1. To get out of the city for a day, we drove our little Honda over what is called the “Great Ocean Road.” We explored the area west of Melbourne for about 100 miles, stopping to see sights along the southern coast of Australia.

2. For miles, as we drove, we saw beaches. Although it was a sunny day (summer in January “down under”), the water must have still been pretty cool—yet the surfers and swimmers were out in droves. It was a holiday: folks were out to enjoy themselves.

3. There also were plenty of isolated beaches—secluded for private visits.

4. The landscape varied—with sandy cliffs and lots of vegetation.

5. Surfers in wet suits waited for good waves…but they rarely came.

6. We stopped to see a very pretty lighthouse, just off the main road along the coast.

7. We didn’t have time to go up in the lighthouse, just enjoy its majesty under a nice set of clouds.

8. Two more shots of the lighthouse—and some nice vegetation and flowers.

9. Interesting plant growth near the lighthouse.

10. Windswept “driftwood” trees were along parts of the coast.

11. The Russells enjoying an outing on the southern coast of Australia.

12. The cliffs along the coast were being eaten slowly by wind and water.

13. Some nice quiet inlets would have been fun to explore.

14. Now this guy was really expecting some high water!

15. One of the quaint stores in small towns we saw along the drive.

16. Some of the cliffs were pretty high above the beach.

17. The water was gorgeous along the coast.

18. Sometimes, rock formations were carved by wind and water.

19. People enjoyed the beach far below the cliffs.

20. Left: huge cliffs hang over a pristine beach. Right: two beach goers enjoy the day.

21. Some furry, fluffy vegetation clinging to the sandy cliffs.

22. As the day grew long, the clouds rolled in and the seas got more turbulent.

23. Signs to help foreigners—like Bob.

24. The intrepid adventurers near a gorgeous inlet.