"It's looks just like California."

I was biking in Portugal with my friend Morel when he offered up his now famous line. And it is true. California is so big, with so many ecosystems, that almost anywhere in the world reminds you of at least some small part of California.

But the more we drive around this SE corner of Australia, the more Kath and I repeatedly comment how much it reminds us of the coast of California. Sun, surf, and eucalyptus trees. Just like Big Sur or Point Reyes. The only difference?  No people. We thought that summer would be the high season with crowds everywhere. But everywhere we go we been impressed by how few cars are on the road and people in the towns.

We flew from Sydney to Melbourne, rented a car and headed for the coast and The Great Ocean Road. Walking and driving this stretch was the plan for the next 4 days.

We drove via the inland route (more direct).  It was our first really hot day (104 F) but it would cool down into the 70s next day.  At the end of our drive we visited a national game preserve located in the caldera of an extinct volcano - and almost bagged our first wildlife as several emu decided to cross the road just as we came around a curve.































The next morning, in the coastal town of Port Fairy, we took another short hike and spotted our first Kangaroo.

Tomorrow, more about the Great Ocean Road.