Sunday. Gale warnings overnight. Snow in the Victorian alps and solid covering at Cradle Mountain in Tasmania. Our program was affected during the morning, when we realised the power nature of the Bass Strait currents. We were well prepared in all our wet weather gear, when we set off down the track to Milanesia Gate, the beach where we were to begin today. The descent to the beach was down a slippery, steep bush track, covered in volcanic rocks. The area is also known for having some dinosaur fossils - but we were not to see them today. When we reached the beach, near an iconic fisherman’s cottage (100 years old), there were several groups of walkers gathering to discuss the thick foam that covered the beach and inlet, where we were supposed to cross. It was so dense there was no indication of its depth and with the big seas, too risky to attempt to cross on to the other side of the beach.
Volcanic rocks common in the area
So the executive decision was to return up the path and drive to the next point. The path included names such as Ryan’s Den and Devil’s Kitchen. It was marked as hard grade and there were certainly some challenging sections but it was a day of variety and exquisite coastal views to Cape Otway in the east and to Cape Volney to the west.
In and out of forests
There was a big push at the end to finish as we continued up paths, meadows, stone steps, stairways, wondering when we would reach our destination at Moonlight Head, surrounded by pastoral land - cows and sheep.
Our accommodation for the next two nights is in Port Campbell. Southern Ocean Villas. Again, an excellent choice. Port Campbell was famous as the active port from the 1850s after the discovery of gold in Bendigo and Ballarat. Thousands of international ships and boats passed through here at the time as diggers came to make their fortune.
Dinner at a local pub..and well - deserved after our efforts today!
M
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