Rory’s Rambles: Summer’s coming and the coast’s calling

Summer’s approaching and I’m looking forward to holidaying at my favourite destination, Lorne, for three weeks with friends and family.

I was there recently doing the Amy Gillett Ride around the Lorne to Deans Marsh, Forrest, Skenes Creek and back.

It doesn’t matter how many times you go there, it never ceases to amaze when you come over a crest and see the breathtaking everchanging view.

There was a particularly big swell crashing onto the rocky coast and even though we started ride with the temperature at five degrees, the sun came out and there was only intermittent rain, so it ended up being a pleasant day.

We’ve found lot of our buyer groups at Armstrong Creek have looked at the Surf Coast market but ended up buying at Armstrong Creek for the affordability and location. The Surf Coast has the obvious attractions of the Great Ocean Road but there’s a whole new range of activities that have evolved in the last few years, which has opened the Surf Coast to a new wave of adventure-seekers.

This summer, apart from every surf club having an ocean swimming race and corresponding running races, there are so many new events and sports available.

The same day as Amy Gillett, there was the 100km ultra-marathon race at Anglesea. Coming soon is the Great Ocean Paddle event from Torquay to Point Roadknight. There’s also the Anglesea Adventurethon, involving ocean paddling, mountain biking around Anglesea forest tracks and trail running.

The message is, whether you’re a recreational coast visitor who stays in the caravan park relaxing or goes there for serious adventure, the Surf Coast is a playground for everyone.

One of my favourite activities is riding my bike along the coast track to the Lorne Aquatic and Angling Club (LAAC). It welcomes all visitors, serves cold beer in chilled handle-pots and has great ocean views. You can see Sammie the local seal waiting under pier to steal any fisherman’s catch. The old LAAC has to be cheapest and best value membership in Australia and it is a melting pot. As Anson Cameron wrote in The Age a few years ago, a highlight of the LAAC is that it doesn’tmatter if you’re an orthopaedic surgeon, a writer or a plumber, everyone is equal and enjoys each other’s company.