Robe

Robe, South Australia, Australia
Tuesday, December 17, 2013

This is a driving week, as we are on the move every day, gradually travelling up The Great Ocean Road. The first section between Adelaide and Robe certainly left a lot to be desired scenically. There is the similar wide open road, few cars and people, as in New Zealand, but that is where the similarity ends. We had not travelled many miles out of Adelaide before the differences between the two countries manifested themselves. Somehow you become very quickly aware of the vastness of this land and it's strange almost threatening aura. It was very hot today (around 35 degrees ) and the landscape had that bleached out look, where even the blue sky seems to loose its intensity of colour and land and sky seem to merge into a heat haze. The ground is bone dry, water courses are dried up and even the cattle were huddled together under whatever shelter they could find. This went on for mile after mile, even when we reached the coast. We stopped for a coffee at a small town that appeared more Wild West than Australian and I wandered into the information centre and got chatting to the male volunteer. He offered me a map, which I accepted enthusiastically, at which point he grinned and said. "Are ya sure y'know which way up to hold that gal-reckon I'm wasting my time- you Sheila's have no clue with directions!" I suddenly felt I'd arrived in Oz! You'll be pleased to hear I held my tongue.
The second half of the journey ran along the coast and the salt lagoon that stretched for miles, landlocked by gigantic sand dunes. We visited a Pelican colony, most of whom seemed to be out for the afternoon and eventually made our way into Robe. About ten miles beforehand the landscape had started to change; hills came into play, vineyards appeared and limestone outcrops created some interest. This is not called The Limestone Coast for nothing and when we arrived in Robe we finally began to get the picture. There are lovely limestone cliffs, worn clints and grykes and magnificent arches in the rock. A lot of oohing and ahing from me, but possibly less enthusiasm from PL who was far more interested in the cricket score from the WACA. It was bad news when we eventually did catch up with it, apart from Stokes' century. All is lost. Goodness knows what we will face at the MCG! Suddenly a gorilla suit has its appeal for its anonymity, although in 100 degrees of heat it's questionable.
Robe is a charming small town of about 800 permanent residents that will swell to 11,000 over the summer break period. All is relatively quiet at the moment, with the exception of the flies. I need more corks!Read more