Part V
Gippsland's waterways and Eden(Light to Light in Ben Boyd National Park)
Day 8
Our road trip was almost coming to an end and we were going to spend one last day in Eden
before heading home now.
It was cloudy and freezing at the Ninety Beach in the early morning.
Ninety Beach is one of the longest beaches in the world as Victorians proudly show off.
We wanted a brief look at Gippsland before we said good bye to Victoria.
My impression about Victorian sea all the way was "unobstructed vastness with huge wild waves from Bass Strait".
I once again confirmed that on unspoilt and uninterrupted endless sands with roaring waves there.
We didn't try to walk on the beach.
I was standing looking at the grey waves from not far from our car.
I saw one young father was fishing leaving his young daughter near him who was
playing around him care freely on that chilly morning.
She was wearing shy smiles and rubber boots I remember.
I can't imagine kids playing by themselves without interrupting their parents like that.
It's one of unlikely views I could grab from where I came from I bemused.
We arrived at Eden around midday and found our cabin in the caravan park was quite old and smelly.
The owner or an old man at the reception looked like a typical unsmiling man at least
in his demeanour.
Maybe it's because it was high time for us to come back home I am not sure.
Overall the whole caravan park looked very old and run down.
It needed some makeover or something seriously.
Only bright thing was that warm sun shined over a swimming pool and playground outside next to the main building.
Things human made were subject to deteriorate over the time and they needed constant human touches.
Also we need to maintain ourselves to keep going as a matter of fact.
After we checked in we strolled to the beach which was around 400 meters away from our cabin.
On the way there we passed numerous different types of accommodations.
It was an off season so the whole place was quiet except a few caravans parked there.
I saw permanent living quarters which I didn't really know before looked quite interesting to me.
People decorated their places according to their tastes and personalities just like normal homes.
We visited Disaster Bay while the afternoon sun was still warm and bright.
I realized I was back at NSW as beaches typically were separated with headlands and backdrops
and which was familiar already.
It was beautiful as always and tranquil as ever.
When we were back at our cabin we found we had company.
One family was setting up their tents on the grass next to our cabin
and they were a big family of grand parents, young parents and
kids.
Night fell and so did the temperature dramatically.
I could hear them talking in hushed low voices in their tents when I was in bed.
Day 9
In Eden there is a multi day hike trek we have been wanting to do which is 'Light to Light'.
It's a 31km walk along the coast between Boyd's Tower and Green Cape Light House.
We decided to do one section of this trek.
Eddie wanted to see Sun Rise at the Green Cape Light House.
I remember I tried not to make a noise for the people sleeping in the tents that early morning
while we were having breakfast, and packing etc.
It was first Sunday of April when daylight saving was finished.
We might have miscalculated it.
On top of that it was a quite long way from our accommodation to light house
with the not so good unpaved road condition.
So we missed the sun rise which must have been splendid over the Tasman Sea and Disaster Bay that day to Eddie's great disappointment.
Like everyone else( or I assumed so) I loved morning especially tranquil but expectant atmosphere
and even though we missed the moment of sun rise we were still
enjoying early morning energy there with freezing salty air.
I read about ship wrecks happened there a lot of times end of 19th century before Light House constructed
from the signage embracing chilly winds on my face standing at the edge of sea.
We looked around the Light House before we set off along the trek.
We knew they have cottages open for public.
We were talking about staying there after our hike of Light to Light from the other direction.
The cottages were used by light keepers before and now restored maintaining heritage features.
Many people complained about heat while they were walking this trek.
There was no problem for us of course at this time of the year.
It was an early chilly morning when we could enjoy a walk at a maximum rate.
We walked to Pulpit Rock passing heathland and tea tree or banksia forest.
We sat on the seafront red rock platforms having morning tea.
A few people were fishing there.
It was a shame we couldn't go further because we still had a long way to go home within the day.
Approximately we needed 6 and half or 7 hours to drive to get home.
One day we could come back for this trek if we wanted.
I appreciated that Eddie did a great research to make a feasible plan like this for a short 9 day road trip exploring
vast Victoria and Eden.
I never expected to do a road trip to Victoria due to the distance but thanks to him we made and enjoyed it.
We tried to do our best to taste essential parts of everywhere we went.
I still think of endless plains and wild waves there.