Around Australia: Day 35, Cobden to Ararat

Summary: Day 35 of my trip Around Australia on my Burgman 650 Executive saw me riding the Great Ocean Road. Again, a great experience road- and scenery-wise. I zig-zagged my way through the mountains along the Great Ocean Road. Another great day of riding.

Diary Entry for May 28, 2010

My initial, short entry in my "Around Australia" diary for the day read as follows:

Day 35: Cobden to Ararat
Yes, did a cruise around the greater Cobden area, including a run from Lavers Hill to Colac. Hey, this was fun! Lavers Hill to Ferguson, and then Ferguson to Gellibrand; the rest to Colac was OK. As for the OK bit: you can pepper this up a bit by taking all bends signed 75 km and over at the allowed 100 km/h. Or like I did: keep the cruise control at a 100 and see if you chicken out. Then this road is fun too. 
I also rode the Great Ocean Road. It was almost a year to the day since I rode the GOR the first time in May 2009. There was no traffic. I had the road to myself — until Anglesea that is, but then GOR ends (or starts) anyway. Despite the negative vibes I hear from fellow riders, it is not all 80 km/h. If I remember correctly is it 80 from Apollo Bay to Anglesea; from Peterborough to Apollo Bay all 100. There are heaps of bends where the 80 are not achievable, no matter what racer you've got. I reckon too many knee scrapers doing silly things may have led to that limit.
All-in-all another great riding day. Drizzle here and there provided enough wet road surface; nevertheless, enough fun left despite it all.  I settled in Ararat for the night.

Photo of the Day

One of the 12 Apostels near the Gibson Steps, Great Ocean Road, Victoria

Cobden to Ararat

Cobden

What a morning! Up at 06:04, gone by 07:15. I had my usual Aussie breakfast in the adjoining diner, next to the petrol station. I was off to Stoneyford; completing Bear Ride #148, I had started yesterday evening, coming from Allansford.

I took the photo below near Bostock Creek when heading south from Camperdown to Cobden. The landscape was drowned in surreal colours.

Early Morning Rainbow, View south near Bostock Creek, Victoria, Australia

Great Ocean Road

I rode from Camperdown, through Cobden to Port Campbell. Farmlands stretch to the west, and forests to the east. Lots of green pastures, even steep hills, and cows on them — what an idyllic spot of country side.

Farmland, south of Newfield, Victoria, Australia

Port Campbell and Bass Strait, Victoria, Australia

I followed the road west to Peterborough — properly starting Bear Ride #48 — along the Great Ocean Road.

There are some fabulous rock formations within the Port Campbell National Park. The first formation is London Arch, a natural arch formed through erosion. London Arch was previously called London Bridge, due to the close resemblance of its double arches to the actual bridge. The name changed to London Arch in 1990 after the first arch collapsed, and left two tourists stranded. The tourists were rescued by helicopter and fortunately nobody was injured. Of course I had to stop and take photos of the rocks and sandstone formation the ocean is shaping.

London Bridge, Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia

My journey took me all the way to Lavers Hill, and then north to Colac. And because the ride felt great, I rode all the way back to Lavers Hill, basically running Bear Ride #44 twice. 

Lavers Hill to Ferguson was a blast; so was Ferguson to Gellibrand! The rest to Colac was OK. As for the OK bit: you can pepper this up a bit by taking all bends sign-posted with recommended speed of 75 km and over at the allowed 100 km/h. Or like I did: keep the cruise control at a 100 and see if you have to chicken out. Of coursed I used common-sense approach. Then this road is fun too.

Colac West, Victoria, Australia

I still had vivid memories of riding the Great Ocean Road (GOR) in May 2009; memories of great riding again confirmed today. There was no traffic. I had the road to myself — until Anglesea that is, but then GOR ends (or starts) anyway. Despite the negative vibes I heard from fellow riders, it is not all 80 km/h. If I remember correctly is it 80 from Apollo Bay to Anglesea; from Peterborough to Apollo Bay all 100. There are heaps of bends where the 80 are not achievable, no matter what racer you've got. I reckon too many knee scrapers doing silly things may have led to that limit. Drizzle here and there provided enough wet road surface; nevertheless, enough fun left despite it all.

Great Ocean Road near Elliot River, Otway National Park, Victoria, Australia

I followed the GOR to Anglesea, and then to Queenscliff. I was after the Big Turnbuckle; yes, silly, I know. Geelong was next; another IBEM location. I could not find the Geelong town sign!  It appeared the sign must have been somewhere shortly after leaving Queenscliff; I had no intention to back-track.

Geelong

I wondered around in Geelong, finding something with Geelong on it, when I incidentally passed the Big Sphinx; tick, done, great. After tacking a photo of the Geelong Harley Davidson store, the IBEM mission for this town was completed.

Geelong

Ballarat

Next was Ballarat (another IBEM location), or was it? No, Leigh Creek was next, to find the Big Miner, and a Big Dinosaur. The idea was, if I can find these easily, I will take a photo, if not, I will give it a miss.

Ballarat

Ararat

The 90 km to Ararat were done in rain and later on in darkness. The road was fairly busy, hence the riding was not all that bad. I was waterproof, after putting my diving hood on. Yes, no kidding, this piece of equipment, though a bit if a dog to wear, will make me waterproof on the bike.

All-in-all another great riding day. I arrived in Ararat at 18:18.

Trip Data for the Day

700 km over the elapsed time of 11 hours 30 minutes.

Accommodation for the Night

My room at the Ararat Motel Inn, Ararat, Victoria, Australia

I stayed at the  Ararat Motel Inn in Ararat for the night. Cost: 95 AUD.

My comment: Very nice. Friendly caretakers. He knew I was only looking for a place to stay for one night, he still made an effort to explain a bit about the town and what is there to see. He pointed out one place I must visit to see the Grampians. I did as the man said the next morning; it was indeed worthwhile my time. I am grateful he told me!
Nice bed, heated mattress, nice AirCon, bathroom, all nice an clean. Would stay there again!

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