Ros always plans some wonderful adventures for us, usually involving scenic day trips around the beautiful and scenic Bellarine Peninsula and great wining and dining experiences.
On Friday we headed down to the historic harbour village of Queenscliff, at the entrance to Port Phillip Bay. It wasn't our first visit to Queenscliff (we'd caught the car ferry from there to Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula a few years back) but we always enjoy a stroll around its Victorian era town centre, a visit to its interesting museum and a return visit to the excellent Saltbush Fine Foods Cafe for lunch.
Yes Ella, there is a Vinnies in Queenscliff!!
We celebrated the end of Pete's working week that night at the quirky Elephant & Castle Pub in East Geelong. Rob was ecstatic because the best seafood linguine he's ever eaten was on the menu that night (even better than Barzura's he said!).
The owner of the Elephant & Castle is a former mayor of Geelong, Darryn Lyons. A photographer himself, his amazing photographic collection (and other quirky collectables) is a real feature of the Pub's decor.
We start every day in Geelong with a long walk along the nearby Barwon River. Saturday morning we were rewarded with this amazing sight, as the sun rose in the eastern sky.
On Saturday we headed south east again from Geelong, past the very film worthy (thank you Sea Change) Barwon Heads, and along the southern coast to Ocean Grove - looking out to windy old Bass Strait.
Our destination was Point Lonsdale, so we could do the scenic walk along the foreshore to the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse.
But first we had to find 65 Glaneuse Road in Point Lonsdale, the historic holiday home ("Ballara") and gardens of Australia's second Prime Minister, Alfred Deakin, built in 1907. It is still owned by Deakin's descendants but is under imminent threat of sale, demolition and subsequent subdivision. There are petitions underway for its emergency heritage listing.
We found the house but it was well hidden by the bush garden which was extensive (and WILD) - it would be worth a staggering amount now in real estate terms (unfortunately for its heritage potential!)
View to the beach from the Lighthouse .....
... and this clear sighting of the Spirit of Tasmania making its way south to Tassie.
We enjoyed lunch at the wonderful bakery at Portarligton on the northernmost tip of the Bellarine Peninsula before doing some extensive shopping at the legendary Jenkins & Son Fresh Fish. We had the most wonderful seafood feast that night back at Highton: SA oysters, Queensland prawns and locally smoked salmon (and some rye sourdough from the Portarlington Bakery).
We took one more long walk along the Barwon on Sunday morning, over the historic Monier Arch Bridge at Fryansford .......
before joining Erin and John and the young ones for lunch at del Rios Winery & Restaurant near Anakie on the Geelong-Ballan Road - our first outing to the country north of Geelong.
We loved the chance to catch up with Erin & John and the kids, and over the weekend have extended conversations with Joel & Kay & the kids in London (via Facetime) and celebrate Davey's big win at the TWIPY Awards in Dallas - so many things happening with the extended family at the moment!
From our vantage point it was great to watch the steady stream of loaded container ships forging their way out of Port Phillip Bay into the steady swells (today at least) of Bass Strait.
We love our stays with Ros & Pete in Geelong, and can't wait for the next one!
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