Sunday, September 1.

Day 36.       Cumberland River to Dromana.

Distance: 125 km in 5hrs 40min at 21.9 km/hr.

Distance so far: 3677 km.

Climbed: 1860 ft.

Elevation tonight: 34 ft ASL

AHR: 101 bpm.

Punctures so far:   0.

Out at 6.45am.          In at 3.45 pm.

Last night was the last night for the three of us to share a cabin. (Actually we are in same cabin again tonight but with two others as well. Tonight everyone is in cabins; inclusive in tour cost.). We got on well and rotated the good bed from night to night.

Very early this morning there was a gale force wind blowing down the valley of our caravan park. Those in tents feared for their structures. But around 6.30 it eased off but was coming from the north. In late afternoon after the ferry trip it changed to a south-west and helped us over the last 25 km. The day was sunny throughout affording us clear views again.

Once out on the quiet early Sunday morning road, those beautiful views opened up again. The sun in the east slowly lifted out of the ocean and bathed the Great Ocean Road. So glad the day was clear....again.

After the first few km Lorne appeared through the trees. The main thoroughfare (along the foreshore) was very quiet as expected, but birds and fishermen were already busy either catching the early worm or catching with the early worm.

This beautiful coast road rose and fell as it rounded headlands. Each high point afforded lovely views forward and backwards. I even caught Paul rounding a bend below sharing the road with two of the many motorcyclists on the route.

At Aireys Inlet we came to the Arch marking the start of the Ocean Road. In fact, we did the road in the wrong direction. Doing it from east to west is more logical. At this Arch, the whole story of it is explained...how 3000 of mostly WW1 ex-servicemen built this (Airwys Inlet to Apollo Bay) using pick and shovel between 1918 until it opened in 1932. Over 330,000 Australians had fought in WW1 (Turkey and Middle East)with a 64% casualty rate (highest of any country). Such a loss was a big blow to a fledgling Australia with its population of  only 5 million.

The present Arch is the fourth such arch with the other three displaced by storm, fire or road-widening.

Between Aireys Inlet and Torquay the road isn’t typical but still credited with being part of the iconic drive. Lunch was at Torquay and there I succeeded in uploading yesterday’s blog. 

At Torquay we headed north for 10 km and faced a strong headwind and an extremely busy road. A right turn headed us for Queenscliff and the ferry. Some low lying land along here and also quite a few wineries.

We arrived in Queensferry around noon and had plenty of time for lunch. Our ferry, the small one, left at 2 pm and lasted for around 50 mins. The notice referring to the ’Golden Oldies Tour’ did not refer to us. On the Mornington Peninsula, there were some expensive looking houses perched high up as we sailed by.

After docking in Sorento, we headed north for 25 km, aided by a south west wind along the coast road busy with Sunday afternoon traffic. However, there was a cycle track all the way. For a change the water was on our left......had been on our right for the last month or so.

We are all in cabins tonight, 5 of us, and we all had dinner together in the Dromana Hotel nearby. This is our last dinner together. The sun is going down on this tour....for some it all started at the end of March (5 months ago).

 Another satisfying day in the saddle and some beautiful scenery. 

Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.