Life is a Highway blog # 2 - 17 Apr 2011

Seals playing at Troubridge Point. Since the last post from Ardrossan we went a little further south to Windy Port Vincent. The caravan park was on a point and the wind never stopped for two days. Pretty place but WIND! Then we moved onto Edithburgh, a quaint little town for 3 nights . We took a great dirt track along the coast and took in Truobridge Point and Foul Bay. There was a huge wind farm along the way, it was a very scenic drive. We were lucky to spot a couple of seals playing in the bay so we watched them for a while and had a cuppa! If you are ever in Edithburgh go have a meal at the Double story Pub. Great food and reasonable price for what you get. Troubridge Bay and Lighthouse. What The !! After Edithburgh we spent two nights at Marion Bay. Our first day there the rain just didn't stop. 200mm in all. Just across the water at Kangaroo Island on the same day they got 400mm in some spots. Thank heavens we had a site in the caravan park that was on high ground. Many had to either move or mop up as seen in the photo below. Flooded caravan park at Marion Bay. Our second day at Marion Bay the weather was great so we spent the full day in the nearby Innes National Park which is situated at the southern end of the Yorke Peninsula. Some spectacular views in there. We visited the old town of Inneston within the Park which was once home to abt 100+ people who use to work at the nearby Gypsum works at Stenhouse Bay. That ceased operation in the late 1950's. We saw heaps of Emu's & Roos. The old village still has quite a few ruins standing and some are used for accommodation. Inneston Post Office & General Store. Inneston Ruin. See the Emu's. West Cape Bch Innes NP. The West Cape is at the SW corner of the NP. Beautiful 360' views over Pondalowie Bay & Southern Ocean. Pondalowie Bay, Innes NP. Further on we went to Dolphin Bay, great spot but nowhere to camp. Emu on the beach at Dolphin Bay, Innes NP. The road in the National Park ends at Brown's Beach. Browns Beach, Innes NP. Innes NP was the best part of the Yorke Peninsula. We left Marion Bay and headed to the west side of the Yorke Pen up through Corny Point & Minlayton (lovely little town). Then onto Bluff Bch and Port Rickaby. The wind was still blowing a gale and the weather had turned really cold yet again. We spent one night bush camping at Waraultee. Only a deserted Hall and church there. Sheep on the Road. We continued toward Moonta Bay. Called into Port Victoria on the way but we were not too impressed there. We spent 2 nights at Moonta had a bit of a look around went across to Kadina & Wallaroo, 2 of the larger towns on the peninsula. But we made the decision to move away from Yorke Pen. Overall we were a little disappointed in the whole area and think it will be our one and only visit there. Made our way over toward Gawler then decided to spend a few days along the Murray River and Barossa before heading back to Adelaide. (Sharee & Damon were coming over for a surprise visit). Recognise this place at all? It's the Truck Stop from the long running TV show Macleod's Daughters. It is in the town of Freeling. Our base along the Murray River was at Blanchetown. As you can see by the photo the Murray is pretty full, heaps of back water around as well. It is the hometown of the Murray's loch #1. The caravan park in Blanchetown was a great spot, only small, nice people running it and also friendly travellers as well. Murray River at Blanchetown. When we left Blachetown we drove along the side of the Murray R down to Mannum then took the ferry across to the town. Had a bit of a look around and the Murray Princess was in port. There were bloody tourists everywhere. We then made our way to Nuriootpa in the Barossa Valley the wine capital of Australia. It is a beautiful spot to visit. Not far away is the town of Anguston the home of horse trainer David Hayes. The property there is Lindsay Park and yep the "FOR SALE" sign is out front. Great complex looking at it from te road. We spent a day drivng the Winery Tour of the area. You can smell the wine in the air. Grape Vine. It was time to head to Adelaide to meet up with Sharee & Damon for 4 days. We stayed at Adelaide Shores CP on West Beach. Great park & spot. After picking them up from the airport we went for a look around Port Adelaide. It's got a lot of history there and old buildings and some odd characters there as well. Port Adelaide Port Adelaide main street. We had a look around Glenelg then went into the CBD. Glenelg Pier. Damon hooning around the caravan park. We walked along Rundle Mall and North Tce. Gov house had an open day so we took a look through. There were people in period dress and a bagpipe band