Steven Raucher's World Tour
2001-12-25 in Melbourne, Australia
The Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road is hailed by ozzies as one of their great scenic drives, I must say it is a lovely drive but a bit unfulfilling if you are a thrill seeker. What it lacks in twists and turns (and suicidal truck drivers) it makes up for in great camping spots.
I met up with my friends Martin and Rebecca in Torquay, the start of the Great Ocean Road, and we began our drive in search of an ideal camping spot. Given the time of the year, I knew our decision would have as much to do with a great spot as with finding a place without family campers and screaming children. Martin and Rebecca said they knew a place called Johanna Beach, about 30 minutes drive west of Apollo Bay. It is a lovely site, situated just above the beach in a field of tall grass. The beach itself was beautiful and deserted apart from the occasional ozzie fishing blokes, who spend as much time baiting their hooks as they do downing a beer, quite impressive stuff. After 3 days of camping and enjoying the scenery my friends left to go back to Melbourne for Christmas and I spent one last night in this peaceful place before making my move. The next day greeted me with rain and storms, but I persevered and packed up the camp and headed for the Twelve Apostles, a collection of 12 jagged pieces of rock that has survived the erosion of the coast line (see pics).
It was upon entering another site, Loch Ard Gorge, that I happened upon a pair of ozzie blokes sitting in their very overloaded jeep. Daniel and Steve had just begun their 2 year walkabout journey around Australia and this was their first stop after leaving Melbourne. After about 5 minutes we knew that we were kindred spirits as far as celebrating Christmas eve was concerned. I followed them to the nearest Backpacker lodging in Warnabool and we setting about clearing out the bar. Really it was raining, what else could we do?
So that was how I came to spend my Christmas with a group of backpackers in a very warm and friendly environment, it was also probably the first time I have ever celebrated Christmas! Later that afternoon I returned to Melbourne in record time to have Christmas drinks with friends of my friends. My friend had managed to organise tickets to the opening of the 2nd South Africa vs Australia cricket test at the MCG. Play was disturbed by rain and South Africa batted dismally and so it was with relief I snuck out of the grounds at 3 pm to go and meet my cousins for a family re-union. A very festive week indeed.
 twisting and turning on the Great Ocean Rd |
 Johanna Beach, you just gotta go. |
 some of the 12 Apostles from the lookout point |
 Loch Ard Gorge - gorgeous. |
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