Sun on my face, wind in my hair, a beach… life is bliss

A picturesque view on the Great Ocean Road

A frisky breeze toyed with the frost-like tipped waves and chilled my face while the hot rays of the sun played tag with the breeze, warming my face.  The chatter of voices zipped like seagulls on the breeze over the crashing drums of the ocean. An ocean so blue slipped out to the horizon but seeing people on the beach so far below distracted my ocean-gazing.

We were at Gibson’s Steps. Just a few steps and we could be strolling on the sand; right at ocean, and  wave, level.  No clouds hiding the sun means more sunscreen, yay. Just a few steps though, right?

Only a few steps up or down, eh?

Narrow steps carved into the cliff side lead the way down. Careful, don’t catch yourself (or clothing) on the chipped, gouged rock wall. The sharp edges were grasping, waiting to startle someone. Once at the bottom, on the beach I glanced back up. And it turns out the top is a ways up, a dramatic finish of cliff against the open blue sky.

The beach at Gibson's Steps

After a meandering stroll on the beach we charged back up the steps, which aren’t made for two-way traffic by the way. No worries though the camera didn’t get scratched. Still, what a view.

The arrival of several tour buses loaded with people prompted us to find our car and continue on to the last stops on the Great Ocean Road. The cacophony of multiple languages bombarded our ears and faded away as they too descended Gibson’s Steps.

A slight jog down the road and we stopped to see the 12 Apostles. Only a few remain now while the rest succumbed and now rest beneath the waves; time, the sea salt air and waves having worn them down. After hearing hubs talk about the sights, seeing it on Google (or postcards) doesn’t do the vista, or personal impact, justice. The feel of light, stinging wisps on the face from the sea salt in the air or the bass thumping of the waves trying to match your heartbeat.

The parking lot for this stop was quite a ways away from the actual trail and viewing decks. A wide, gently sloping paved trail led us under the highway via a tunnel (less pedestrian accidents that way I suppose) and to the gravel trails. Some people were hoofing it, really cruising down the trail to see the apostles. Others, as we found out, traveled at a snail’s pace in the arctic in molasses. Yes, they really were that slow.

Thankfully the majority of tourists were Asian and slight of stature. So we could see the view despite the crowds thronging along the trails and viewing decks. What a picture.

The remaining few of the 12 Apostles

 We played the tourist role to the hilt and stopped at every point or sight that had signage. Some were ‘meh’ or just interesting. The tide being out meant, apparently, some stops were less interesting. Our last stop was the Bay of Martyrs. At this point the sun was beginning to start its afternoon descent, the day had warmed up considerable and the strong winds had worked the waves up. 

The Bay of Martyrs

A haze had crept in over the various rocks standing strong up from the ocean in the bay. Trying to take a decent photo was  a challenge with the sun staring right back at you through the haze. It would have been better to stop in the morning light to view the bay at its best. Such was our route though that it was our last stop.

London Bridge... that has fallen

What a tour though. The Great Ocean Road was a pleasant drive with fantastic views. It’s the worth the travel time to get there.

May your week start off warm, cozy and with a cuppa coffee or tea. Despite those blustery winds and snow.