Ocean Road Poem by John A'Hern

Came the call, travel South
Plan the stops, overnight or not,
Scenery we have never viewed before
Only on photos and travel shows.

Pack the car with this and that
Dress for weather, bother or not
Lots to see without delay
Weather kind, on our way.

Need Ocean views they give pleasure
Grass is green from days of wet weather,
Trees stand proud waiting for spring
Some with leaves, others without.

Pass through a town named Batemans Bay
Fisherman's paradise if that is your game.
Onward we go scenery changing
Come to paradise called Narooma
Aboriginal meaning clear blue waters.

Next a place with name of paradise
Eden, name of a famous garden,
Place of pleasure the ancient meaning.
Harbour views get our attention
A coastal town full of whaling memories.

Stories abound of whale hunting
Museum creepy with strange feelings.
Twofold bay with all its stories
Killer whales helping hunters,
A name Old Tom spoken in whispers
Ghosts still roam these misty shores.

Through small towns and villages
Picturesque views giving pleasure
Travelled through forest scenery
Trees like sentinels guarding greenery.

Now a Town named Lakes Entrance
Views to die for as we go exploring
Princes Highway is beckoning,
Travelling onward South as the crow flies.

Great ocean road now lay before us
Many signposts with fairy tale names,
Small Villages viewed as we drove on through.
Travel on we need the ocean
Reached the town of Anglesea,
Beaches, Bush, and Kangaroos.
Ocean views set us smiling
Great ocean road living up to its reputation,
Need to slow down from all the travelling.
Next day we start the hairpin bends
Round and round with ocean to our left.

We reach the Town of Lorne
Wife in love we stop for a while,
Onward with sadness, goodbye Lorne
Now we reach Apollo bay.

Fell in love with changing scenery
Next day, time to visit the Apostles
Not twelve now does that matter,
The sights and sounds easy to describe
The sound of waves like claps of thunder.

Waves rolling in to meet the Apostles
Sights that take our breath away
Memories, to last several lifetimes
Hold each other and just imagine,
The journey memories here must end
Spending time with my always friend.