Sat, 20th Jan, 2024 Bush camp near Ocean Beach, Rye to Carpark near Janet and Geoff’s place, Sorrento, Vic (visit Uncle John and family, Mt Eliza)

Overcast this morning. Can’t believe how many people drove in and out during the night - maybe it’s a drug drop off - should have done some surveillance!

Back to the Point Nepean Highway and followed it northward along the coast to see my Uncle John and all the Beal family. John’s wife, (my Dad’s sister) Jocelyn passed away June 2020 so John is the only elder member of Dad’s family left and he will be 96 in March, hence I wanted to catch up with him.

Slow drive 40-50kph sections but we were in no rush and we could enjoy the scenery better.

Choppy water across to Mt Martha as we near Dromana.

Calmer as we go through Safety Beach as it is protected by Mt Martha though looking at that tree I am wondering about how much wind they get! Mt Martha is covered in houses.

Through a tunnel that has a water channel above it to feed into a canal estate.

Continued along Marine Parade around Mt Martha, trying not to hit the cyclists who insist on riding along narrow roads with no bicycle lanes. When there is a lane they ride on the white line so we still have to veer into the other lane to avoid them.

Nice view over the bay and all the beach huts - much calmer this side.

Lots of people on the water in boats, paddle boards etc.

Stopped at Mt Martha Beach South. I remembered all these beach huts from when we stopped here in Nov 2014. Looking back to where we drove around on the high cliff edge then to the other end of the beach.

Continued along the Esplanade - more cyclists having a death wish.

Into Mornington, around the park with big brick entrances and then down to Schnapper Point. We also came here so won’t stop again as it is all metered parking now. Drove down to the wharf and back up again - busy with the weekend cafe brigade.

Back up then Steve pulled over at the top so I could take a few of photos from the lookout. I can just see the city through the haze.

Continued along then pulled over for a cuppa at the lookout over Mills Beach. Very nice.

Across the road a house, named ‘Manoora’, has just sold but there is no price - I can just imagine how much! 

Nearby is an historic house called ‘Coombe Martin’. Renovations started in May 2022 and it looks amazing, though a bit too much red for me. It was built in 1939 by an engineer & industrialist, Charles Ruwolt and his wife Emily.

I like the first one but the old one is quaint. Not keen on the ultra modern stuff.

Further along then across to the Point Nepean Highway again. Past some wineries - one was called Underground but I don’t think it is actually under the ground!

Turned off the highway to Uncle John’s place in Mt Eliza. Parked in front of the old tennis court and gave him a ring as we were a bit early. He came out and to inspect the engine as he has rung us many times to hear how the build was going etc. He is always keen to hear about our travels too.

Back inside and we chatted away for an hour or so till Janet and Geoff arrived. Roz and Jimmy arrived after that and then Simon and Sue. Sadly Roger couldn’t make it down today. So lovely to have my cousins take time out of their busy lives to visit us (Simon, Roz & Janet). The others came out to inspect the engine and I showed them the camper.

Janet turned on some Christmas lights that were still hanging saying it was Christmas lunch again. They all brought something and we had a delicious lunch with bubbles and lots of chatter. When we stayed previously John would call down ‘Bubbles in the boardroom at 6pm’ - he is so much fun and still driving at 95, wow. Too much chatting that I forgot to get a family photo.

Said our farewells and headed south again as Janet and Geoff are staying at the house in Sorrento tonight so we will join them but just park in the car park nearby. Passed the McCrae Lighthouse then I spotted some interesting sculptures. The sky got brighter the further we went.

Parked in an open car park near the toilet block then walked up the road to the next car park overlooking Koonya Ocean Beach. We wandered around here with Roz, Jimmy and Janet on our next visit in 2015.

Followed the path down. A chap was lugging up an esky - it was steeper than it looks.

The two points are: Spray Point to the left and Dogs Head to the right. No name for the bit sticking out in the middle!

Watched the waves roll in over the rocky platforms - you can see the kelp come up into the clear wave.

You can look across to the bay from here.

Back to the camper.

Grabbed our drinks and walked down to join Janet and Geoff for dinner - BBQ lamb and more chatting - we never run out of something to talk about. We are having another boat ride in the morning from Sorrento to Queenscliff rather than driving all the way back up and around to Geelong. Janet and Geoff will come down to wave us off.

Back to the camper - put up the roof and got our bag ready for going on the Spirit tomorrow then into bed. No one else about and we are tucked well back. We can hear a bit of road noise from the main road but otherwise it is very quiet.

 

Fri, 19th Jan, 2024 Gary & Cheryl’s place, Narre Warren North to Bush camp near Ocean Beach, Rye, Vic (visit Sue & Ian, Rosebud & Rye Piers)

More rain in the early hours, minimum of 15 degrees.

