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Queenscliffe is usually quite sleepy, but on the last weekend in
November it hosts the Queenscliffe Music Festival and becomes home to a
3 day open air music extravaganza as well as several hundred hippies. |
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Its also home to the Blues train, a little local
steam railway where you can go eat lunch while being transported round
the coastline while you are serenaded by groups of blues musicians. |
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Port Philip Bay |
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Here's Rich buying his bag of mussels fresh off the
boat that morning, from Mr Mussel |
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And here is Mr Mussel himself, quite possibly the tastiest and most
tender Mussels I have ever eaten. Scrummy, especially with a local
bottle of Sauvignon. |
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Stunning beaches along the bay coas, despite it
being clear blue skies the southerly wind was quite chilly.
The pic below shows the 'Rip'. The entry into Port Philip Bay from the
Ocean. The Rip area is just 3km wide and has a 1km wide navigable
stretch only. Any ships going to Melbourne or Geelong harbours must pass
through this tiny area of water. The change from bay here to the ocean
also causes very turbulent currents which churn causing ships to be
easily pushed out of the channel. There are over 200 wrecks on the coast
in this area who failed to make it. Happily most ships now manage it OK
with the aid of pilots, lighthouses and sat nav. We might go up to watch
our container come in, just to make sure ! if not we can always salvage
our own stuff off the beach !!! |
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| Queenscliffe fort is a
fully functioning military base built originally to protect Melbourne
and its booming gold trade in the 1880s. It still houses military
offices. |
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Rich pretending to be an Aussie soldier. |
And an old fashioned diver. |