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Published: February 13th 2009
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Sunday I arrived in Melbourne severly sleep deprived and after a snack at a local cafe near Paul's girl friend Kat's flat we went on a trip to St Kilda and mingled in the melee of the annual St Kilda street event. St Kilda is a lot like Brighton with a broad mix of life coasting the streets and many shops selling wayout gear. Geelong then called and bed.
Monday I rebuilt my bike and broke the seat pin securing bolt. I managed to find a cycle shop and buy a replacement - back in business. An hour in bed was now required to recover from such strain and then an attempt at getting lost in Geelong. Much bigger than Clitheroe.
Tuesday I was ready for action and was away on my bike at 8.30am. Whilst it was a little cool and windy I hit the main street and called in a shop and when I came out it was raining -of all the things. Luckily I had brought my jacket and was saved. After 10k the weather picked up and I was down to shirt and shorts and heading into a strong wind onto the Bellarine Peninsula, past the salt
works, where sea salt is evaporated in massive lagoons. I persevered against the wind along the north coast to Portarlington and had a couple of pasties for lunch and the obligatory 'long black'. The road now turns back along the east coast to St Leonard's and Queenscliff before turning east along the south coast to Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads. This coastline is particularly beautiful and is to be recommended with torquoise sea with large whit waves and surf to die for. I was particularly impressed with the Barwon Estuary as it runs through Barwon Heads under to old bridge. The colours and views are stunning.
The sun continued to shine and I headed out east towards Mount Duneed and then north to Geelong with a lovely tail wind - yippee. I discovered that there were some pink arrows all around the peninsula, which I came to realise were cycle route markers, keeping of the main routes, where possible. This route was 90 miles in total and well worth the effort.
Wednesday I went to visit the Geelong Ford Discovery Centre, which traces the history of the Ford Motor Company, which has been in Geelong since 1925. It still produces
engines here and cars in Melbourne. A treat to the Indian Restaurant finalised the day, where we bumped in to some of Paul's work friends..
Thursday was a steady day with a visit to the Rotary Club of Geelong West and a talk by a local government official about the present economic climate and how Geelong intended to work its way out of it. The current problems are gradually working across the whole world. In the afternoon I was given a tour of the Blue Circle Cement Works at Waurn Ponds by son Paul, who is a project engineer there. We went to the top of the preheater tower and were nearly blown away. It is the first time that I have seen brown limestone, which I am told is a far inferior grade to Clitheroe's stone. I am impressed with the friendliness of the Ozzies and have been made most welcome everywhere.
Friday the 13th and my birthday for the 64th time so Paul had the day off and we toured the Great Ocean Road and went to Torquay for a brew and Lorne for lunch of Shark and Chips. The temperature is 21 degrees and Paul says it
is cold - hot to me. He has gone soft.
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