SomewhereSouth.net

Hey nicky logs a 2nd week in a row...???

Or just put it the other way, Murf is plain lazy and very behind with his diary. And because I updated my diary yesterday it is a bit fresher in my mind. Last time I left you guys in Devonport. That is not to far away from where we are now.

After lining up for the ferry and waiting a long long time.. But long live the Harley Davidson club that travelled with the same boat and I could drewl at in the meantime.. Because I have a secret love for motors, especially Harleys.. After boarding we got our stuff and wrote some cards. And got both homesick instead of seasick. After hugging each other we went to bed. Which didn't really worked out for the both of us. So the next morning we were both exhausted. And we wanted to discover Melbourne for a day so we could shop and arrange some stuf. It was raining all day very very hard. After calling my mom for an hour outside in the rain next to a busy street for an hour. We got some souveniers. And went to info center for some stores. We went to the Victorian NRMA for reclaiming our towing costs. (Corinna to Burnie) Which didn't work out because we have to claim them back at the NSW departement. So have to call them and arrange that with them. We surched for some stuff for Murf which didn't work out either. So got back to our car and found out that my bag was soaked instead of waterproof. So tryed to dry that in the back of the car. Which worked out fairly good. Meanwhile we drove to Travellers Auto Barn in Melbourne to reclaim fixing costs. Which didn't work out and we have to fight that out by email with the manager... So that will be continued. After getting very sick of Melbourne we decided to start that day already on the Great Ocean Road. Very touristic.

We spend the night in a forest nearby Lorne. Completely drained and exhausted. Next day we drove after a lunch with seaview to Apollo bay. We spend a fair bit of our day there. Also because we found out that Murfs' photobag was full of water of the Melbourne day. So trying to get that dry was another quest of that day. And all is saved except for one photo. From Apollo bay we went to a lighthouse which was too expensive for us. So we went to a little bit before the twelve apostels. And did break our rule; never pay for a camping spot. We did that night (princetown) and had a gourgious hot shower! Was very very nice after a couple of weeks no shower.

The next morning contained a lot of walking and different views of the twelve apostels. And a lot of same kind of rocks but different shapes. After getting tiered (or tyred?) we drove on to Warnabool. Where we had a nice high surprise. The info center where we drove to had a nice car with a numberless plate and ozzy flag. Next to that there were standing 2 'bodyguards' outside. We just walked in and asked for info. After that we asked the lovely lady what was going on. Was some kind of high party including the gouverner of Victoria... So we just ran in to his high party in baggy pants and t-shirts. Funny contrast.

We didn't spend there to long drewling the windows. We drove straight of for the Grampians. And because we were very exhausted we just parked it on the first campingspot to find. Which contained some travelling pensioners. Which was very funny to have a chat with at the campfire. That day was also a very big wildlife day. Murf and I saw our first wild Kangaroo crossing. Till then we only enjoyed wallabies. A kangaroo is a little bit bigger; 1.5 meter. So that was a bit of a scare. That night around the campfire we got surrounded by brushtail possums. Round about the size of a big cat. But very funny animals to see.

Our second day we spend in Halls Gap to see the town a bit. Which costed round about half an hour. (that small) O no, not lying a bit longer because Murf booked a climbing day for Sunday. Then we went 2km back to a cultural centre. Where we spended the rest of the day for shopping, info and food. Ending up coming back with; wildcamping is legal (jippie!), clapsticks (aboriginal music instrument), walking maps and a didgeridoo!! We decided to get a cheap one so we at least could practice so if we were buying a real one we at least were able to play it. After that we random drove around and found a gourgious wild camping spot.

The next day we went to see some waterfalls. And climbed up the Pinnacle. Which took me so long that when we came back we could go straight back to find a campingspot again. Lazy as we were we camped at the same spot. (our first time to spend more than one night on one place...) The next day, after a short night, we got up early for Murfs' climbing day. That was with one guide and him. Murf was already very excited since he booked it. After a long drive and a hard walk up. (which took because of me a lot longer, because I am very bad in climbing) But finally up Murf went up a grade 10 climb. And I was there to support and take pictures. It was a bit hard but he came up on his own power. The second climb was a grade 12. Halfway Murf just collapsed. He couldn't go any further. His guide was already up and I was down. We couldn't do much more than just talk him up. Which we did with some problems. And some pulling up from the guide. After getting him up and down. He was f*cking proude at himself. As he should be. And thankgod he came up otherwise he would have never wanted to climb again. Than we walked down again. And offcourse because of exhaustion Murf needed some breaks. And I because of clumsyness, rolled a little bit down the mountain. (I misplaced my foot) But all was well, justed a bit scratched. After getting back in Halls Gap. We ate somewhere random. And got the car and got back to 'our' campingspot. Where I spoiled Murf and we just went to sleep.

The next day Murf still walked like an old man. But to keep his muscles going we did some small walks. (after saying goodbye to Halls Gap and the camping spot) And my muscles as well because they had a big day, the day before. But we did well. And slept in the wild somewhere again.

Today we going to have a driving day. But first finding a big town and develope pictures, doing groceriess and doing this internet thingy what we do every week.

So this was the internet. Now picking up the pictures and then go to Safeway. (Woolies/Woolworth in other area's of Ozzy) We are by the way this morning in Horsham... (after asking around in this computer shop where we actually were.. :-s)

Lots of love
Nicky

Ps I think Murf has uploaded some new pictures again at the gallery.

nicky | 15 Feb 2005 (Tue), 01:51 @ story