This morning I woke up with the rest of the girls (Brendan didn't make it...) to see the sunrise over the Blue Pool - quite a hairy feat after last nights antics. As sleepy as I was later in the day, it was absolutely worth it. Not only was the sun rise over the ocean beautiful but the contrast between the reflection of the sun on the rough ocean and the smooth pool was stunning. It was slightly cloudy but instead of muting the splendor it actually served to increase it because the edges of the clouds took on a gilded effect and the sun rays radiated out of the tops like an upward facing spotlight.
Sunrise Over the Blue Pool
At a more reasonable hour, we shoved off for Cobargo - an artisan town about 30 minutes inland where we wandered in and out of shops hawking leather, Akubra hats (the traditional "Australian" hat that looks suspiciously like any american cowboy hat...) and pottery. There was also a surprising number of stores selling south asian goods. There is a large asian influence in Australia left over from when many Asians immigrated during the latter 19th century in hopes of finding Gold but nevertheless I'm always surprised to find Budha Sculptures and Nepali Pajama Pants like the ones I so happily donned this March sold in such rural Australian towns.
I also had a flat white (Australian for latte) in an ADORABLE cafe that was actually a converted train car.
Train Car Cafe
Train Car Cafe
After caffeinating (sidenote: just realized after struggling to type caffeinate that it breaks the i before e except after t rule that has otherwise served me dutifully since 2nd grade) we drove to Central Tilba - a beatifully preserved little town whose buildings date from 1895. It was one of the smallest towns we visited and since we only had about an hour I wasn't able to find any story leads. Similar to Cobargo, the town consisted mainly of a few quaint cafes, a leather shop, a wood shop and two boutiques selling south asian wares (again!).
Central Tilba
After missing out on a tour of a Gold Mine because of some oddly cryptic directions on where to meet the guide the directions ( I'm not sure exactly what they were but it was something like "Meet us in the ____ Trailer Park, 5 steps behind the Mobil Sign, 87 degrees to the left, you'll hear a cockatoo caw. Walk 5 steps towards it and 6 back...) (From what i gathered they didn't want to reveal the whereabouts of the Mine. Though I'm pretty sure there isn't still gold in them there hills so it still doesn't make much sense...) (So many parentheticals, sorry! Bad habit!) we made our final stop of the afternoon at Camel Rock - a giant boulder that looks like a Blue Footed Booby. KIDDING! It looks like a camel. Gotcha!
Walking Like an Egyptian in front of Camel Rock
Finally, it was back to the Motel for a MUCH needed nap before heading out to our final dinner at the incongruously upmarket Morrison's on Lamont.
Its going to be an early morning tomorrow because we have to leave in time to make it to Mogo Zoo by feeding time but I'm super excited and am thinking I may want to write a story on it. Then, back to Sydney! I don't know if its because we've been moving so much or because i've been having a blast but this trip has zoomed by. I'm sorry that its ending and wish that we could keep exploring new areas but its probably for the better that we're going back because i have many a story to write!
Tata for now!
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