve.

The tracks were easy and groomed with a bit of uphill and downhill. We saw a couple of swamp wallabies and an echidna along the way. The scenery was scrubby.

12 FEBRUARY

PHILLIP ISLAND – SPIRIT OF TASMANIA

We packed and left for our rendezvous with the ferry to Tasmania.

Along the way, we stopped at the Chocolate Factory for coffee. The coffee was delivered by tray carrying robots. Unique!

Our next stop was CRANEBOURNE to buy a dongle. It was no problem but not cheap.

We drove to MORNINGTON PIER for lunch in the park. The views were great but the place was very crowded … Saturday. I had a walk around the headland, along the pier and the beach. On the pier there were kids jumping into the water and along the beach I saw a couple of large mantra rays in the shallows.

We had dinner in a nice park at ST KILDA We drove a little further to get ourselves ready for the ferry. Outside the beach toilets was a reasonably young girl sleeping on a mattress. She was friendly and we chatted a bit. A different life!

SPIRIT OF TASMANIA

We drove a short distance for the line up to board the ferry. It all went quite smoothly and before long we were parked on the boat, settled into our cabin and having a few drinks in the bar.

TYERS LAKE, VICTORIA - 7 TO 9 FEBRUARY 2022

 

7 FEBRUARY

TYERS LAKE

After leaving Mallacoota, we stopped at Cann River for the best egg and bacon burger and mediocre coffee.

We checked briefly the surf at Red Bluff – it had potential. Next was the camp at Tyers Lake – Lake Beachfront Holiday Park.

A bit of a bush track to the beach – loved it and the beach looked great and buffed with sandstone cliffs.

We settled in and I had a mountain bike ride along the local cliff top tracks. A great ride through thick bush and dense scrub that formed a tunnel. There were occasional views of the coastal scenery below and onwards to the north. At the most northern end I rode along a rainforest track and the wide beach formed by the exit of the river to the sea. Very pretty and a great ride.

Back at camp, and we swam in the pool and sat in the sun. Nice.

The late afternoon was relaxation and having a few wines and beers and a combo of the two.

The camp area is very pretty. Lots of shady trees, filtering light, protected from the wind and birds high above.

8 FEBRUARY

TYERS LAKE

We drove down to the lake and wandered around the beach and lake foreshore. It was very pretty and serene.

We continued to Lakes Entrance. It was sort of pretty but a bit too commercialized. Not much soul.

On the way back, we stopped at Lake Bunga. I had a kayak in the lake. It was so pristine and tranquil – birds, dragonflies, swaying reeds and trees, old bridge and the remains of small forests of trees that were once above water.

While I was gone, Jacinta had a walk along the beach and lake. A large black snake swam past her where I had launched my kayak.

9 FEBRUARY

TYERS LAKE

We woke and had a slow pack as we had a small problem with the van GPS.

Finally, we got going and stopped at Red Bluff to check the surf. It was pumping at overhead height. One mistake was putting on a spring suit and rash shirt … just wasn’t warm enough. It was bearable but I was surfing cold. Anyway, I had a number of fun waves before the cold got to me and in I went.

Off we went to Phillip Island.