Winter 2019, OZ - 30 Geelong and the End

2019 OZ - 30   Geelong and the End

Walking Trail Up to Mariners Lookout

We are close to Melbourne now; we timed our trip fairly well. Tonight we stay in Geelong to say so long to Oz. Well, it was not really our last day but close enough.

Holy Bushes with Berries

We climbed a steep hill near just outside Apollo Bay called Mariners Lookout, to get a bird’s eye view of Apollo Bay. First we had to drive a twisty road up, 
then get out of the car and do the last 30 minutes on foot.

Quite a Few Lambs But Got Close to This One

  
It was worth it, an impressive spot, a bit idyllic with sheep nearby just grazing in pastoral peace. 

Pointing to Apollo Bay From the Lookout

We stopped for a break in the town of Lorne. We had a friendly cockatoo sit right next to us, begging for food.

A Friendly Cockatoo

He Let Us Get Very Close

 

Main Street, Lorne, Restaurants, Motels, Shops

The town itself has many, many shops. I could easily spend a few weeks right here, living as an Australian. We just wandered around the town, had coffee at an outside café, visited the beach and watched a surfer school teach young people to use the boards. 

We were slow, lazy tourists.

Learning the Basics

More Practice + Better Waves Needed

 

End of the Great Ocean Road

Carol mailed her paper work (brochures, envelopes, maps and entrance ticket stubs, etc) via the postal system to her house. This way she did not have to carry it all in her luggage. 

We gave our trip a lazy ending; we just relaxed from here on out.

Tonight's Best Western Hotel in Geelong had ants in the kitchen and Carol was told the Pest Control guy would come in the morning to take care of it, but… well; we will not be here then.

The Mantra Hotel in Tullamarine, Vic, near the airport in Melbourne was our last Motel before our flight out but it’s all the same from here on in.

Getting Close to Melbourne

After our last dinner with wine and desserts, we slept well.

After waiting and repacking, after resetting our phones, putting in the normal sim we were awakened at 4.45 AM by the phone… someone called and had hung up, but we were awake.

The alarm went off at 5 am, we had breakfast at 6 am, took the shuttle to the airport at 6.35 AM for the long flight home. 

There were 500 plus people on the plane, the flight was totally sold out. Boarding started at 9.15 am and it took forever to get all the folks on board.  

 

Now For the Long Trek Home

Phew! This was a long trip for us, 3 months of being on the move, constantly getting new impressions, we now deserve a few months off, doing…. Nothing?

Hah, you don’t know Carol very well, do you?