GOW series: Last installment

On day three of the Great Ocean Walk, Hannah and Dave decided to be lame and bail on the hike.  In their defense, they stayed behind to surf.  Macca and I took off to a highly recommended hike segment.  Unfortunately, we had some problems finding the trail.  The road on our map turned out to be a private driveway, locked with a gate.  Ignoring the fact that I'm American and I know better than to trespass, I unlocked the gate, we drove through, I locked it back up (for the sheep) and drove through the pasture trying to find the trail.  I was only a hella teeny bit apprehensive, until Macca reminded me, "Kassi, we're not in America, they're  not going to shoot you."  To which I said, fair point.

Master Trespasser

Unofficial Poll: When we come across another locked gate instead of turning around, Macca :
(a) parks the car to continue on foot
(b) hangs his laundry out to dry
(c) leaves a note for the farmer
(d) all of the above.

Yea, he's weird.

After leaving a note for the farmer that we were on the GOW, and hanging something to dry out the car like he didn't have time to finish his laundry, we took off on foot past the second gate.  It quickly turned into a steep downhill horse track.  It  also was quite muddy from the previous rain.  Needless to say, it didn't take long before I was sliding down the mud hill on my ass.  Literally slid about 5 feet only to be stopped by a tree branch nearly impaling my inner thigh.

(Lesson #45 learned: don't skimp on hiking shoes. Goes well with Lesson #24 : don't skimp on sleeping bag...which all basically comes down to Lesson #1: don't skimp on hiking/camping gear.)

Once we got off the horse track we found ourselves in true bushland.  With no path, I was meandering through kangaroo tracks trying to see our path.  (I should note that by this time, we had spotted the path and were trying to get to it but there was a cliff in the way).  While meandering, a kangaroo suddenly jumps out from under a tree, to be followed by a Momma kangaroo and  Daddy kangaroo.  Daddy was the biggest roo I had ever seen.  Scared the piss at me.

 

He first stopped maybe about 5 feet from me while he decided whether or not to kill me.  He hopped on a bit so I moved forward, only for him to stop again and stare me down.  Giving me opportunity to snap this photo.

Long story not so short, we finally found the gd path about an hour after leaving the campsite.

 This hike was pretty much just walking up and down those massive hills in the distance.  It wasn't as nice as the other hikes we had down, which was surprising cuz the guy who told us about it said it was the best part of the whole walk.  It was still amazing, but I had been spoiled at Wreck Beach and Apollo Bay.

 We used the opportunity to make asses out of our selves and piss each other off, lol.

We are here, can't you tell?

 This pic was taken on top of a particularly big stretch uphill.  When I reached the top I decided to lay down in the nice grass of the field.  That's when I got bit by a something, I can only hope and assume was a bull ant.  Those f*ckers hurt!  It only added fuel to the Kassi's-an-accident-prone-idiot-fire.

Unknown to me, when you get bit by a bull ant it hurts for quite a long time.  Hannah did get bit by one the day before, I didn't give her the credit it deserved until I experienced it myself.  I spent the rest of the afternoon rubbing the bite on the back of my elbow and secretly being paranoid that it was something poisonous.  (Glad I never actually voiced that one on the trip).


We eventually meet up with Hannah and Dave, who have started at our end point and walked to meet us.  We quickly made a trip out to the 12 Apostles before heading back to the beach house at Airey's. 

Sweet as pic of the shore in Dave's sunglasses

 Two of the original 12 Apostles.  The Apostles used to be part of the main land.  But Big Bad Southern Ocean has warn away at the cliff-line pushing it back, but leaving these mammoths standing.  Unfortunately, as the Southern Ocean continuously pounds the shore, 5 of the original 12 Apostles have fallen.  What's hilarious to me is that there's only 7 nowadays and they still call them the 12 Apostles. 

This is my all time favorite photo of the 4 of us on this trip.  It may be an all time favorite photo of all time.  It's up there.  We're all happy, we've got beautiful scenery, and great memories :)

We were able to make it back for sunset at Airey's:

sunset from the back porch

Then my favorite thing happened:

Boys in the kitchen.  Never gets old.

The next day we had a beach day.  It was bloody cold, but Hannah was willing to teach me how to surf...or well body board.

Hannah and I borrowed whatever wet suits we could fit into.

I love this photo of Hannah and me. I'm not sure what it is about it, but it makes me happy :)

And to prove that we're hardcore, we're going surfing in the Southern ocean with "speed holes."  Named such because you're so damn cold from all the water rushing into your wetsuit that  you move a helluva a lot faster. 

Body boarding.  Cold cold cold.  The wetsuit, speed hole and all did actually keep me rather warm.  The problem was where the wetsuit didn't cover...my arms.  After a few passes on the board, my arms and hands couldnt take the ice cold water anymore and called it quits.  I would later learn that warmer water temperature do not improve my ability or affection for surfing.

 Later, the boys wanted a go.

I don't know if they wanted to go surfing or dancing.  Its unfortunate that I wasn't able to get their faces in this shot cuz its a good one!

Hannah and I got a little bored while the boys surfed so Dave let us take his car back to the house.   Which was my first time driving on the left!! It was disorienting, but I think this little bit of driving helped me feel more confident to be able to rent cars later on.  Thanks Dave!

Speaking of driving....So Macca had just come back from the US when we started this trip.  Where he rented a car and drove on the right...gasp!  A number of times on the trip, as Macca was driving us around, he would make a turn and end up on the right side of the road.  Leaving me and the others if they happened to be in the car screaming "left, left! Left! LEFT! LEFT!!!" As well as teasing him every time we passed one of these signs.  We also commented on how signs say "In Australia" like we were actually driving in Germany or something.  This led to funny voices repeating "In Australia, we drove on the left.  Dipshit." 

There ya have it!  I can't believe I made it through the Great Ocean Walk trip.  It was a fabulous trip and influenced the rest of my time in Australia, but more on that later :)