The Moke Ocean Road run for 2017 was held recently and it was a really good day with small group of 6 or 7 Mokes and one BV checking out the sights and enjoying the cool sea breeze on a hot day as we cruised along the coast and came home via the hills. Lunch on the Foreshore and afternoon tea in someone's unique garage and a bit of collectables shopping before coming back into the sweltering heat on the road back to Melbourne.
Robbie H. and I travelled down to Lara to meet up with Laurie and Luke, Clifford & Anne and Robert B. who were hanging out amongst the HSV Owners Club and some scary bikers, and that is just the women. Luke P. lead our little convoy around Geelong at a respectable pace given he was running in his rebuilt engine getting us into Anglesea to meet up with Alan and his son on what I think is their first Moke run. Alan owns the green Moke that was on the trailer at the December meeting in 2016.
Trip down the Great Ocean Road was typically stuck behind slow moving traffic with drivers who can't read so we broke up the journey with a few stops at the scenic look outs to take photos and stretch the legs. Making good time through Lorne, I did lose sight of Robbie H. in the convoy so as we picked up the finally Moke of the day, Don M. at Wye River, I got word from Clifford and Anne that Robbie has gone back some way looking for his wallet that had leapt out onto the road at some stage earlier on. He did eventually find us in Apollo Bay, that in itself is amazing due to his reputation for getting lost, but also with his wallet that had a bit of road rash but all contents intact.
Most people lunched under the tress on the foreshore at Apollo Bay with their take away food while I strolled onto the beach with an idea of getting wet but whimped out. Re-assembling the group we fuelled up and checked out a local garage sale and headed up into the hills for some winding and quite enjoyable roads lead by Laurie P. who may be relieved of leading duties in the future as we drove past open op shops and a big store/pub sign with 'The Wonky Donkey' on it. However he did get us to Winchelsea for the final point of the trip where a few of us had afternoon tea outside a private garage turned cafe, which was amazing just to see how much variety was available in this small space.
Winchelsea has more than it share of 'vintage' shops while the two Robbers and I managed to find one open as we left town and I picked up one of my new'ish collectable items, still in the original box with instruction and accessories, and things are always worth more in the original Box, but this was very reasonably priced. I think a return trip to Winchelsea and the Wonky Donkey might be on the cards for sometime in the near future.
We hit the heat of a 38 degree day just north of Geelong and I had to back off from keeping up with Rob B. due to muddy water coming down the passengers foot well, but with Rbbie and I cooling off in a Macca's we got freebie Honeycomb thick shakes so it just topped off a really good Moke Ocean Road trip for this year.
Terry 911.