Geelong –
pronounced Jillong – is Victoria’s second largest city and is rapidly expanding
with many government departments etc relocating from Melbourne (presumably
cheaper rent/wages etc). There is something quite old fashioned
about it; with its harbour, lido, Ferris wheel and painted figures all around.
There is a nice botanical garden.
Our holiday park is opposite the Barwon River which is much used by rowers and the towpath is busy with walkers, runners, cyclists the lot. We walked along a couple of times hoping for a bit of birdlife but not much around.
There were several of these strange looking contraptions around.
We didn't have a clue so had to look them up - Disc Golf. Apparently the idea is you throw a Frisbee type thing from a "tee", then again from wherever it landed until you get it in the hole ie. the chain thing. You may not be surprised to hear that we didn't see anyone playing it.
After lunch we drove back to Bells Beach and walked down to the rocky beach area for some closer shots, but we were still a good way off.
Somehow the photos just don't convey the power and size of the waves.
We climbed back up the steps to the cliff top and drove to the other end of the beach where you could actually walk across the sand once you'd got down to the beach. There were a couple of guys with large cameras filming a young female, so we asked what it was all about. She was American surfer Laura "Lakey" Peterson, former World No.1 (currently No.6) and the chap we were talking to was her Australian surfer husband Thomas Allen. They were doing some promotional shots for her sponsors. Of course we had to stay and watch for a while.
In 2009 Lakey landed the first ever aerial in women's competition history and won the title. Whether she did one today or not, we don't have a clue, but whatever "moves" she was doing, she made it look very easy and was so graceful.
We then drove to Anglesea Golf Club which is famous for its grey kangaroos. The club members offer tours where they take you around in a buggy and show off the roos. We didn't really fancy that so just went into the clubhouse for tea and cake but got chatting to the waitress who said the roos were all around the driving range and that we could just wander down (but don't say she told us!). Sure enough there were loads around, including some sitting on the range whilst some poor chap tried to practice.
This would have been amazing if it had been in focus!
There
must have been 50-60 kangaroos around, mostly either lazing on the ground or
grazing. Occasionally a huge male would hop around the area inspecting
his harem and making sure there were no threats to his superiority
around. Quite unnerving when he bounded over to check us out.
This poor lady golfer was worried about hitting one with her tee shot. In the end her playing partner came and shooed them all off the tee.
On the way home we made a brief stop at Anglesea Beach which was a bit tame compared with others we'd seen.
