To our walking pals...read, those of you living here in Oz! If you haven't walked this track yet, you should. Add it to your list. A simply amazing walk.
I'll readily admit that you can't expect to move too quickly. For example, today we walked, no more accurately, we slogged through sand over endless dunes and headlands taking both time and energy. However, the end result was spectacular scenery, both coastal and inland plus we seemed to have it all to ourselves! At the end of the stage in the road side pull out we met a couple from America and they told us that they had only seen a couple of view points where the Great Ocean Road actually makes it to the coast. The rest of the time they were far inland. When we showed them our map and how the track is largely right on the coast they were amazed.
Today, after an extremely stormy night, we were picked up and deposited 5 kms back down the trail where we had finished the day before. This was our last chance to see the elusive Koalas and unfortunately they remained elusive. Such is life. However, we did see two beautiful Black Wallabies, quite a number of purple swamp hens and the best find of the day Red-Browed Finches with a startling red back-end seen when they fly away from you...which was most of the time!
We walked inland on parts of the stage and through the soft sand, but it was special in its own way with good bird habitat.
However, whenever we came to the coast the views where outstanding with large waves crashing in for as far as the eye could see. It took your breath away and we knew that we were so very fortunate to be here all alone when the waves were kicked up. White surf for miles!
We again had high winds and a flooding tide, so we were advised twice not to walk along the beach. Waves were too large and we could see waves that doubled up and surged too far up the beach as the day went along towards the high tide peak.
Tonight we are in a cozy little B&B that we will have to ourselves. Just enjoying a few Pringles and a cold beer as I write this. Shower done, body stretched out and the gear is pretty much ready for tomorrow. Unfortunately we are so remote that there is no wifi again tonight. Perhaps tomorrow?
Annemarie has just presented me with a Poem! Clearly she saw me today:-)
Walking With the Eyes of a Photographer
Much of today's walk up and down the dunes, through the Australian brush
Was not scenery that would inspire or give an experienced hiker a rush
Beginning with a walk through the eucalyptus forest
And a search for the iconic koala that defeated us
A Wallaby posed while guarding the gate that marked our path
We were gentle with him, but really wanted to move past
From the lighthouse we turned inland through seemingly endless dunes
For my photographer friend this was not a deterrent, his day was not in ruins
His eye caught nuances and glimpses others do not see
A little flower on the side, a bird in a tree
The red butted birds were a highlight
They brought him much delight
The beauty of the track itself, or the wild ocean from a cliff top view
Everything seen through the camera's eye seems new
Frequent pauses, abrupt stops signal something else the lens will capture
And when the ocean put on her show, it went beyond awe to rapture
Mother nature saved her best for last as the surf forced itself on shore
We had to take back our earlier disdain, we had no idea what the track ahead had in store
Each new wave, unique in its beauty and its power
My photographer friend could have stayed there hour after hour
The camera caught many, but then another and another rolled in
The photographer and his experienced eye were there to take it all in
The power of the water, the dynamic force of energy
I stood quiet as the photographer captured his view, I was pleased to just be
At the end of the day we didn't feel the kilometres walked, the hills climbed
The photographer was well satisfied with the images captured, both on camera and in his mind
Looks like an incredible walk.
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