entertaining the crowd. Open day at Government House Adelaide. We drove passed Adelaide Oval couldn't get near it as there was a sporting event on . Also went passed AAMI Stadium home for the Crows and Power. We also had a day up in the Adelaide Hills, visiting Hahndorf old German town (heaps of Indians own business' there now so the ambience of the place has been a little lost. Sharee bought a BUM BURNER sausage. we tried it with a beer later that night. It was very nice indeed. on the way back to Adelaide we went through Oakbank and had a look at the race track where they have the famous steeple chase meeting every Easter. Coming back down the hill was fantastic. Wineries, Autumn Leaves, green and great later afternoon light. We had a lovely day. Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills. Meet Swanny, Heater, Dids & Pendles greeting us at Oakbank racetrack. Sharee & Damon on West Beach at sunset. It was time to leave Adelaide and head up towards the Flinders Ranges, we travelled up to Port Germein before leaving the highway and headed towards Murraytown, the road was very hilly and windy but the scenery was great. We stopped just north of Quorn, and bush camped with the southern Ranges all around, very nice. Bush camp spot near Quorn. Continued on the next day up to Hawker, where we spent a bit of time looking around the town. Then it was onto Rawnsley Park Station for 4 nights in the heart of the Flinders Ranges. Greig at Rawnsley lookout. Whilst there we had a couple of quiet days but also went for the walk into Wilpena Pound, we also took the drive through Bunyeroo Valley and Brachina Gorge. Another day we went to Sacred Canyon and to Pugilist lookout. The Flinders is very green at the moment, looks spectacular. Our last night at Rawnsley we went to the campfire roast night, had roast lamb and chicken, vegies, damper, apple crumble and cream or choc pudding, a fantastic finish to our time in the Flinders Ranges, we always enjoy coming up here, its a great part of Australia. Came across this fella at Wilpena. Looking over Wilpena Pound. Hills Homestead at Wilpena. Bunyeroo Valley lookout. Lookout, Flinders Ranges. Sunset in Flinders Ranges. Part of Rawnsley Park Station at sunset. Sacred Canyon, aboriginal rock engravings. Mish at Sacred Canyon. Track in Flinders Ranges. We left the Flinders to finally start heading NORTH. We had a short pit stop at Pt Augusta to shop and re-fuel. It was raining just for a change. We stopped just off the Hwy over looking Island lagoon. Beaut spot for the night. We woke to a clear day and continued up the Stuart. We turned off the Hwy at Pimba and went to Woomera. Had a look around the once thriving community & defence town. Visited the museum there. Onto Roxby Downs about 80km away. This was a bit of a surprise to us. It's a very modern mining town. BHPbilliton owns & runs it. Looks like a young working community there. The school caters for pre-school, primary, secondary and TAFE. They have quite a good size airstrip and heaps of new houses and single workers lodgings are there as well. Not really for the tourist. Another 30km away is the old opal mining town of Andamooka. Not so much money is evident there, however losts of history and stories. We visited the general store/post office and saw an opal worth $100k. It was the size of half a hand palm. Very impressive ! There are a few old miners huts in town to look at and it also has the world's longest bus which is used as a cafe & souvenier shop. We arranged with the general store lady to leave the caravan out front whilst we took the 30 min drive out to lake Torrens. Bit of a rough road but ok. There is a little water in the salt lake. First time for us there. Back to Andamooka where we hitched the van back on and headed back toward Roxby Downs. We bush camped just a little way out of town for the night amoungst the red sand. Lovely and quiet. Woomera.

Old opal miners huts- Andamooka.

$100k of opal at Andamooka.

Lake Torrens, near Andamooka.

Next day back out through Pimba and onto the Hwy again heading north. We passed Lake Hart which has plenty of water and friendly Flies as well.

Lake Hart- Stuart Hwy.

Night was drawing in we had just gone passed Glendambo so we pulled of the road a bit to bush camp. We were blessed witha spectacular SUNSET to say the least. !!!!!

Bush camp near Glendambo.

Amazing sunset- near Glendambo.

So that brings you up to date with our travels. Currently in Coober Pedy but you will have to wait for the next BLOG... All we will say about Coober is it hasn't changed much since the last time we were here 22years ago.

Will do our next post from ALICE SPRINGS.

Take care, stay well.

Mish & Greig...............LIFE IS A H'WAY.