Beau Rides the Great Ocean Road

Day 3 - Lorne to Glenaire (77km)

I didn't like the youth hostel in Lorne, it was in a lovely spot in some trees on a hill back from the road, but there were 10 beds in the room and no one was terribly friendly. Consequently, I was happy to get up early and set off the next day. Just as I was leaving, a fella flagged me down. He was Marcus, a German bloke, who wanted to use my puncture repair kit. He was was touring the area by bus and using his bike to look around the towns. Turns out he was headed west too, but later in the day, so without thinking too much of it, I said, "see you later maybe" and set off.

After Lorne, the cliffs on either side of the road became steeper and the road narrower. Think of Mount's Bay Road in Perth, then then imagine it with one narrow lane each way and no shoulder, then put it 50 to 100 metres above the water and make King's park 2 or 3 times as high, then imagine 2 metre waves on the Swan River and you will get the picture.

There was a 20km section of the road there which was the only part of my whole trip where I really felt there was any danger for a cyclist. At least I was going west so the drivers behind me could see a few bends ahead of themselves. If I'd been going the other way the cliff rising on the landward side of the road would have hidden me from their view as they approached.