It feels like a lifetime since I was in Port Fairy but in reality it was only about 8 days ago. However I’ve seen that many lighthouses I will have to split this post in two.
So let part one commence.
Port Fairy -> Portland
In an Australian first there was nothing of interest between Port Fairy and Portland despite actually driving for more than 30 minutes. So I ventured a little further to Cape Bridgewater to look for seals and blowholes, not to be confused with looking for blown seals or, in fact, blowing seals.
Cape Bridgewater
With a 7km walk from the carpark to the Seal Colony viewing point and Jackson having to remain in the vehicle, I decided that I didn’t want to see the damn seals anyway! 😤
I ventured a little further and found a petrified forest and a blow hole. Except the weather wasn’t bad enough so it was just a hole.
NRMA Portland Caravan Park
Portland had been described to me as the butt end of Victoria, but I found it quite pleasant. The location of this campsite was awesome, only 50m from a shizz load of stairs down to Nuns Beach, where I could take Jackson any time of the day. Yes, leash rules applied and no, there weren’t any nuns.
Lunar Eclipse
It was also while I was here that the Lunar Eclipse occurred. The blood moon was a Southern Hemisphere phenomenon, and my bestie 🐝, who is a moon child, would miss it. I stayed up way past my bedtime (2230hrs wild!) to try and get a decent picture. A camping table, a makeshift tripod, and a cramped hand later, I think I did okay.
Portland Lighthouse
No destination would be complete without a morning run to see the random sights and of course a Lighthouse.
Portland -> Mount Gambier
I finally caved and had my first Maccas (McDonalds) run of this adventure. A menu of 2 x sausage and egg McMuffins, 2 x hash browns, and a large coffee for 14 dollars ensures this will not be my last.
Cape Nelson Lighthouse
So it doesn’t take a lot to confuse me, but this lighthouse is actually in Cape Bridgewater…
Cape Northumberland Lighthouse or not?
… and this one is in Port MacDonnell. Is it any wonder ships kept crashing? They had absolutely no idea where the fugg they were going.
Incidentally, here was also the most southern point of Australia.
For info, we have now crossed a state border into South Australia (SA), which brings not only new vehicle registration rules but also a new time zone. As if that wasn’t confusing enough, I’m now 9.5 hours ahead of Ze Germans.
Service SA (South Australia)
Why oh why am I such a follower of the rules?
Absolutely anyone else would take the gamble that the Compulsory Third Party insurance (CTP) from Victoria was interstate and that even though it runs out in a month, it would be a risk worth taking to get into Western Australia (WA) undetected.
However, that is not me. Here I am in the ash end of the world, surrounded by Moomins.
Moomin 1: Hi, how can I help you today.
Me: I have bought my vehicle over on a Carnet, I would like an international visitors permit.
Moomin 1: What kind of permit would you like?
Me: An In-ter-nation-al Vis-i-tors Perrrrrr-mit
Moomin 1: You want to apply for a drivers license?
Me: AN INTERNATIONAL VISITORS PERMIT. Would you like me to show you on the internet?
A small interlude whilst I show her the internet page stating that I need an international visitors permit.
Moomin 1: I have no idea what that is, please wait.
Me: 👀🤯
Unsure if the butterfly effect is real, but if it was, the sigh I let out would definitely have been felt in Germany, perhaps as a gale-force wind?
One and a half hours later, 500 dollars lighter and a sudden urge to punch myself in the face, I walked away with a permit, inclusive of CTP, valid until Oct 2027 and praise be to Odin, is interstate.
Mount Gambier Central Caravan Park
Really I just wanted somewhere to stop to enable me to get my permit. I found a nice little campsite right in the centre of town,
Officially the worst photo I’ve ever taken, but I wanted to show JC with the sunshade on the opposite side for a change.
The Blue Lake
Not too far from the campsite, I thought this would be a great destination for a morning run. Around the lake itself is approx 3.6km and so in total the run would be about 7km. What Google maps described as mostly flat could be described by me as fugging bullshizz as most of it was uphill. I spent the rest of the day moaning about the chronic pain in my legs.
Umpherston Sinkhole
This time I drove, mainly because I no longer had use of my legs.
A sinkhole turned into a Garden by the clearly bored James Umpherston (also a politician according to the Google).
Also that beady-eyed monster is a brush-tailed possum, and standing 2m away from it, it definitely looked like it wanted to rip my eyes out.
Cave Garden
Clearly everyone in Mount Gambier has green fingers and far too much time on their hands. It certainly is one way to fill a pothole.
Hello (Lionel Ritchie 1984)
Is it me you’re cooking for? I can see it in your thighs, you ate all the pizza pies.
Sorry, I got distracted.
Seriously, that was just 4 days. We are definitely going to need a part two.
Other exciting things that happened this week:
- I got my ears pierced
- Received a phone call from a ghost 😉
L Jimingo Bingo
I truly thought that the madness at the registration office would have got me a line but alas no new phrases to add.
I don’t know about you but I’m exhausted after this one, time for a coffee and a Tim-Tam.
Look out for Part Two, coming out when my brain stops melting xoxo