Feb. 17

Pancakes sounded great, so we packed up the car and headed back to the Jam Factory at 8:30AM. Who would have thought it - a breakfast place that advertised breakfast all day didn't open until almost lunch time! So we headed out, looking for shopping and food. We found both in a local shopping center a little ways out of Melbourne, complete with a Kmart and a great little coffee place for breakfast.

The Great Ocean Road was built by WWI vets as a Memorial, and Australia's version of a WPA project. It is the world's largest war memorial. It has reminded us of the Pacific Coast highway, a fairly narrow two lane road hugging the cliffs in places, and going inland through farming country in others. Every now and then is a little town with lots of B&Bs, etc. We stopped at the Geelong waterfront, Bells Beach where we watched the surfers, and Uruquart Bluff beach where Mary stuck her toes in the water while we watched a surfing class. Lunch was a little seafood place right at the pier just outside Lorne. We thought about stopping at a fish and chips place in town, but Lorne is currently the location for Rescue 2006, a lifeguard's competition, and the town was full. No parking, no space at the restaurants, etc.

More scenic overlooks, and quite a few slow drivers. Just like PCH. We stopped at our B&B in Apollo Bay, checked in, unloaded the car, and decided to get out to the Twelve Apostles for sunset. That's the name they give to an area of sandstone cliffs where erosion has formed stacks just offshore. Maybe there were originally twelve, but there are only nine now. One of them collapsed not too long ago. They are a spectacular sight at sunset, but it was windy and cold. Must remember that it gets cold along the ocean at night, need to take the sweaters when we go out!

We got back to Apollo Bay only to find out that they roll up the sidewalks at 9 PM. We did find a snack shop/pizza parlor/internet cafe that was still open and had reasonable food. BY the time we got back, I downloaded all of our pictures, and we planned the next day and talked a bit, I was ready for bed.