Day 11 Broadford to St Leonards

Woke up to sunshine. More vans had pulled up in the night  …

Pretty flowers with a fragrance outside on the creek bank, and croaking frogs

Went for a walk down the road to use the toilet. Crossed this creek last night on our way back from the pub



Thanks Lions Club for this nice clean toilet block in the park nearby

and thanks Broadford bowls club for providing a free camp spot, by the creek 

and on beautiful green grass. Only drawback was the trains close by and noisy trucks on the highway? But still a good night



On the road just after 9 heading south towards Melbourne 

Took the C311 road off the highway to Kilmore



Pretty drive through the country









One of the attractions in Kilmore was the Old Goal. 





On checking the surrounds we found that we could go inside and that there was a cafe inside

So we went inside for a coffee and a munchie

Their menu front page had a story of the history of the goal

 Interesting history





Once inside we checked it all out, 

A big goal and lots to see

Including inside a cell with a person in it!!!!


























Checked out all the various sections of the goal





Hadn’t realised how big it was







Bill spotted a tiny bird nesting in this crack 










Some beautiful flowers in the courtyard 



Wikicamps had mentioned this horse so we drove over to see it. It is very cleverly made out of horseshoes and was just in an empty paddock

We decided to follow the road to the lookout tower

But weren’t sure if there was a turning point at the end of the road so didn’t risk it. This field of the same white snowdrop jonquil looking flowers was just next to the car park where we turned back

Back on the way to Melbourne 




Suddenly the countryside opened up and was quite hilly

With MORE Canola fields. I think the market is going to be saturated with Canola oil., we have seen sooo much of it growing. The bright yellow looks so pretty as we are driving past



Next we are off pretty roads onto Freeways

and highways



Past an Amazon warehouse

Freeway….Shock to the system - lots of cars 

So then - negotiating all the turn offs on our route, making sure that we were in the right lane!!! Quite nerve racking

We had decided that we didn’t want to go through Melbourne but to go around on the ring road towards Geelong

So negotiating lots of junctions…..









We could see the high rise of Melbourne CBD in the distance



Spotted this on the left. Interesting, not sure what it is meant to depict.

Spotted this pretty bird sculpture beside the highway, a welcome break from staring at fast moving traffic 

Went under interesting bridge structures 

More interesting sculptures. There again no idea what this one was about. It was at Werribee 

Even got to see prett flowers on the side of the highway!!

As we got closer to Geelong I decided that it was time to start looking up somewhere suitable to pull up for the night. This one read OK so we headed for there

Got excited seeing the Great Ocean Road signs as that is where we are heading next



Interesting passing traffic, wondering where these logs have come from and going to 

Getting closer to our destination





Must be a good grape growing region here - lots of wineries around 

Closer to our destination 

And we can see the ocean - port Phillip Bay to be precise

We took the road along the Esplanade with views out to the water all along the way





There was a walking path all the way along beside the Esplanade too



We stopped at one point along it to enjoy the view and use the amenities block there

More beautiful countryside and views and the sun is shining



Eventually we arrived at St Leonard’s Caravan Park

Our day’s tracking on HEMA 

And our set up, on grass again

With views to the ocean

After setting up and having a late lunch we headed out exploring, going along quiet country roads 





We came across another Rail Trail so just had to stop !!!!

And check it out





Lots of pretty wildflowers around

These ones with a beautiful aroma





Looks like it would be a very pretty bike ride on this trail…

More pretty wildflowers 

Continuing on our exploration of the region

and heading for Queenscliff



Imposing building in the town



Another imposing building. It says it’s a Post Office but I couldn’t see a box to post my post cards!!

Stopped off at the Bellarine Railway - not open because it isn’t ‘the season’ yet





We could go onto the platform though

and look at the engine 

and carriages 

Next we drove down to where the ferry leaves from to have a look

Loading vehicles on to the ferry

Looks like a whole new fancy terminal being built

Still looking for somewhere to post post cards we spotted this one but alas not in current use but interesting all the same.



Another majestic building

and the Fort

Used by the Defence forces now



Down at the waterfront at Queenscliff 





The lighthouse at Queenscliff

Shortland Bluff

Queenscliff Lookout





Bill’s humour - it’s mine all mine’



Queenscliff White Lighthouse 

Continuing on exploring this beautiful area…

Doing all that driving around we need to refuel. We found a little service station in Lonsdale where we refuelled - 

106 litres @ $2.09 a litre.

Just passed the service station/shop there was this interesting Cairn. We sent photos of it to Ian Robertson as we were sure that he would be interested 

Next stop - Point Lonsdale



and the Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park



First of all we walked out on the jetty

With great views both directions



We could not have timed our visit here better with the setting sun behind the lighthouse 



a pilot ship heading back to harbour after dropping off a pilot on the ship coming in

Couldn’t stop taking photos of the setting sun!!







The large ship coming in to harbour





Walked along the path to the WW Emplacements enjoying the sunset views along the way



Bill positioned me at this spot so that I had a sun halo😜













and views of the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse







Bill took video of the Capricopus Leader as it was being piloted through the heads







Wind speed 

and wind gust



More WW emplacements 







Info board I discovered at the end of our exploring the Point

Drove back into Drysdale for dinner and drinks at the pub. We both chose the small serve Asian stir fry and still couldn’t eat it all!!! Was delicious though

Back to camp site after that for a nice warm shower and bed

The top map shows the driving we did for the afternoon evening snd the one below shows our exploring the peninsular. So much there to explore that we just discovered. An enjoyable busy afternoon