Who's the greatest? And other conversations on Great Ocean Road

First of all, thank you for clicking the link on Facebook, on Blogger or on your friend's email. For it seems that many have been clicking and readings number has gone over 1000 a few days ago. Many are reading about skiking, which is great, because you must pass the word on that great activity. Just today I did probably the nicest skiking bit so far. Weather was sunny and around 16 degrees (trusting Len's estimation here) and the nature in the park is getting livelier by the week. After all, spring time is approaching. 

I hope my blabbing will be interesting in the future too. ;) And people, please, leave those comments! Just click "no comments" if there aren't any and leave something, anything, let me know you are out there! I speak Finnish, Swedish, English, little German and even some words of Kiswahili, so seriously,a comment on ANY language will be appreciated! 

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I think I'm about half way into my stay here, and it feels like there's just so much to experience still. That's why I'm trying to keep up the tempo by seeing and doing things as opportunities arise. This is the prelude into the story of how I ended up doing Great Ocean Road on a short notice. ;) My buddy from work, this Irish lad, mentioned that he was thinking of doing the trip the following weekend. I think this was a Monday afternoon conversation. Little did he know that I'm good at tagging along and so asked straight away, if I could join them (meaning him and his flatmate), and so the planning started. 

What planning? I was feeling tired all week and finally on the last night before going on Saturday I checked at where should we go and see. By that time, 10pm the previous night, we didn't have a car, clear plans, def nothing to take with as a snack, and I booked the hostel there and then at late hours. Well, that bit was SOOOOO useless, because there were probably 5 other people in Port Campbell Hostel. :D The hostel was very quite, but I can imagine it's packed and lively during summertime. It's very neat and clean, hot water in showers and funny eco toilets (which were little inconveniently on the corridor, but at least they were spotless and there were several there). Good value for 25 dollars a night (BYO towel place - we shared mine :D ).

On Sunday morning, we, that being me, Simona from Switzerland and Simon from Ireland, met up at car rental shop. His flatmate couldn't come after all. My master mind had suggested Sunday-Monday trip due to weather forecast (actually it was Jess's master mind), and although, I felt sorry that the two other people couldn't come because of this, it seemed to be good planning weather-wise. Hardly any rain, lot of sunshine or half cloudy weather, nice for driving. Driving in a thirsty rental car, which was sweet to operate, but probably not the cheapest option available. So in case someone gets inspired and wants to do the road trip on their own and not with a tour operator, then check prices in good time and book in advance. This is NOT to say our trip cost a lot! Not at all, just providing some travel tips as I blab along. 

Vroom, vrooom, first stop Kew East, because I grabbed my driver's license, Vroom, vroom, the next stop, Torquay, because I wanted to check out surfing outlets. Think Quicksilver, Roxy, Billabong and Rip Curl. Oh, Rip Curl you don't have to imagine:

Nuts about surf gear?

Lunch at Subway and off we went. As day was turning to afternoon this route planner soon realized there's no way in hell we'd be able to see much on the way, if we wanted to reach the most famous site on this road, the 12 Apostles by sunset. And we (I think it was we) wanted. "Tomorrow. We'll do that tomorrow." Soon Simona and Simon started making remarks that there seems to be quite a few things left for tomorrow. Stopped at Apollo Bay for some refreshments and since the liquor shop owner was Iris (of course, the Irish are everywhere, because they are so great) Simona and Simon got some souvenirs and all I got was an empty bladder. Guys, next time, grab something for me too! 

Views from the car window were indeed wonderful. There was a lot of debate in the car whether the road deserves its reputation and for me, it seemed like many of the places looked liked either from Ireland or Switzerland, if the remark in the car were to be listen to. Personally, I was happy to see the waves, rocks, beaches, rainforest and gumtree bits, serpentine roads (no, nothing like in the Alps, I know) and pastures. Amazing colours, so much lush green bits, and different shades of blue both in the sky and in the ocean horizon. I'd do it all over again, no doubt. Perhaps during summer time, though, because I bet I could spot a few more juicy Ozzie surfers then. ;) This time only one sighting. And that poor thing was far away and looked lost. 

Somewhere on the road

Sunset time. Made it easily to 12 Apostles. Just like the odd hundred other tourist, most of them from Asia, it seemed. There we were, team Europe taking pictures like the Japanese. A lot. Hence my facebook album, which you ought to be able to access. There are many pictures of the Sow and Piglets, the previous name for the 12 Apostles. I prefer the previous name. Oink. 

Evening was spend eating at a lovely Italian pizza place called Nico's in the quiet village of Port Campbell. I even spotted a beach and even though favourite Finnish summer time activity, skinny dipping, didn't get support, we decided to come down for a morning swim. And I promised not to act all promiscuous and wear my swimming gear. :P If we are to give away prizes of weird activities, I think Simon should get it. He went running after the pizza evening in the dark at 9.30pm. (Okay, I was just jealous that he was being all active and I was just sleepy from wine and all that driving. Oh, the Irish beat me in this too!)

At Nico's

Cold morning. I was commenting that it's really misty and cold. Simona grunted from bed that "you two were talking all day on your swimming, you go!".  :D No, I wasn't hesitating. I was just commenting. Town was sleepy. 

I love cold water. I may be all whiny about cold weather, but I love cold water. I'm addicted to the endorphin rush it causes. And now I can say I've swam (or dipped, hard to swim in shallow water) on Great Ocean Road Trip. :)

Simon had to mention that water in Ireland is colder, but they still swim in it. Well, this is one of the rare accusations I'm able to top with my avanto (hole in the ice) swimming almost weekly.

Here's the brave lady from the States enjoy the Finnish icy water swimming.
(Amy, hope you don't mind the pic!)

The next day was spent checking out the London Bridge in the morning. Beautiful. Especially now that the great Irish mind on the trip taught me how to use the panorama function in my camera. 

The next stop was Otway National Park and the Otway Fly to be exact. This was one of the places highly recommended online, so thought we'd check out the tree top walk and rainforest. Got there and realised that this is a tourist place and you have to pay 24 dollars to do the tree to walk. Since we'd come all the way, off we went. And I thought it was rather pleasant. Nothing mind-blowing, but to be honest, I like these kind of small nice things. And the history of the place was interesting. This could be read on the boards in the park and in the leaflet given to us at the beginning of the trail. I swear I could imagine the dinosaurs roaming the place thousands of years ago. 

We like lighthouses so after lunch we tried to see the Cape Otway Lighthouse. But visiting it would have cost another 20 dollars, and since it was already 4 pm and we'd have only an hour to check out the lighthouse area, we decided just to wonder around and indeed, we did get a glimpse of the lighthouse. And a good sighting of wallabies.

The most rewarding bit of the drive to Cape Otway was the koala population living in the area. They were everywhere! At one stop my counting was 17, which doesn't include the baby koalas holding on to their mommies. :) I though my battery was dead (that's why don't have may pics from Otway), but miraculously the thing recovered enough to capture there fur balls. 

I think I speak for everyone on the trip, if I say that this was one of the highlights on the trip. And need I mentioned the first spotting was by the Irish eyes?
 
Driving home was pleasant, although, I'm not sure the other passengers appreciated my backseat karaoke. I'll always look back on those moments as being memorable in a positive way. Simona and Simon may think them memorable, but in less positive way. ;) 

Why the title of this post? Isn't it obvious? I'm willing to put my hands up and just acknowledge that the Irish are the greatest. They are here and there and seem to be making it everywhere. I think I have to go and see for myself where these strong survivors come from. So Ireland, I'll see you next year! ;)