Joel, Alice and the rest of the Salts
One night in Falls Creek I overheard Joel talking on the phone, he was organising a party for Alice’s 25th birthday, unknown to her. He was getting her parents over from Tasmania along with some old friends from Melbourne. That’s just the kind of guy Joel is. The third thing on my list of things to do was a ride on the Great Ocean Road; Joel is from Apollo Bay, on the Great Ocean Road, so I invited myself to the party, this was my next destination.
A night on the ferry and I was back on the big Island, no need to go to Melbourne again so got on the road to Mornington Peninsular and in particular Sorrento where I could get the ferry to Queenscliff. By about mid afternoon I arrived in Sorrento and found some where to stay ready to jump on the ferry and the Great Ocean Road…the sun was shining…I woke up to glorious sunshine and a smile on my face. For the first time in a long time I didn’t put the thermals on, by the time I got to Queenscliff I had taken off another layer, by the time I got to Lorne I had to stop because I was too hot. This was it, the Great Ocean Road, riding in a T shirt and vest, this was the dream, I’m doing it. The road was perfect the weather was perfect, what more could one ask for. Lunch in Lorne, next stop Apollo Bay, the road got even better on this stretch and very little traffic…. “Heaven I’m in Heaven”…Arrived at Joel and Alice’s place about three, ahead of the rest of the crew, Alice by now had sussed something was afoot but was over the moon when her parents and sister arrived from Tassie and long time friends from Melbourne. I met both Joel and Alice’s parents and could see instantly why they were such a lovely couple. They allowed me to stay for 2 weeks while I got x-rays and medication for the chest infection that I still hadn’t been able to throw off. I didn’t do as much riding on the Great Ocean Road as I would have liked, because that glorious summers day only lasted for that day and I wanted to fix the chest but I did enough to be satisfied. I was feeling much better when I left 2 weeks after arriving, it was a beautiful day and I was bound for Sydney.
“Thank you Joel and Alice for your hospitality”
I am…. THE LONESOME TRAVELLER….travelling east….BE HAPPY!