We are booked into the Beachway Motel in Ulverstone. This motel has catered for most of the bikes. It is a great little motel and we managed to snag the “Luxury Apartment”. Could spend to whole time here but I’ll force myself to go for a ride tomorrow. We are here for 3 nights “Pure Luxury”
28th February
Early star today we are up at 5:45am to get back to the farm to let the last of those wanting to leave their vehicles on the Mainland. We then have a mad dash for the ferry. We made it in good time and we embark in an orderly fashion. The day is over cast and showers forecast.
Now about an hour out of Davenport. The crossing was pretty good I think but there are a few feeling a bit queasy. You definitely need your sea legs to get around. The ferry has live entertainment, a theater a restaurant and eatery.
We had Ocean Recliner at the blunt end and can see where we have been. We will get more value for our money as we will be the last into the dock.
Almost there.
27th February
It’s the gathering of the clan. We are at a farm north west of Melbourne waiting for those rally members that are leaving their vehicles on the mainland. The property owner has shown us around his collection of rare and vintage bikes. He has a brilliant collection in various stages of restoration,
While we are waiting he takes off on a 1935 Rudge 350cc, it looks like a scene from at Dad ‘n’ Dave movie, no helmet, singlet and shorts and gravel flying from the rear wheel.
Time is pasting and still no bikes have turned up then about 1:30 pm the crew from Townsville roll in. At last we have some action. They are well organized with Hi Vis Vests with their names on. Next a family roll in from S.A, Then just as everyone appears they are off to their accommodation for the night.
We are left to lock up the farm as the owner has taken off to attend a 4 day Rudge Rally.We go to a motel in Baccuhas Marsh and find a Chinese Resturant for dinner. The plan is coming together for Keith the tour leader.
26th February
Today we had a practice for Tassie roads. We left Warrnambool to take The Great Ocean Road. This goes south east to Port Campbell and the stunning cliffs. First stop was the Bay of Isles. Drove into the car park for the Twelve Apostles but it appeared overly commercialized so we continued on to Gibsons Steps. The air was a pleasant and the sea rolling in with the tops of the waves giving off spray.
The road onto Apollo Bay is quite twisty which test your skill getting along it. Most of this section is through bush. We lunched at Appollo Bay then on to Geelong. The road to Geelong follows the coast going in and out and up and down.
It took a little effort to find a motel near Geelong but we manage to find one near the oil refinery at Corio.