I woke up face down, with my sleeping bag over my head and a strong suspicion that the air outside was freezing cold. I had managed to sleep for about 9 hours though, which is a champion effort for the first night in the tent.
Sad face.
It took me an hour and a half to emerge and pack everything up. I ate one chocolate biscuit for breakfast because it’s the most important meal of the day, and was on the trail by 8:30.
The sun was shining, there was hardly anybody about – I felt great! The path from the campground heads north-east along a fairly flat trail until it starts to climb up the headland. There was a series of rough stone steps that were quite a struggle but the view at the top, back over Anglesea, was lovely.
Apparently people ride bikes up these steps. Because they are insane, I assume.
Looking back towards Anglesea.
Down from the headland the path emerged onto a beach and mine were the first footprints of the day! It wasn’t a long stretch, but I enjoyed the feeling of solitude and admired a hut-shaped pile of driftwood that someone had constructed. At the far end of the beach a couple of Japanese tourists were climbing down the stairs. They said hello and I informed them that they would have the beach to themselves and I’m sure they were suitably impressed.
Pristine!
The path meandered on and eventually I found myself at the famous Bell’s Beach (famous if you are Australian or know anything about surfing). There were about half a dozen surfers braving the cold water, but the waves didn’t look particularly impressive. I had a rest and a drink at the lookout and considered the fact that I hadn’t eaten a proper meal yet, so at about 11am I made myself some porridge (burning it onto the bottom of the jetboil, exactly as I’d done on the last camping trip). I’d brought two sachets because they looked very small. Turns out they expand enormously but, like a trooper, I wolfed it all down and tried to ignore all the people walking past me who probably wondered why I was cooking white sludge on a park bench.
After I’d eaten I packed up and wandered on, but I got a bit confused and ended up doing a bit of road walking. I think this actually shortened my walk and, since there was almost no traffic, wasn’t too unpleasant. The hill I had to walk up was quite a killer though and I was extremely glad to get to the top and find a carpark that met the path.
Like some kind of alien muppet. Needs a pair of giant googly eyes.
From there on there were a lot of spiny bush-things (I’m annoyed I didn’t find the name – if anyone knows please tell me!) that were quite sculptural in appearance. They were dotted between eucalyptus trees, which made for a nice visual contrast. There were also a lot of wildflowers.
When I emerged from this part of the trail I found myself on a section of coast where hang-gliding seemed to be quite popular.
As I came towards Torquay I stopped to take some photos of a glider who had just taken off and also have a chat with his mate, who was watching from below. Turns out he’d just done the Camino last year so we talked a bit about walking before I continued on.
The last leg was into Torquay via the beach and a path around the golf course. I kept going until I reached the esplanade and then found a restaurant/bar to dump my bag and order dinner. And what a dinner! It is so true that food after extended outdoor exertions always tastes amazing.
The second day of my walk had been at least 4km longer than the first day and I’d taken more rest stops. By the end my soles were sore and I was happy not to do the last few kilometres along the beach. I don’t know why the people who planned the path had it finish far beyond the last town centre and in a place where no buses or trains stop, but I’m not the kind of walker who feels the need to do things by the book so I was fine with an early finish.
Right when I finished dinner and my little wrap-up video, Jess called and said she’d be by to pick me up in 15 minutes. Perfect!
All in all, an excellent first experience of overnight hiking (well, ‘hiking’ is probably making it sound more rugged than it was) and I came home ready to do more, ASAP! I have a few walks in mind to tackle this year – something in The Grampians, part of the Mornington Peninsula circuit, and Oberon Bay at Wilson’s Prom. Or maybe something longer?
Here Comes The Planet 
Looks lovely. I can’t quite adjust to the idea that Anglesea and Torquay are close together, since our versions aren’t. I’ve always thought that coastal walking is tougher than people who haven’t tried it realise, due to the fact that there is often a great deal of up and down involved.
That’s true, actually – and walking in sand can be a real slog. I wouldn’t mind doing the walk around Anglesey island! My mum used to holiday there as a kid. I’ll have to look up Torquay, I have no idea where that is:-)
Sorry to laugh but your ‘sad face’ is so funny. The muppet plant is commonly known as a ‘Black Boy Grass Tree’ very slow growing and are protected, the name is not politically correct nowadays but that’s all I know it by, it is illegal to dig them up. I am really enjoying reading your travel blog(s). Garry and I would like to attempt getting one going for our next trip
You definitely should write one! It’s so good to be able to look back and remember journeys in detail:-) I’ve heard that plant name before, now you mention it. Such a beautiful plant:-)
Yep, coastal walking is as tough as mountain walking, just as much up and down and often weather just as challenging. Aussies sure know how to do burgers. I’ve had several burnt food moments with a Jetboil as well. The heat is so intense I managed to burn the coating off a frying pan cooking bacon!