3 April 2021
The great traffic road
Along the Great Ocean Road between Cape Otway and Lorne
Today was all about huge crowds of people and traffic. I knew this, I was prepared for this. Lorne was far worse than I thought but everywhere else was OK.
There are lots of little places between Cape Otway and Lorne with beaches, rocks and views. I visited a few of them.
Some highlights along the way were seeing nude girls doing the instagram beach pose, a fire, and a chlorine spill.
The fire was in a rubbish bin and the chlorine spill apparently injured 15 people at the Apollo Bay swimming pool.
I had no actual plan, just decided to follow the brown signs and walk around wherever they lead me. This was a good plan.
Lorne however was not. This is where the rich folks go to be seen, there were over 9 million people there. The photos won't really explain how busy it was. You can however see many of the same boutique stores you see in Central Melbourne, in case you feel like driving a few hours to see them in another location at the beach. I bought some pointy leather shoes with steel bits on the tips and a summer scarf.
I got up at dawn and walked along the lonely road. Here is a farm and the ocean. There were cows. I yelled at a few cows. Later in the day I saw a cow suck in mud in a creek, then later I saw a few more cows stuck in the same spot in the same creek. They never learn.
My goal in walking along the road was to find the dead tree forest I passed on the way here. Here is a dead tree, the forest of dead trees was further than I thought on foot, but I was determined.
Behold, the dead tree forest, in attractive early morning light. Now for some more dead trees.
I am not an arborist, but it is clear to me these trees have had their bark and foliage consumed by the flying tree snake. They are a real pest in this area.
Time to head back along the lonely road, before the lighthouse opens and its full of tour buses.
Next stop was a nearby rainforest. It is free, small, but really nice. Much cooler at the bottom than at street level. Very well maintained metallic grid path.
Some of the trees are very high. So high that I took a photo to show how high. There are signs explaining what the trees are.
Some areas are brown and ferny. Areas such as this one.
Here are some less brown more green variety of rainforest ferns.
Next stop was the town before Apollo bay, Marengo. It has beaches with rocks. So lets take photos of rocks.
Never turn your back on the sea.
Apollo bay is over there somewhere, you will see it soon.
I turned my back on the sea to take this photo. Brave.
In Apollo bay now, and it was not too busy yet pre lunch time. Here is a little local market.
Street full of Chinese restaurants which due to COVID now have about, zero customers.
Coffee time, eventually it was found at the lolly shop, staffed by some of the craziest looking people I ever saw. The coffee was ok though.
Here is the main beach at Apollo bay. I thought it was busy, busier beaches were to come later.
The next stop was surprise of the day. A very hard to see brown sign said waterfall walking track. OK THEN. It said it would take 15 minutes to the top, this was false, it was no more than 10 minutes, but the views on the way up were excellent.
More view. There was room for about 5 cars to park at the bottom. I feel this place is highly underrated.
There is the surprisingly huge waterfall. I was impressed.
Random view shot from Jamieson Creek (I think?).
Now for some shots of the badly over crowded Lorne. This one is not too bad cause up the road the country fire service had it blocked off due to a rubbish bin fire.
Traffic just basically did not move at all. I turned around soon after and it took a long time to drive back out of Lorne.
Lorne beach in one direction. Very busy.
And the other direction. I fled before I was arrested for operating a camera on a beach. I think thats illegal now unless you are a girl posing nude. Then its ok as its your job.
I dont even know where this was, but enjoy the view.
And the last photo of the day is photo of the day. I think this one is from Mount Defiance lookout. Theres hundreds of spots to stop and take view photos. I showed some restraint.