Red Topped Lighthouses of Portland, Victoria

The Bloke was just on the verge of donning a wet suit to make an inspection of Zofia's nether regions when  Noel Waugh, a retired local who has adopted us, arrived and asked if we would like to go out for a drive out of town. When? Now! We didn't take much persuading. Clothes back on. Camera in hand and we were off.

We had already strolled into town for a copy of the Weekend Australian earlier as we know now that the newsagents close at noon on a Saturday in regional towns. We posted a letter while we about it.

Here's the pillar box, not a lighthouse.

Now when did you last see one as elaborate?

Notice paper in hand too.

Then we walked along a portion of the Great South West Walk in Portland. It's 250km in its entirety but I let the Bloke off the bulk of it.

 Our walk wasn't without obstacles and hazards.

We had to check our bearings.

 We nearly stopped at Nuns Beach but the Bloke said "NO"!

"Come with me" he called, "you'll like this Jacobs Ladder"!

.. And he was right.... what a stunning view back along Nuns Beach.

Portland Marina and Port in the background.

Whalers Point Lighthouse on Whalers Bluff

41m above sea level.

Knock-knock who's there?

But I digress, Noel took us out after lunch to see the local terrain that he most likes to video. He has been a cameraman on a number of local productions and armed as we were, with our devices, we looked like the crew from a Cecil B DeMille production. This time we were on Western end of the GSW Walk.

Bridgewater Bay.

Just west of Portland between Cape Bridgewater and Cape Nelson.

This barely does the view justice

Part of the Cape Bridgewater wind farm. 

When we sailed past a few days earlier we had counted 29 towers but there could be more.

Since this location is on the Great South West Walk

there are lots of look-outs including this one near the 'Blowholes'.

The Bloke with Noel

 This Bluff is a part of a volcanic outpour

 A blowhole

The apex of Cape Bridgewater

At the foot of Cape Nelson we saw this Crayboat at work

And here as well!

 Up above to caution every mariner except the craymen stands the Cape Nelson Lighthouse.

Vital statistics

This is a properly handsome lighthouse n'est-ce pas?

One of the lighthouse keepers cottages.

              

 The Observation and Meteorological Centres

With all this looking and photographing we rewarded Noel with afternoon tea at the Lighthouse complex before launching off once more. Both Noel and the Bloke agreed that the Sticky Date Muffins made on the premises, with caramel sauce, cream AND ice cream (when too much is not nearly enough) were to die for!