Portland

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Portland
We left Robe and took the inland road to Portland. The roads are reasonably good in Australia so far and we were making good time but didn't want to make any stops as we had left Robe quite late. We also forgot there is a time difference between South Australia and Victoria its only half an hour but that could be the difference between shops open or closed. We arrived in Mt.Gambier and checked into the tourist office on the road conditions. There was a bush fire by the coast so the road was blocked off and we had to take the inland Princes Highway. Along the route we started to smell woodsmoke and the sky began to darken quite heavily for at least four kilometres. In the distance we noticed that the skies were clearing and by the time we arrived in Portland around six pm it was a glorious sunny evening. A quick stroll into town to inhale fresh Oz sea air then decided that with the new fitness regime that a car journey was quicker and saved our calories. The hotel was brilliant with a fantastic view over the Tasman Sea, even provided a telescope and binoculars so we could scan for whales. Not the best time of year for this activity but we were assured that sightings of Blue Whales had been made. Even had a stuffed one in the hotel lobby. That's Steve's idea of a joke!Feasted on some excellent Italian food in a local restaurant and spoke to a charming couple from Switzerland who had been spending 6 months travelling around Canada, NZ and OZ. Tough life.Woke up in our colonial bedroom to a grey sky. This cleared as the sun broke through the clouds and it was really hot at 7 in the morning. We saw a seal swimming in the harbour and a few jiggers taking their morning exercise along the sea front.We packed up, breakfasted and left to take a drive around Portland. The Main Street next to the sea has restaurants then a turn off leads you to the shops which were not inspiring. We really didn't spend enough time in Portland to judge but it did remind us of Portland in the UK a bit of an industrial port but with a very pleasant beach.

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