The Great Coastal Road and...onto. Adelaide, October 30 & 31st

 October 30

    We left Melbourne nice and early...we really enjoyed the city. We wanted to get a nice early start on the Great Ocean Road. However, within several miles of leaving, the tire light came on, the same one that was on when we rented the car and which the rental people dismissed and removed the warning.

     When we got to a pump, the tire was down to 16 pounds! (out of 32.) So, we filled it and had to stop 2-3 more times to keep refilling it. And, we bought a tire gauge as the tire gauge in the car would not recalibrate and was always on, even if we'd just refilled it. It definitely impacted our day and we skipped a sight in Lorne and Loch Ard Gorge which Otis and Jecca had highly recommended. But, the tire became an issue.

     Nevertheless, we enjoyed the day and tried not to let it bother us too much as the tire didn't go down quickly. We stopped every 2 hours, though. 

     We had lunch at the Fisherman's Coop in pretty Apollo Bay and had a Fisherman's Platter to share. Mmmmm.

Some of the 12 Apostles 

      The entire coastline is gorgeous - up through mountains, down to bays and sandy and rocky beaches. 

      A highlight was the 12 Apostles, even though it was crowded - it was well worth it. Mark saw a white-lipped snake (part of the cobra family) just off the path. - Venomous, of course.

     By 5:30, we stopped in lovely Port Fairy at a very nice lodging called Seacombe Inn. 

In Port Fairy looking at Seacombe Lodge

The main street in Port Fairy

We were too full to eat a meal, so got in oranges, crackers and cheese and at in our room. We also took a walk and were enchanted by the town. There was a yard where people were busy setting up for Halloween. We chatted with the woman who was in charge; she doesn't even live there! The people loan her their garden every year for the event - because their location is so good for trick-or-treaters.

 October 31

     We spent time on the phone with AutoEurope and got a man who said the car would definitely be replaced in center city, Adelaide and gave us an address. We were relieved.

      It was a beautiful drive through farmland - vineyards, sheep and cattle. We saw a koala in the wild as well as an echnidna. Mark saw an emu. We both saw kangaroos jumping in a field, but they were too far away to photograph. (Too many dead on the side of the road.)

While on a C rated road, we saw a koala crossing the street!

      We stopped along the way to check the tire twice. Mark drove about 6 1/2 hours to Adelaide. 

       We first stopped at The Retreat apartment building to fetch the key for our new rental. It was a bit of an adventure getting it from the lock box. And, we could not figure out where the car park was, but decided to go to the AutoEurope office to exchange the car. We had to drive up the the 5th level of a carpark and go back down to an office. And- the man had NO car and had been told NOTHING about us coming in, despite what we were told this morning. He said we'd have to go to the airport tomorrow as his office would be closed and he wouldn't have a car anyhow. Arrgh!

White lipped snake by the path.

     

So, we went back up to the carpark and got the darned car. Then, we had to figure out how to get into the carpark at the rental- another challenge that necessitated us calling Bridget, the owner, who told us that the carpark we needed was the one behind the building. That mission was accomplished. 

     Then - more of a challenge. The fob for the elevator would not work. We felt like we'd done something wrong, but 3 different tenants tried it to no avail. One man took us to the 10th floor and we needed the 12th floor, but we couldn't wait for someone to go that high, so we walked up the last 2 floors with our bags. Luckily, the key to the apartment worked and we called Bridget - again to report the non-working fob. We could not leave the apartment to get the rest of our luggage as we'd never be able to get back. So, Bridget came over and, sure enough, the fob was faulty. (Whew! It wasn't us!) So, then we unloaded everything from the car and ate what Bridget had left in the fridge and collapsed. Tomorrow- to the airport to replace the car.

     Travel does present challenges some days, but that's part of it and, rising to them has to be good for our brains. ?  We hope so!

This really belongs to November 1, but it seemed good to have this post have the old and the replacement car! Yay!