"THE LEYLAND SISTERS": SKENES CREEK

JUST HAD TO TAKE A PHOTO!

THURS 30.4.2015: Carole rang ahead to the Johanna Beach Camp Ground to determine the rates for an unpowered site and was pleased to hear $5.90 even though it sounded like a strange amount. She repeated the figure to ensure it was correct - "no $35.90 for an unpowered site, no access to water and no dump point" - surprisingly we will not be staying there! Instead we will head to Princetown Recreation Reserve and Camping Ground - $20.00 per night with power, water and amenities, plus multiple sightings of kangaroos!

THOUGHT ABOUT IT - THAT'S WHERE IT ENDED!

First stop for the day was at Apollo Bay (population 1095), which is situated on the eastern side of Cape Otway and on the Great Ocean Road. In 1994 the Victorian Arts Council offered the Creative Village Initiative to regional communities. 12 participants sculptured poles under the guidance of John McColl.

THE PEOPLE POLE
JOHN McCOLL

SEAL ISLAND SANCTUARY
BRAD WEST

CYPRESS CASHEW SEAT
JAMES BUTT

The travel to the different venues has been reminiscent of Tasmania - beautiful trees with rain forest type foliage along very winding roads. Next stop was to Maits Rest which is 20 minutes past Apollo Bay "and a popular 20-30 minute circular walk through a magnificent sub-temperate rainforest" Do not need to add much about the length of time we took! Mountain Ash trees in this region are over 300 years old and are 60 metres in height - it certainly was a stunning walk.

The narrow gap between Cape Otway and King Island (less than 90km) was so hazardous at least 18 ships were wrecked there. In 1835 almost 250 lives were lost when the convict ship Neva foundered off King Island and in 1845 399 immigrants perished off King Island. The Cape Otway Lighthouse was built in 1848 and shone 48kms out to sea. The old light was decommissioned in 1994 and replaced with a close-by solar-powered automatic beacon. It is the oldest surviving lighthouse in mainland Australia.

BASS STRAIT

The base of the Dinosaur Cove sea-cliffs, just west of Cape Otway unearthed dinosaur fossils and fauna which proved that these dinosaurs were highly adapted and thrived in freezing conditions.