As Summer morphs into Autumn, the volatile weather that Melbourne is renowned for eases and the days are more constant making it more predictable for outdoor activities.
Like sailing…
Candle light concerts…
A bit of trail riding, walking and swimming in the Lerderderg Gorge…
Wandering through the outdoor photo exhibition that is part of Photo 2024 that is happening in Melbourne…
For me, though, the most meaningful images were of two significant events that touched Australia.
When Australia sprinter Peter Norman, stood in solidarity with his American sprint compatriats at the Mexico Olympics.
And when Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, for the first time, recognised Aboriginal land rights in Australia, at Wave Hill Station.
The calmer weather means that the water in Honsons Bay is very clear so the sea grass and sea lettuce provide beautiful colours on the sea bed.
The film ‘Force of Nature‘ has recently opened in Australia. Parts of it were shot in the beautiful temperate rain forests of the Otway Ranges.
Hopetoun Falls features in the movie. Its currently approaching summer, so the waterfalls in the ranges are flowing slowly. Some, like Henderson Falls, gently cascade over the cliff face.
Henderson Falls, are near a rocky feature in the ranges named The Canyon. I think I recognised it in the movie.
Its a beautiful walk through the forest to reach the Canyon in a quiet part of eastern end of the ranges.
The western end of the ranges faces the incoming weather and is a thicker forest. With more Beech trees, ancient Beech trees.
The Otways are a mountain range that abuts the sea. The Southern Ocean, to be precise.
So after a long hike on a hot day, it’s easy to cool off with a swim in the cool ocean waters.
I camped a couple of nights at Apollo Bay, which sits on the ocean about halfway along the ranges.
It’s a beautiful town, at night as dark slowly descends over the harbour.
It was late September, and with my adventure in the Balkans complete, I bordered the overnight ferry from Split to Ancona.
From Ancona, it was an easy ride across Italy to Civitavechia, the Port of Rome to catch the ferry to Barcelona.
A restful way to travel and 14,000 km touring.
The village of Civitavechia is a little way from the port, but it is a nice place for a bit of sightseeing while waiting for the ferry.
There is a certain chaos at Italian ferry ports. There are no electronic tickets, and the ticket office always seems to be placed a long way from the ferry dock with a myriad of one way unmarked lanes to be negotiated between the two.
But the Italian ferries are relatively inexpensive, and it was a restful 20 hour crossing from Rome to Barcelona.
From Barcelona, I took a route across the Pyrenees through Andorra. Agh the beautiful Pyrenees.
I stopped for the night at Ax les Termes in the Midi Pyrenees. A beautiful hot spring village. With public hot foot baths.
My next destination was to Cahors and its famous bridge. Travelling along the tree lined back roads, past the Midi Canal, rivers, and beautiful villages.
Cohors is a vibrant city. To complement the famous bridge.
My last stop in Europe for this trip was the port city of St Malo, with its old walled town right on the Atlantic Ocean
Of course I had to join in for a swim!!!
For lovers of the maritime world the port at St Malo is a treasure.
The overnight ferry had me soon back in England and my sister’s house in London.
Before boarding the flight back to Australia, I caught up with a mate for lunch in the Cottswalds. A beautiful part of England and reputedly an inspiration for the writing of ‘The Hobbit’ and the ‘Lord of the Rings’.
It’s February in Australia as I reminisce about last year. There are some adventures to be had here at home, but my mind keeps back to a sign at Civitavechia.
I’ve been to Spain (Spagna). Ive been to Greece (Grecia), Sardinia (Sargegna), and Sicily (Sicilia): but I haven’t been to Tunisia.
From Ohrid, the route to Kosovo continued through the mountains of North Macedonia with Albania to the west and Kosova to the North.
The small village of Janche is nestled in the mountains of the Mavrovo National Park.
Where remnants of old Yugoslavian industry can be found.
Beside the new highway heading to Peje in NW Kosova sits the Terzi Bridge. A fine example of Ottoman architecture.
The destination, though, was the White Drin Falls in the Accursed Mountains near the border with Montenegro. A spectacular natural park. With the waterfall….
Just over the border with Montenegro is the village of Rozaje and nearby nested in the forest in the most beautiful camp ground.
These forests are the best I’ve visited in Europe, amazing old growth forests.
It was late September in the mountains so turning cold. But the welcome at Sastanci – Grahovaca was as warm as the fire and the home cooked meal fresh and delicious.
