%uFF21%uFF4C%uFF52%uFF49%uFF47%uFF48%uFF54%u3000%uFF27%uFF55%uFF56%uFF4E%uFF4F%uFF52%uFF0C%uFF41%uFF56%uFF45%u3000%uFF41%u3000%uFF47%uFF41%uFF4E%uFF44%uFF45%uFF52%uFF53%u3000%uFF41%uFF54%u3000%uFF54%uFF48%uFF49%uFF53%u3000%uFF4C%uFF49%uFF4C%u3000%uFF47%uFF45%uFF4D%uFF01

Well, the Groovy Grape bus continues...

We started the Great Ocean Road stopping first at 'The bay of Islands' to see the first set of rock structures out at sea. It was stunning, the sea was%u3000%uFF54%uFF55%uFF52%uFF51%uFF55%uFF4F%uFF49%uFF53%uFF45 blue and the%u3000%uFF48%uFF55%uFF47%uFF45 waves were crashing on the rocks. The immediate difference I noticed when we started the Great Ocean Road was the pissing weather changes. It changes every 20 minutes from hot and sunny one minute to windy and hailing the next! We made a few more stops at various scenic rock formations. 'London Bridge' was pretty cool. It was an arched bridge%uFF0D%uFF4C%uFF49%uFF4B%uFF45%u3000%uFF53%uFF54%uFF52%uFF55%uFF43%uFF54%uFF55%uFF52%uFF45 made of rock %uFF54%uFF48%uFF41%uFF54%u3000%uFF57%uFF41%uFF53%u3000seperated from the mainland. It was once attached (as all of the structures were) but corroded away in the %uFF19%uFF10%uFF07%uFF53. We watched th%uFF45 sunset at the infamous '12 Apostles' which was %uFF45%uFF58%uFF54%uFF52%uFF45%uFF4D%uFF45%uFF4C%uFF59 spectacular. %uFF21%uFF46%uFF54%uFF45%uFF52%u3000%uFF54%uFF48%uFF41%uFF54%uFF0C%u3000%uFF57%uFF45 spent the night in a really nice little beach house on the beach front in Port Campbell. It was the perfect end to another %uFF46%uFF41%uFF4E%uFF54%uFF41%uFF53%uFF54%uFF49%uFF43 day. %uFF2F%uFF55%uFF52 group were the only ones there and we sat around the log fire in the lounge and sipped vino through till %uFF54%uFF48%uFF45%u3000%uFF45%uFF41%uFF52%uFF4C%uFF59%u3000%uFF48%uFF4F%uFF55%uFF52%uFF53%uFF01

We went back to the 12 Apostels for a morning glance which was %uFF57%uFF41%uFF59%u3000%uFF54%uFF4F%uFF4F%u3000%uFF45%uFF41%uFF52%uFF4C%uFF59%u3000%uFF46%uFF4F%uFF52%u3000%uFF4D%uFF45%uFF0C%u3000%uFF53%uFF4F%u3000%uFF29decided to get my Victor Meldrew hat on and sit on the bus while the others took photos! We stopped for coffee and went for a walk through the rainforest that was covered from head to toe in vines and tropical trees. We then moved on and stopped in an area where there are loads of wild Koala's and saw some up in the trees just nestling themselves in between any twig they can find on the branch and dosing off as they obviously had a heavy night or something! We then continued on towards the "Surf Coast" section of the road Melbourne. We Stopped at some little beach towns on route - Appollo Bay where we got some fish and chips, Lorne and Torquay. Torquay is the town where 'Bell's Beach' is from the film Point Break (although it wasn't actually filmed there!). We watched a pro surfing competition and my GOD those waves were HUGE!!! I tried to make myself look like somewhat of a surfer by latching on to one of the locals and using vocabulary like "awesome ride" and "serious surf".....I don't think he was that impressed! We then had a look around the shops and surprisingly managed to refrain from spending the whole budget on surf clothes! Torquay is the town were the brangs Rip Curl and Quicksilver originated from and the shops were MASSIVE - oh God if only I had more money! We finished the tour in Melbourne where we were dropped off at a pretty funky hostel in town.

ON %uFF34%uFF2FMELBOURNE.....

Melbourne is a pretty city set on the river with trams running through it. We spent our first day getting cultural and visited some museums which were really good. We hit the casino by night which was, in true Vegas style, a huge complex - no gambling here for us though, so we just got a drink at the bar and people watched all night. The casino is on the rivers edge and they have massive fireball displays by the river throughout the evening which was awesome to see. We visited the 'Old Melbourne Gaol' which is an old prison where 100's were hung, including Ned Kelly! We went on a tour where we were given prisoners identities and treated like we had been arrested. We were searched and looked in a cell. It was pretty scary - Loz was in a different cell to me as we had different arresting officers! They shouted 'Lights out!' and then I nearly messed myself. They turned all the lights off and I was sat in the stinky old skanky cell in darkness. Then they put on sound effects of what it would have sounded like! When that was over we got to walk around as we pleased. We saw where Ned Kelly was hanged and his death mask - how pleasant! Needless to say I think i'll be keeping on the straight and narrow from now on!

The Australia Vs England Rugby match was on so we met our 'Groovy Grape' friends who were also staying in the city and went out on the raz to watch the match which was a wicked night of chanting and celebrations! We also met Loz's friend Tara (worked with in Sydney) and her boyfriend Tom one night and went to a comedy club. It was a really good night. Chopper was there and after the acts he came on stage for people to fire questions at him which was pretty funny%u3000%uFF29%u3000%uFF50%uFF55%uFF54%u3000%uFF49%uFF4E%u3000%uFF41%u3000%uFF50%uFF52%uFF45%uFF54%uFF54%uFF59%u3000%uFF44%uFF49%uFF52%uFF54%uFF59%uFF0C%u3000%uFF42%uFF55%uFF54%u3000%uFF56%uFF45%uFF52%uFF59%u3000%uFF41%uFF4D%uFF55%uFF53%uFF49%uFF4E%uFF47%u3000%uFF51%uFF55%uFF45%uFF53%uFF54%uFF49%uFF4F%uFF4E%u3000%uFF54%uFF48%uFF41%uFF54%u3000%uFF29thought chopper might appreciate......I couldn't be more wrong and he said I%u3000%uFF57%uFF41%uFF53%u3000%uFF4A%uFF55%uFF53%uFF54%u3000%uFF41%u3000%uFF53%uFF49%uFF43%uFF4B%u3000%uFF4C%uFF49%uFF54%uFF54%uFF4C%uFF45%u3000%uFF42%uFF4F%uFF59%uFF01%u3000%uFF37%uFF4F%uFF4E%uFF07%uFF54%u3000%uFF42%uFF45%u3000%uFF44%uFF4F%uFF49%uFF4E%uFF47%u3000%uFF54%uFF48%uFF41%uFF54%u3000%uFF41%uFF47%uFF41%uFF49%uFF4E%uFF01

We got a tram out to the beach suburb of St Kilda and had some lunch there in the sunshine. Melbourne seems to be a little temperamental with the old weather too!

Another fantastic journey and another great city. I'm really sad to leave Australia boo hoo! We're off to New Zealand next for a month so until then I'll love you and leave you.

Hasta Las Vista.......