Heading out west

Ormiston Gorge was our destination.  We decided to camp up overnight at a lookout 28kms from the Gorge.  Werent sure if we could fit  (big rigs) in the campground, so decided mornings were the best time to move in as others hopefully moved out.   The campground was great, the managers (from Ararat) were nice people and the facilities were basic and clean.   Once we settled in, we took a walk, firstly to a lookout high above the gorge.  Not a hard climb, but a steady high climb thru narrow paths.  The views were great but we couldnt wait to get down to see the rockpool we could see from up high.   Itwas really beautiful here.  We scrambled over rocks and walked around the rockpool to the sandy beach on the other side.   Didnt want to leave it was so special.  The only thing to detract from it were - dead fish.   There were probably 100 or more dead fish lying on the edge of the water, some the size of sardines, others quite large.  It is a natural thing that occurs when the water in the gorge becomes too cold.  The fish suffer with a parasite (I think) and it causes them to sufer from a lack of oxygen and they virtually suffocate.   There are signs everywhere letting people know the reason the fish are dying, so as to not upset anyone.  Apparently some of the fish are taken by the wildlife that visit the pool, but Im not so sure about that one.  Perhaps the ranger tells us that.  We all felt they should be scooped up and disposed of each day.  Rock Wallabys are here, but didnt get to see them. The hills are full of growth.  Everywhere we have visited so far is full of wildflowers, in the strangest of rocky ledges, as though they have deliberately been landscaped that way.   We are repeatedly told we are so lucky to see the Red Centre so green (it still looks dry to us) as they had the biggest dustbowl ever around 2009, then lots of rain in 2010 and now the bush has regenerated.  In Aug/Sept they wildflowers will be out in force and their colours are said to be amazing.  That will be another trip we will have to do.   We had booked only two nights here at the Campground, but with so much to see and do in the vicinity we have extended it for another couple of nights.  Apart from the campground managers from Ararat, we met people from Horsham, Colac, Bundoora and Hoppers Crossing (they have had Rubys Pizza !!!!!!!!!)

The water here is deep and is far too cold for swimming.,  Warning signs telling people now to attempt to cross over the water as it is far too cold to enter.