Saturday 16th Feb Walking to the twelve apostles

We left the bike folded in the tent today and went for a walk. There is a costal path called the great ocean walk which goes virtually through the campsite. We followed it for about seven k's to some superb Coastal stacks. They are called the twelve apostles but I think four fell down leaving just eight. A fantastic walk and walking on the beach was the best beach walk of my life. A good bit of walking done today but although very hot there is a good sea breeze which is very welcome.
With all the panic on the 13th I missed Catherines valentines card this year so I belatedly spelt out my message in seaweed for her (see photo 6)

Friday 15th Feb On the bus to Princetown

Posting this at the beginning of the day whilst we have WIFI. We hope to get a bus the one hundred and odd miles back the way Becky and Robin brought us in their campervan. If all goes to plan we will be back on our route at the end of the day, but it will take most of it to get there. At least we will see some of the ocean road by bike, then campervan then bus although the bike bit is of course by far the best way to see it by far.
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The day went according to plan and we are camping at the recreation ground site in Princetown. It is a wetland area with lots of reed beds and a wide river. We worried about flies and Catherine has recently had a few bites so the repellent and creams that Dee gave is came in useful (thanks Dee). The wind has picked up in the evening however so it is cooler and the flies have gone.
Princetown itself is little more than a general store a backpackers and two campsites. The campsite was good at 15 dollars but there is no camp kitchen and the water is bore water, which you cannot drink. "It's all good" though as they say here.

Thursday 14th February Back to Torquay

Becky and Robin were on their way back to Melbourne airport, so we worked out that we could continue our ride with them today at least until Torquay. So Kay and Ian found us on their doorstep just after nine AM as we had phoned them the evening before and they offered help.
Ian had already investigated local bike shops. I had been very tempted to continue our ride with Becky and Robin and hire a car at the airport. It seemed a shame to abandon our cycling however without at least seeing if a bike shop could help. The problem was that the axle size was non standard as was the 15 inch wheel. So Ian drove us to see Steven at Hendry Cycles in Ocean Grove. On the phone Steve had been very positive and said "get the bike to me and we will work out how we can get you back on the road". Steven said that with luck the actual hub may be ok, but the axle and cones were of course ruined and non standard. He would have to consult his axle bits box.He said it was the second to last axle in his box, but the important thing was it was a fit and he had the cones as well!!! Steven asked us to give him an hour and our bike would get his immediate attention. So an hour later we walked out of his shop with everything looking good with the bike. It reminded me of the real value of local bike shops. Torquay , Scotsdale and so many places we had visited had once had a local shop, but it had closed. I guess we should all think about the value of having experts at hand when we need them.Hendry Cycles were really really good and if you are travelling this way make a note of them.
So all we have to do is get the bus the 100 miles back to Princetown and we can resume our tour. I really thought our biking was over, but with luck now we can put this behind us.This is all down to Becky,Robin,Ian,Kay and bike mechanic Steven, thank you all and thanks to Will (who we stayed with on our first night in Aus) who read our last post and offered help.
We had fish and chips on Torquay beach with Ian and Kay to celebrate our success .

Wednesday 13th Feb Skenes Creek to Maits Rainforest Rest

Today started well with a bright start and an easy run into Apollo Bay for breakfast and then flat scenic riding to Marengo. Then the route went away from the coast up a long steep hill into the Great Otway National Park, and what a hill it was. As soon as we started the ascent we had problems with Catherine's front hub again. With no bike shops available for miles all we could do was patch it up as best we could and continue on. 12 km later and we have had to adjust the hub again and again and the hub was slowly falling apart. Just beyond Maits Rest things turned critical with the cones smashed and ballbearings lost on the road. All we could do was stop the riding, turn around and walk back to Apollo Bay which was 19 km away. The road was forested but had no houses, cafes or water stops for the whole 19 km. Things did not look good at all. We walked and walked in the hot sun. The best thing that happened to us today was when Becky and Robin stopped in their hired camper van and offered help in the form of a lift. The bikes were folded and everything crammed into their camper van and we were saved from a very long walk. Another act of random kindness in Australia although both were Scottish and on a weeks holiday themselves. Robin and Becky were on their way to Lorne to camp and as that was nearer to a bike shop we went with them and we camped near their van on the same site. What a day. Our only photo today is of our saviours of the day. Thank you Robin and Becky.

Tuesday 12th Feb Airies Inlet to Skenes Creek

We left the campsite and said goodbye to Ian and Kay . They left one way to head back home to Torquay and we went the other to continue our journey along the great ocean road.
We had the wind on our backs for a change and there was cloud this morning again keeping the temperatures down.
The views along the ocean road were stunning. Drivers had to stop their cars at the viewpoints to look at the views. We however could just keep a gentle pace and keep looking at the light blue sea and the waves crashing in. However the day had a few trials for us. Just before Lorne Catherine's front wheel started making a tremendous racket. So at Lorne, with no bike shop to hand, Tony bravely took the front wheel axle and ball bearings out in order to find out exactly what the problem was. A passing traveller offered to take us back to Anglesea to the nearest bike shop,which was very thoughtful of him, but we were able to borrow a file and file down a rather worn cone.The axle is bent and this has caused bad uneven wear on the cone. Thank goodness Catherine had brought I very small pot of Vaseline from home to keep her lips moist. We reassembled with lots of vaseline and wow it was fixed. How brilliant was that. Tony wants to delay celebrations until we get to the next town on our route with a bike shop which is at least 150 km away. While all this was happening Catherine decided to clean her glasses and one of the lenses fell out. Oh dear I hear you say, but in our medical kit we have a magic glasses mending kit which put everything right in minutes. Catherine will however be pleased when we get to an opticians to get the right size screw for the glasses.
Onwards then to see the Kowalas at Kennett River as well as lots of crimson rossella parrots. We were still up for continuing as the weather was perfect and views continued to be superb with only light traffic on the road. A good day with a nice little camp site where we pitched our tent, just a stones throw from the ocean waves. And would you believe this coincidence? Staying on this same camp site just 2 pitches away were Ian's (our last hosts) dad, sister and niece.

Monday 11th Feb Torquay to Aireys Inlet

We set off with Kay and Ian on the Great Ocean Road. We went by road to Point Addis which we had visited yesterday. We then got on to the Surf Coast Walk and continued this off road track to Anglesea. At Anglesea we got a coffee and ate our lunch. Ian knew where to find Kangaroos in the wild so we headed off up hill in search of them. They were well hidden in the shade and without Ian we would never have spotted them.
Then back on our bikes to Aireys Inlet where we are stopping in a cabin. Split Point light house was only a half hour walk away so it was a must . The afternoon sun beat down and it looked great.
A spa now and then a quick meal of Pizza and Oven Chips as that is all we could manage from the local shop.
A first class day for views and lots of photos taken.

Sunday 10th Feb Torquay to Bells beach and Point Addis and back again

It is time for a Sunday ride and as we are again staying with our hosts Kay and Ian, it would be a there and back trip. Our plan was to cycle to Bells Beach then on to Point Addis via the Great Ocean Road. On our return we would go off road on the Surf Coast Walk.
In fact that is what we did. We got to Bells Beach which is famous in the surfing world and we watched the surfers tackle the massive waves. Then on the road to Point Addis where we sat and watched the fantastic waves hit the beach that was stretched out in front of us. Then the off road Surf Coast Walk back, which was only completed and opened in November 2012. It is well made but some of the track is along the beach and down steps, so you need to be a little selective. You can officially ride though. The walk cut through some bush which was really full of character.
We are back on the road tomorrow and Kay and Ian are coming along with us for a day or two along The Great Ocean Road (TGOR).