A lightstation tour

A determined, random guy out fishing

A sleepy morning means breakfast by the beach. Even the sun was sleepy with a half-hearted attempt to break through the whispering fog. After all, we’re in Australia and next to the beautiful ocean so why not have breakfast with a view?

With reluctance we left the beach to those determined to do a little casting and those who preferred sun salutations to continue our Great Ocean road adventure. We detoured from the main road to stop in at the Cape Otway Lightstation. (It’s worth the detour.)

Of course this sounds like a little jaunt from the main road but was actually quite the winding, lengthy road to get there. We passed through a ghost forest; silvery, proud trees still tall although no longer living with new growth beginning. It was an eerie tribute to a bush fire a couple of years ago.

We managed to snag a rare parking space (some people really should learn how to park) and beat the crowd to the entrance booth. I worked in copious amounts of sunscreen while hubs sparingly dabbed on some (life just isn’t fair but hey, skin health) and we were off to see the lightstation.

Cape Otway Lightstation

A couple of the buildings were set up for tourists to wander through and learn a bit about life for lightstation keepers. One of the rooms had an old pump organ that everyone kept calling a piano. Clearly, they weren’t reading the signs. The history in this place was fascinating. I wouldn’t call myself a history buff by any means but it was interesting. And the buildings were gloriously cool inside. Although it was a beautiful day and windy the sun had an edge to it.

The best part was the lightstation itself. They had the whole building open to visitors. We climbed up the narrow, tight stairwell.

Lots and lots of stairs

At the top was a short ladder that brought us to a tiny room.  Photos from over the years were hung and other baubles, artifacts, essentials of a life gone by were displayed. A guide was on duty, a very good story teller, and he wove a story so real that he made the history come to life. Clearly this guy knew how to make dusty history sound as if it happened yesterday. I half expected to see a ship a sea when I stepped out on the wrapped balcony.

The wind whipped around the smooth walls of the lightstation and nearly sent hub’s ball cap for a swim.

View from the lightstation balcony

We enjoyed coffees and delicious dessert back at the lightstation café where paintings of ships decorated the walls.

As we headed back to the Great Ocean Road we hoped to see a koala or two. After this, we would not be in their native territory. A guide told us of a spot where they had been seen recently, just past the silvered trees. A few cars were stopped in this location and we asked the people if they had seen any. It turns out they were from Brazil and that high up, amongst the waving tree tops, a couple of koalas were taking a nap.

I got to see koalas and kangaroos (a wallaby too) in their natural habitat and not the zoo. Win. 

Cozy koala snoozing the afternoon away

 

May your day be cheerful, chill and caffeinated.