Packed up then joined Gary and Cheryl for a cuppa before we headed off. Hope we can meet up again somewhere soon. Gary gave me a map for the easiest way onto the freeway down to Rosebud.

More rain as we headed south on the freeway. The sky is clearing a bit as we go around Arthur’s Seat which we explored previously when we stayed with my Aunt Jocelyn and Uncle John at Mt Eliza.

Into Rosebud early so we found a park near the skate park. It is in between two lots of council foreshore campgrounds that are packed.

Walked down to the beach - not so pretty today with the dark sky. Lots of black swans about.

The beach shacks are painted nice. This one has been defaced which is sad but at least they didn’t ruin the nice mural next door.

Along and into the campground to check out the camps there. Some are major set ups with big poles holding up huge tarps. Misty shower came across as we headed back to the camper. Had lunch then went for a drive along the foreshore towards Jetty Road - great use of old pylons.

Found a park further along from the jetty - at least finding a park has been easy considering all the traffic about. Walked along the beach to the Rosebud Pier.

Up onto the pier. Should have brought a jumper as the wind is quite nippy.

Out to the end. Looking across to Mt Martha then around to Arthurs Seat.

The water is much clearer out here. There is a sandy section in the middle. If I was going in for a swim I would from here as the beach had all the sea grass over it.

Nice house as we head back along Jetty Road towards the hills to Sue and Ian’s place.

Lovely afternoon tea with them and lots of chatting. Found another of Mum’s paintings to add to her folder. She did this one as Sue’s dad, Denny was a cane cutter.

Was so lovely to catch up with them and hopefully we will catch Graham and Sharon in Tassie soon too as they are touring around there.

The rain stopped and a bit more sun is shining through the clouds as we headed onto Port Nepean Road to head down to Sorrento. Oh how Steve loves traffic! Busy and slow as we passed more campgrounds etc.

Through Rye. Huge ferris wheel and carnival rides are set up near the jetty.

The campgrounds are so crowded and right beside the busy road. Certainly not for us.

The foreshore is lined with trees but little openings give us a view of the bay.

Passed White Cliffs Road where Cowley Beach neighbours, Pete & Edie lived when they weren’t warming their bones up north.

Into Sorrento and around to Janet and Geoff’s house to park up for the night. Unfortunately, it was a bit tight getting in the gate and not flat. We thought about going onto the grass but it was soft after the rain so didn’t want to chew it up. Headed back out to find a spot for the night. Steve decided the Rye jetty would be good so we headed back there. There was another camper parked so maybe it might be ok.

Looks nicer with the sun out. Mr Seagull landed to pose for a photo - one leg or two?

There is a small jetty by the boat ramp. I spotted a big sting ray slowly going over the boat ramp then under the jetty. Then two more appeared as boats pulled into the other side - one didn’t have a tail.

Out onto Rye Pier - first constructed in 1860 to enable ships to load lime and wood for Melbourne. Lots of people enjoying the sun now.

Lots of shallow areas so it looks funny seeing them so far out.

Lots of people fishing and some scuba diving under the pier. One chap caught this shark, after a pat it went back in.

Steve spotted a couple of pods of dolphins further out. Got one then got another one with the Spirit in the background as it heads to the new port at Corio Bay near Geelong

Little and big kids were jumping off the pier - big ones off the top of the pylons!

To pass time I suggested we drive across to the ocean side to check out Dragon Rock. I found it on Wikicamp and we found the car park in the bush. Founded a bigger spot for us to park and walked up the dune to head to the beach.

Steve spotted an echidna just as Janet rang so he took the camera and managed to get a photo before it disappeared into the bush.

Up to the lookout - nice view.

Walked further down to see Dragon Rock. I think I need a lower tide to get the good photo I saw on Facebook.

Followed the track along the top then down to the beach to Lizard Rock. Must have a good imagination when viewing rocks!

Down the steps - watch the last one, its a long drop!

Walked back to the rock to see if it looked more like a lizard from this side - not sure. Looks like its about to eat the lady.

Back along the beach, limestone and caves. Lots of purple sea grass about.

Shooting into the sun now - still couldn’t get a good photo of Dragon Rock.

Back up the steps. Lots of greenery here. Will come back for sunset.

Levelled the camper but left the roof down and read for a while. Cars whizzed in and out. Steve went for a wander back towards the road and a chap asked about the truck. He was a local and said we will be right to park there for the night.

Sunset was a flop as a thick band of cloud blocked the sun.

Once twilight came we raised the roof. There was a nice glow behind the clouds in the distance as the sun disappeared.

Amazing how many cars come up and down this little track - too dark now to be taking in the view!!