Best Laid Plans

At The Rip - the beanie was essential  The crossing provided everything promised (threatened).  It was rather a roller coaster of a ride (I recall a rollercoaster ride called Montezuma's Revenge, from decades ago.. ) and the surf was definitely up. The lifeboat sheds at Queenscliff From time to time during the night I'd sit up and look out my cabin window and watching the waves being very lumpy with white caps.  After a visit to Keiser in Geelong for my knee physio program, I proceeded to Queenscliff and wandered out to the point and admired the lifeboat shed and lots of white caps in a very stiff breeze. Queenscliff church with Funeral Poles I walked around Queenscliff as my itinerary said admire the historic buildings, which I did down the main Street, I didn't visit the art gallery because it's not open until 10:00. I did note that the historic buildings in Queenscliff include a number of churches, one of which had First Nations funeral poles on the lawn beside i...

 After managing to tick many of the jobs off my Friday morning list, including double-checking road conditions and confirming that I certainly did not want to drive over the top. Golden Valley to Miena is "caution 4WD only" and yes, I have an AWD Subaru, and there are chains in the car, but it's not a big boy 4WD. I left home around about midday and topped up with petrol and windscreen washer water before hitting the road.  As I drove past a small flock of sulphur crested cockatoos, I amused myself with a memory of travelling that road with my grandmother, visiting from England, and her remarking that the cockatoos were flying around just like ordinary birds! I knew exactly what she meant but it did seem rather funny.  I also recalled as I drove past the turnoff to Jericho early trips with the family. It must have been very soon after we arrived in Tasmania and Mum and Dad would take us out for a short drive at the weekend and we'd find somewhere off and o...

Plan C:  the mainland road trip planned for May is rescheduled to start on 29th August.  I had planned to start with a drive on the Friday over the Lakes Road with a little walk to Pine Lake.   Given the snow that has already fallen as of Thursday evening and is forecast to continue, discretion dictates otherwise. We are in for rather a polar blast with stormy weather forecast.  Bass Strait is going to be lumpy and windy.  At least I have a cabin to myself and don't have to deal with anyone else's travel health challenges. And my wonderful planning for the first few days of  exploring along the Great Ocean Road include snorkelling, swimming, camping, bushwalking... at least when I could not re-book the campsite I wanted for the first night, I accidentally booked an AIRBNB in Anglesea. I may be VERY thankful for that! I also imagine that by the time I get to Halls Gap on Wednesday I will be very glad to maximise my use of my upgraded studio cabin - for...