A whirlwind weekend along the windy winding Great Ocean Road

So this is how our road trip to 'Apollo Bay' started.  Google map your start point and destination and you never know which route you'll end up on.  Gravel road and kilometers of farmland as far as the eye could see.  We were laughing pretty hard at this point but just kept going with it.

Not long after the long deserted gravel road we find ourselves on a narrow winding road through Great Otway National Park, full of almost lush greenery.  It's supposed to be stunning when its not in drought.
When we arrived at our wonderful(SACRASM a plenty) accommodation, we dropped our bags and made a bee line for Torquay.  Julie quickly sniffed out the factory outlet stores and we were off.  Cheap surf boards from Quicksilver and Ripcurl, $100 wetsuits, boardshorts 2 for $50, $10 rashies and $20 bikinis had us occupied for a while.  Actually we have to go back!  We needed to get to...

SUPER RUGBY.  Yes it was only preseason but it was great to see some quality rugby being played.  Most of the big guns were there, Savea brothers and Scott Higginbotham, etc., but no Conrad Smith.  The Hurricanes ended up coming up short but it allowed the crowd to leave happy.  Saw this little guy too,

That's a Harlequin jersey if you weren't sure.

The next day, after we spent a night in our closet, I mean room with a view of the building next door, we hit the road.  The Great Ocean Road.  First stop according to my navigator was

I had know idea why we were stopping here only that I would be able to see some Apostles.  Well I did and I didn't know how high above sea level the road was until I went down the stairs carved into the side of the cliff.

It was described to me as much quieter than the 12 Apostles car park which we stopped at just down the highway.  Although there you did not have access to the water so if you wanted to dip your toes in the ocean it had to be here at Gibson steps.

She seems surprised its not luke warm.  "Its okay Honey, the Arctic is just a little way over there".  Haha.

Its pretty awesome even if it does happen to be windy as heck and overcast threatening rain.

Just watch your step,

The Arch

London Bridge
Actually used to be attached to the mainland via a land bridge which collapsed back in 1990 and stranded a couple of people on the island for a couple of hours until a helicopter came and got them.  How cool would that be!

While we are on our trip we are endeavoring to try new things and that opportunity came via dinner.

KANGAROO.

Sunday morning sleep in

Good morning! One week has flown by and I can only imagine how fast this year will go too.  For our first weekend excursion Brad and I took the train to Melbourne so that I could go shopping for teacher clothes.  I brought enough with me, however I quickly realized that they would be too hot for the classroom.  I'm in a new building, but it doesn't have a/c. It's not unbearable, but it gets hot.  We're expecting highs into the high 30's this week and it should remain hot until mid March.  The view from the train is spectacular, country for miles.

For my teaching colleagues at home this school would be a dream... Most reading levels of my year six class are at about year ten, the atmosphere is like Tribes but Tribes on steroids... I know it's been only a week so I am interested to see how the year plays out when challenges arise between students. I have been given the role of Social and Emotional Wellness Coordinator (I think that's the title), a big job but they seem to think I'm well suited for the role.  Essentially I check in on kids who's parents have recently divorced or experienced other difficult situations, then send them on to others if needed.  They've also given me one extra block of time so that I can do the job.  I've been told that they will try to get me on every possible excursion with the senior unit, including Sovereign Hill, Geelong Waterpark, the Immigration Museum in Melbourne, etc., etc.

I've attached pictures of our staff development day.  We met on the lake for a morning of Thai Chi and saw my first Black Swans.  Needless to say I am overwhelmed with happiness and feel very supported.

Next weekend Brad is looking forward to exhibition rugby in Geelong.  Today Brad and I are off to a BBQ for international teachers past and present.  I have yet to see a Kangaroo! Maybe today...