GREAT OCEAN ROAD

Did the GREAT OCEAN ROAD last weekend.
It really is a great ride.

Went down on Sunday from start to finish. Conditions were perfect. Very still & dry.
A bit of traffic & a couple of Blue boys, but taking it fairly easy saw arrival at Warrnambool incident free.

The road is in pretty good nick generally, however there are some shoddy patches, particularly after Apollo Bay.

It is a major frustration when the slower drivers REFUSE to use the TURN-OUT lanes, of which there are quite a few.
They are well signed to have regard & consideration for other vehicles, but most cant handle going to the back despite the pressure they put themselves under.
Anyway, a quick 'BLIP' on the right hand, sees them dispensed of pretty quickly.

Spent the night in Warrnambool & came home on Monday.
A little drizzle in patches in the morning, but it dried out pretty quick with blue sky by Mid Morning.
Much less traffic & no Blue boys to be seen.

This road is renowned as one of the 'BEST' tourist drives in the world. If you have not done it, you should.

830 Klms round trip.

Its a trip I plan on doing on a bike. Drove it from SA 25 yrs ago.
Sounds like you had fun.

I've come home to Adelaide a couple of times from Phillip Island along the GOR on the bike & when I was younger in a car ..................better on the bike !

Nice pictures

In my late teenage years and early 20's I live in Clifton Springs (just outside Geelong). I spent many hours driving up and down the GOR looking for decent surf or if no surf then fishing spots.

I've only ridden as far as Wye River. When we have money and time we will ride the full length.

Did it last year. It was a long weekend with heaps of cars who had no concept of what a turn-out is for. Honestly was soo frsutrating would not do it again except mid-week, non-school holiday.

Dekenai wrote:Did it last year. It was a long weekend with heaps of cars who had no concept of what a turn-out is for. Honestly was soo frsutrating would not do it again except mid-week, non-school holiday.

I agree, last time I drove it I found it very frustrating, idiots in cars who are only doing 40-50 on the short straight bits slow down to 10-20 for a bend and wont pull in even if you flash your lights at them. I thought at the time I wouldn't bother doing this on a bike, the traffic would spoil the fun

Dekenai wrote:Did it last year. It was a long weekend with heaps of cars who had no concept of what a turn-out is for. Honestly was soo frsutrating would not do it again except mid-week, non-school holiday.

madmax wrote:

Dekenai wrote:Did it last year. It was a long weekend with heaps of cars who had no concept of what a turn-out is for. Honestly was soo frsutrating would not do it again except mid-week, non-school holiday.

I agree, last time I drove it I found it very frustrating, idiots in cars who are only doing 40-50 on the short straight bits slow down to 10-20 for a bend and wont pull in even if you flash your lights at them. I thought at the time I wouldn't bother doing this on a bike, the traffic would spoil the fun

I agree, It IS frustrating, but fun at the same time. The cars are usually going quite slow (tourists), so very easy & exhilarating to hit the throttle & flick past em.
Sometimes, it can take a while to do it safely, & I reckon its like being on a 'dodgem car' ride. You have limited time & as soon as the power comes on, some prick gets the wheel all crossed up & causes a pile up. While waiting for the roadies to clear it, you are sitting there thinking " Shit, My time is ticking away here". Same thing on the Ocean Rd. Every kilometre you are stuck behind one of these inconsiderate tourists is another klm closer to the end of the ride. But when you do get past, Its fantastic.
Also, If you are going all the way, there always seem to be MORE kilometres.
Naturally, its better to do it Midweek if possible, but it goes for so long, YOU WILL BE REWARDED with clear road at some stage.

I just reckon its one of those rides you do at least once, just to say you've done it!!