The Great Ocean Road: Part III

Like I said, the Great Ocean Road is quite a lengthy 243 kilometre road. After visiting the Twelve Apostles, driving along the same coast fittingly becomes a bit repetitive with similar yet not quite as impressive limestone stacks left behind in the ocean as the cliffs continually give way to the power of the aggressive natural forces of water and wind. Arches abstain from disintegrating into the swirling currents below as caves creep further into the wall of the coast forging grottos and blow holes. From the "damage" done, it is quite easy to understand why this is called Shipwreck Coast. 

 We picked up a map from the breakfast place the next morning and deciding to venture back the way we came to visit the London Arch, but not to go as far back as the Twelve Apostles again (our photos were good enough *smirk). The bit shown below used to be attached to the mainland and was previously known as London Bridge, until the arch collapsed in 1990.

Following the map and the brown scenic road signs along the way, after the Twelve Apostles there were stopping points every couple kilometres. We stretched our legs at the Grotto, known for one of its shipwrecks in which only 2 people survived and were washed up upon the beach below. 

The beach was actually accessible by some winding wooden stairs, which would have been nice for a private picnic had we known about it! But, we had more to see according to the map and a long drive back to Melbourne ahead of us. 

The spry Southern Ocean wrecked havoc along the Victorian coast, but at every stop, even if it was the same ocean just a few kilometres further east or west, we paused in between photos to absorb its immense vastness and tremendous potential, knowing that these photos could not capture what we were beholding. 

It captivates you into silence. It inspires you to think about your life. It teasingly stimulates your desire for answers. It provokes you to grasp how little you are in this world. It urges you to be strong as it reminds you of its own strength.

 After a while, we had seen enough. Drive. Stop. Photo. Go. Drive. Stop. Photo. Go. Drive. Stop. Photo. Go. We were on the same mission as every other car we kept following and bumping into at each of the parking spots along the way. We probably all had the same exact photos from that day.

 The Bay of Islands.

 It was time for the four hour drive back to Melbourne, for me to find a job and for Ted to return to his in Perth. But not before of course visiting a whale sighting spot at the end of the Great Ocean Road.

Ted face.

not even a view in the background.

And yes. We did see a whale!!!!!