First Report

Tuesday 17th March - Wonthaggi to Bairnsdale.
We had rain overnigh and had a wet pack in the morning. We rode the Cape Paterson road, described at the Little Ocean Road, and then just laid down miles to Bairnsdale. The weather just got better all day, and it was our first fine day of riding. Fish lost his CB radio at 110 km/h when it jumped out of its cradle, but it survived the 100m slide down the road and still works OK. The radios have been great, as we can chat, the lead rider can warn of hazards, and Tail End Charlie can warn of overtaking vehicles. We arrived at Bairnsdale early, and did some washing and shopping. We have the shopping down to a fine art and can now get meat vegies and some wine,a nd breakfast for about $8.00 per head. A quiet night and early to bed and the old boys were all a bit tired.

Monday 16th March - Apollo Bay to Wonthaggi
More rain..... Despite the weather the GOR is a spectacular ride. At Torquay, Fish and Marcello had a "coming together" and bike Fish's pannier and tore Morcello's pannier bag. Temporary repairs got them going again and it was not serious. The weather finally cleared int eh afternoon. We caught the ferry across the mouth of the bay to bypass Melbourne and pressed on the Wonthaggi for our first night camping. Another entertaining night in the camp kitchen with three young Italian bike riders here on holiday. The just about worshiped us as old experienced riders, and gave us a "T" shirt for their club, all written in Italian and which we suspect is very rude!

Sunday 15th March - Mt Gambier to Apollo Bay
Drizzle and huge side winds all day, and that was the good bits! Steve had never been along the Great Ocean Road, so se stopped at the essential tourist spots at Loch Ard Gorge and the 11 Apostles. Masses of tourists, and helicopters buzzing around like blowies on roadkill. The scenery is spectacular, but the fun went out of it through the Ottway Ranges when we struck torrential rain, so heavy we almost had to pull over. It continued until Apollo Bay, and again camping was out of the question. We got two rooms at the pub (basic is an understatement) and had expensive food in the bar and some expensive wine, but spent an entertaining evening on the balcony overlooking the bay. The staff locked our bikes in the Drive Through Bottle Shop for us, so they were dry and secure.

Saturday 14th March - Adelaide to Mt Gambier

Were sent off my family and friends at 8.00 am and headed down freeway for Keith, were we stopped for morning tea. From there we turned south and had lunch at Naracoorte. Up until this point the weather had been fine, but it soon started raining and we had heavy rain all the way to Mt Gambier. Camping was out of the question, so we hired a cabin at the caravan park. We cooked at BBQ tea in the camp kitchen and spent the evening with a big mob celebrating an 80th birthday. Despite the weather the day went well, and we had no leaks in our wet weather gear and no breakdowns.