Melbourne......where we met the Ferry to Tassie

We managed to catch up with Tracey and Paul in the city. Wow a country boy is riding in the centre of a major city, no GPS and no idea. I must say that Melbourne has this fantastic rule where you can park your bike on the footpath, just as long it's not blocking the entrance to a business or hindering pedestrian traffic. Other Councils around Australia, take note. A quick call on the phone and we managed to find T and P very easy, naturally the plan was to meet up at the Harley dealership, Peter Stevens.

Great Ocean Road - getting closer to Melbourne

The above shot is of the Peir at Geelong.
When we walked up to the building at the end it was about to open for lunch.
It was an all you can eat affair for a set price.
Food was pretty ordinary but the view over the harbour was pleasant.

Now this is the sort of Art in Public Place that I like.

Great Ocean Road - just a few more images.

Apollo Bay...
Another lovely coastal village.
It was a school day and we spotted some students having surfing lessons.
Only happens in Australia.........perhaps.

Now the last time I saw a boat like this one was...
in my bathtub about a 100 years ago.
Imagine the designers of this boat thinking.....
"rub a dub dub - 3 men in a tub"

Great Ocean Road - more images

Lorne - has a lovely feel about it. Didn't stay here but it would have been a pleasant experience I'm sure. I loved the Indian Cafe. There have been several attempts to resurrect the Indian motorcycle over the last few years. A pity they collapsed back in the 50's.
Looks like I should move there and buy a Restaurant.

Great Ocean Road - images

The following images in no particular order are of the fabulous coastline.
Included in the images is the Twelve Appostles which is not 12 anymore.
Some of the pinnacles have eroded and fallen into the ocean.
The stacks have been formed by erosion.
The power of nature.

Great Ocean Road - the team

"Tassie or Perth you decide" was the words that Paul said to me when the idea was born.
Well.... Paul and Tracey live in Queensland and we live in South Australia, so I thought that it was only fair that we meet approx half way in Melbourne and head to Tassie.

The Ferry crossing from Melbourne was booked and the departure date was 4th March 2010.

Vicki and I decided to take a leasurely trip via the Great Ocean Road, enjoy the scenery and enjoy the ride. I remember doing the GOR trip before in the car and dreaming then of returning, but next time on a bike. So Black Betty was loaded up and the trip began.

....discovering Alexander

Do I look like this man? According to my daughters certain features of his face are similar to mine. I think there is something about the features that are close. The forehead, even though mostly covered is a close match, and perhaps the mouth and chin. The first photo of this person, who is called Alexander, that I saw was a much older man, probably in his late 50's, around the same age as I am now. This is all I knew about my bilogical father, his name, that he was a musician, and that he had 4 children. I knew the names of the 4 children and it was from this information that I managed to trace the family, my half relatives of Alexander.

About 12 months ago I did a search on White Pages for one of the 4 children, his name was Don, who as it turned out, my half brother. I did make the phone call recently and unfortunately Don had since passed away, but one of his sons, Tony, answered the telphone.......amazing. Talking to the Tony on the phone, my half nephew, he went on to tell me that he had heard about me, but no one in the family knew what had happend to me, all those years ago.

Tony told me to ring his sister Sue as she had more information, turns out that they thought I was living in Mount Gambier, and of a different name.

As it turns out there are 9 children in the family, all children of the half brother Don.

A few more phone calls and searches on Face Book allowed me to connect with several of the siblings of Don and his wife Moreen.

It has been a wonderful discovery, every now and then a new relative will connect via Face Book, even down to the next generation.

I have yet to meet some of my new family, but already I feel very welcome into the new extended family. Hopefully in the next couple of months I will get to meet some of the new relatives.......exciting times ahead.

Don't let anyone tell you that Face Book is a trivial social experiment, to me it has been a terrific tool of discovery.