Geelong and the Great Coast Road


G'day everyone! 


After we said goodbye to Ken and Maureen at Woodend, it was time to make our way to Geelong where we were going to stay by the seaside for a few days. 


When we got to Geelong, we were reminded that it was nearly Christmas when we saw the Christmas decorations up. But there's something missing isn't there?

No matter how close you look, it doesn't seem like Christmas without grey skies and a few snowflakes! We kept forgetting it was the week before Christmas. 

After we checked in at our hotel, we had a walk around Geelong. Everywhere you go on the sea front there are funny statues carved from wooden poles. The ones below are surf life-savers. They always wear the same red and yellow uniforms so that they can be spotted on the beach if anyone needs help. They look out for sharks and jelly fish that might hurt people and they scan the sea for anyone who might be drowning. The coast of Australia is swept by very strong currents called rip tides that can sweep away the strongest swimmer. The waves are often very high and can knock over even people who are just paddling. When they spot someone in difficulties, the life-savers stand in a line holding a rope over their heads. They wear those funny hats so the rope doesn't get caught in their hair. One person swims our holding the end of the rope and ties it round the person who is drowning. Then everyone pulls them to the shore. 


Every Australian kid would like to be a life saver; I know Chelsea does. They run clubs called Nippers so that young people can improve their swimming skills and become Surf Life Savers when they are old enough. There are Surf Clubs near every beach in Australia. It's where the Life Savers keep their equipment and train but there is usually a bar and a great restaurant where you can get a good meal.   

These statues are at the pier entrance in Geelong. 


We got another reminder that it was Christmas when we saw the lions outside the Art Gallery in Geelong. 

They were all wearing Santa hats like this. I think it would be a good idea if the lions outside the Town Hall in Leeds were dressed up the same, don't you? Perhaps you could write to the Lord Mayor about it. 


The next day, we set off to drive along the Great Ocean Road which takes you past a lot of very spectacular scenery. The road was built by soldiers who had returned from the first world war and could not find work. The project was designed to create work for men who had risked their lives to fight in the war and to provide a monument for those who had lost their lives in the war. When you see the pictures of the scenery that the road allows you to see, I think you will agree that it is a great monument. 

Our first stop was at this light house at Flag Staff Hill. From the coast, we could see this rocky island that is part of the cliff that has fallen away. 

This was pretty spectacular but there was more to come. The Twelve Apostles are twelve rocky islands like this that have been created in the same way, by coastal erosion. There aren't twelve any more, some have been swept away by the sea but they are still called that. 


Here I am in front of the Twelve Apostles. 

And here they are without me in the way!

 Here I am in the same place with Mrs P . . . 

And these are some more Apostle rocks. 

The cliffs nearby are very dangerous but we did what it says in the notice and we were ok. 


Next we moved on to another part of the coast where you could see these beautiful cliffs. 

It was time to go home as it had been quite a long drive but there was more excitement to come. Mr and Mrs P told me that I was going to get a surprise . . . and I did - look:

Here I am outside Cobden Primary School in Cobden, Victoria, Australia. Can you see the name on the wall? 

Here I am in front of the big sign.

And here's a shot of the playground. Unfortunately the school was shut because it was late in the day and they may have already started their long Christmas holiday. Christmas comes to Australia in the summer so Australian children have their long summer holiday at Christmas time. Perhaps you could e-mail the Head Teacher and tell them I called! 


Well, that's all for now. next time I'll tell you about meeting up with Chelsea again and meeting a very well known person whose initials are SC. Can you guess who it is? 


Hooroo!

Click here to find out about Surf Life Savers and Nippers

Click here to find out about the Great Ocean Road

Click here to find out about Cobden Primary School, Victoria