Road Trippin – Day 12 – Great Ocean Road – Melbourne to Warrnambool
My day started at 5:30am with a coffee at the Hotel Grand Chancellor in Melbourne and no brekkie. I thought I’d leave early to dodge the early morning traffic of people heading in to work and then stop in Torquay for a break! Bingo!! Worked well!! Hey I think being out on the road for 12 days straight got me thinking like a pro.
Weather forecast suggested a cool mostly cloudy day but as I was heading out of Melbourne the heavens opened! What?? I nervously gasped!! This wasn’t meant to happen! But in a few minutes it had stopped raining before I hit the highway on my way to Geelong and all was calm again. It was cool and I was in command 👍
<<<< rst stop was Torquay which is officially the first stop of the Great Ocean Road. Of course I couldn’t help but get a quick photo or two 🙂
In Torquay I asked myself, why was the road built? Usually roads link towns to increase commerce and economic opportunities and bring people together. Looking at my route for today several such questions came to mind?? Then half way through the ride I came across a sign that answered my question…
After arriving in Torquay for my first stop I stumbled across Bells road not far away. I wondered if this was the famous road that lead to Bells Beach?? This is the beach that hosts the annual Bells classic surfing event and you know what? It was!! It was packed with surfers, all having a go in good surfing conditions!! For a minute there I wished I could surf but then I realised I need to first learn to swim before surfing!!
After soaking in some sun I packed my bike and continued on my journey to the Twelve Apostles visitor centre. Tip: buy your souvenirs at a travel centre and cafe (great pies and salads) called Yatzies in Lavers hill. I didn’t, thinking I’d find souvenirs at the Twelve Apostles centre! I was wrong!! They didn’t have any so I had to settle for souvenirs I found at store in Port Campbell. I figured if I didn’t tell anyone no one would know 😜
I highly recommend the Great Ocean Road, it is absolutely beautiful. I’ve been very lucky to have done this on a motorcycle. The views are simply breathtaking.
What a glorious way to end the ride with perfect weather and picture perfect scenery like this!
Next, on to The Gateway Motor Inn in Warrnambool for the night before I head back to Melbourne the next morning for a couple of nights to recover from the long ride, then back home to Brisbane.
Catch you on the road, stay safe 👍🙂
