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Well we didn't exactly make it along the Great Ocean Road, a rather large road-train/ truck had other plans for us! We did make it to Portland, a small town just before the GOR starts and unfortunate as we turned in to get some lunch there was the truck of doom! Fortunately no one got hurt apart from Princess (aka The Camper) Sadly she was written off as we scraped down the side of the truck. So it was a wild night spent in a hotel in a nothing town, just to get the train to Melbourne therefore missing the GOR. On arrival in Melbourne, wow what a city. Checked into the Coffee Palace backpackers in St Kilda hardly a palace, was like a big old dump very similar to a six form common room. It was a shame because the area was great, its the seaside suburb and delightfully kitch but also very stylish. My time in Melbourne was divided between sight seeing and shopping, I need winter clothes for this leg of my trip! Saturday could have been perfect with the day spent shopping on Bridge St (bargain central) and beer and football for the night. But the least
said about that game the better! Although compared to the other venues for the games we found a wicked English bar with the best atmosphere. Unfortunately the weather was also very English for the walk home and the morning after, grey, cold and depressing. so in an attempt to rub the previous nights 'soccer' from my mind I head for some footie- Aussie Rules footie at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the MCG a wicked 100,000 seater, for Richmond v's Collingwood. I chose my team on the bases of the guy in font of me being a Collingwood fan and his happiness of the 'pommes being knocked out' and what a choice they are third in the league but got done over 92- 43. My sightseeing included a nice cheapie backpacker trip into the Sofitel ladies toilets on the 35Th floor, well its $7 a pint I have to save my pennies, for a view over the city and what a view from the dunnies, and a trip to the one and only Pine Oak drive aka Ramsey Street!! Did the very cheesy Official tour and were treated to Scott and Charline's wedding on the way. Our tour included a cheap 'look very closely over that fence and you can see the studio they film it in. Can you see the top of the palm trees at Lassiters (sp?) All worth it when we pulled into the tiny street and had the many cheesy photos taken. After a lovely afternoon chilling and wondering in the stunning Botanical Gardens, second only to Kew and even better free 😊 it was time to say goodbye to my posse of Matt's with $2 in St Kilda.
Bright and early was of the the Yarra Valley Mountain ranges and more precisely Warburton, to visit my second cousin Claire and her husband Andrew and children Lydia and Gail as they kindly offer to put me up. Its a stunning place with a stunning view over the mountains from their house. All around there are birds and kookaburras flying around to add to it, I was even lucky enough to hand feed one of the friendlier Kook's. I also got taken to Mount Donna Burang, which sadly clouded over as we got to the top, and Healsvile Wildlife sanctuary. It was wicked and got to see wombats, koalas and duckbill platypuses, I was more excited than the girls! I also got taken to meet more family, although not quite sure how we are related my Gran used to write to Joyce for years. This meant that in Koo Wee Rup (wicked name had to get it in!) all the way over here in Oz are picces of little old me as a baby and all my family. The day was topped off with a Bush dance and lots of partner swinging and such like. So my time here is drawing to an end, a good job for my belly as my jeans are ever so slightly stained from all the great home cooking including a fabulous roast umm.... Its a shame to be leaving this little slice of home, photos on the wall included, and the great family and community feel proving everybody does need (and some have) good Neighbours. But the backpackers life of cheap pasta and wilds of Sydney are calling and even after moving my flight back, its still looming so on the road again.
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