Crafers - Hahndorf - Mount Barker - Wellington - Meningie - Salt Creek - Kingston S.E. - Robe - Millicent - Mount Gambier - Portland - Warnambool - Port Fairy - Port Campbell - Lavers Hill - Apollo Bay - Torquay - Geelong - Queenscliff - Ferry to Sorento - Rye- Dromana - Mornington - Melbourne
Nov 20th - Dec 11th
Kilometer in total: 1.140km
days on bike: 14
G´Day Mates,
On Nov 20th I headed off to cycle along the Great Ocean Road. In Crafers, where I was hosted by the daughter of my grandaunt, it was raining cats and dogs. I cycled through Hahndorf, the oldest German settlement in Australia.
Beerenberg, strawberry farm
My first stop was in Wellington, a small town at the Murray River.
Wellington Ferry
Murray River
I spent there one night and the next day I crossed the river by ferry. With a lovely tailwind along the Coorong National Park.
After another day with headwind I arrived in Portland and met Heidi and Max from www.2roadrunners-on-tour.
We already know each other from Facebook and now it was time to have a Austrian/German meeting :-)
the next days were not so much exciting. steep upclimbs, especially Lavers Hill, heavy rain, more unpleasant wind... on Dec 6th I had my first homestay at the the GOR in Torquay at Ian and Kay.
heading to Geelong to my next WS-hosts. Guy, Frederike and their baby Saskia. awesome :-)
I enjoy this warmshower hosts so much. many friendly people, great hospitality, interessting conversations. I took a ferry to Sorento on the Mornington Peninsula and on Dec. 11th I arrived in Melbourne.
Giant Lobster in Kingston S.E.
Lakeside Caravan Park in Robe
my small cabin ;-)
now I know, where they produce this bloody headwind ;-)
no more problems with roadtrains, caravans or stupid car drivers. the road is mine !
I arrived in Adelaide on Nov. 11th. time to have a rest and I achied my most important goal in Australia, visiting my grand aunt, Maggie, who is 99 years young :-)
Well, she is such a lovely old lady with a big sense of humor and it was a big pleasure to see her again after 2010.
I had a rental car and did some sightseeing, brought my bike to the service Bio-Mechanics Cycles and Repair and had a good time. On one day I visited the beautiful Barossa Valley, a hugh wine region. here a short video from a lookout , with sculpture garden. and do not forget to listen to the "lovely" wind ;-)
On Nov. 20th I started to cycle to Melbourne, along the Great Ocean Road. you will find this part on an extra post.
Coming back to Adelaide on Dec 16th, it was only a few days to the great event, the party of my grand aunts 100. birthday. Three years ago, when I did the planning for my long trip, this special day was on my schedule for sure.
50 people joined her big day and it was terrific ! I met more of my relatives and other Germans from Mannheim (where I had been living for 20 years), who immigrated to Australia. So big un !
In the evening we had dinner with Maggie, and she was so still active. not any sign of becoming tired. Incredible :-)
birthday card from the Queen
birthday card from the Australian Prime Minister.
some more pics of Adelaide and from the Barossa Valley:
roos have to learn to ride a bicycle, this will reduce roadkills :-)
Pete, Lia & Andrew , from Bio-Mechanics in Adelaide. Thank you for check-up and fixing my new rim 1
Barossa Valley
sculpture garden at the lookout for Barossa Valley
my rental car, I got an upgrade for a VW Jetta :-)
French car (2 CV) , at Winery
Winery
many German names in the Barossa Valley
another fellow cyclists. Mete and Dagmar Alpay from www.alpaysontour.com.
Was great to meet them and have a safe trip !
