June 11-17

So this week we have left the coast of Port Pirie and Port Augusta to the more remote areas of the Flinders.
Pic below is the Liquid Salt Tower (Solar Thermal ) now used by Coles for produce near Port Augusta.

Came across this old homestead on the Outback Hwy and was really worth the look. 

The old buildings are slowly crumbling but will possibly last another 100 years or so.

Bill listening for my voice from inside the ruins.

The stables are a bit small.

Caught up with fellow Bushtracker owners.

This one is from the woolshed.

June 4- 10

4^th June Sunday

4^th night here at Greenock. 

Negative 3.8 last night.

Decided to stay another day and enjoy this lovely weather.

Taking a walk into town and stopped in at a coffee/ pizza place called El Estanco where they offered a nice warm fire inside or sit in the sun outside down in a courtyard area. They used packing crates to form tables and they had a wonderful pizza pod out the back which they serve pizzas on Fridays. Their selection of fresh herbs and vegetables were grown out the back as well.

Whilst we were there many vintage cars drove past so Russell decided to find out where they were going to, and as it turned out only 15 minutes up the road from Greenock. So, after we walked back to the camp we drove out to Tarlee where these cars were meeting up in a park to show the collection.

Some lovely cars restored back to former glory and attached are some photos of a small collection we liked.

On our trip back we spotted an antique shop in the main street so we had a look, and after we continued out to an old historic copper mine. I thought it was sad that they used Clydesdales for such monotonous and hard work daily to haul up the copper to be processed. Attached is a photo of the area and a monument to remember the important work of the Clydesdale horse made from metal.

Once back at camp we chatted to a nice family with 3 little children, they have been on the road for 18 months. They sold their house, property and business to spend quality time together and enjoy life a lot more.

Tonight is going to be another cold night.

5^th June Monday

3 degrees

Last day at Greenock and a bit sad to leave as we have enjoyed being here with a lot to see and do.

6^th June Tuesday

Packed early this morning and starting to make a move on our next part of the journey. Today when we leave Greenock we shall pass through Auburn, Port Wakefield before driving through Balaklava towards our destination of Ardrossan on the Yorke Peninsula. The weather has turned very overcast and cool. We noticed the countryside on the Yorke Highway has a very desolate and harsh landscape compared to the Barossa Valley.

So we were about ½ hour from our camp site and we had been listening to an odd sound under the bonnet for the last few days but Russell could not find anything odd.

Well the sound ended up being the EGR pipe and it fell off which created a sound like a tractor. As luck was on our side where we stopped was a farmhouse with a shed and lots of workshop tools. The guy there was happy to let Russell fix what was needed in the shed and even brought out a gas cutter in case we needed it.

 Once all fixed we continued onto Ardrossan to find this elusive three site camp. As we drove into the street another lady and small caravan whizzed in front of us heading to the last spot. There were already two campervans in the last ones. So, as we sat in the car pondering on our next move we could see the lady was having an enormous amount of trouble backing her caravan in to the last site. We later found out she was with the other two and they offered to share one site so we could have one. Russell then offered to back her caravan in which she greatly appreciated.

After a very late lunch we enjoyed chatting to the next-door travellers, a lovely lady sightseeing around with her friends. 

7^th June Wednesday

Russell awoke early and went for a cold walk with Billy down to the jetty and captured the sunrise- posted it on FB. After his walk back and breakfast we both then went for the walk down to the beach and dropped into a cheap shop looking for a container large enough to hold oil when Russell does his oil change today. The lady gave us a container which she could not sell as the lid had broken.

There was sad news about a suicide here in Ardrossan of a little boy and his mother which we saw flowers outside his school as a tribute.

Once back to the BT we sat out in the sun to warm up while Billy had a nap on his bed.

So a bit of controversy here this afternoon with our fellow campervan ladies been asked to move on as they are not self-contained. A few new caravan travellers waiting on the side for them to go so not really sure how this has been reported.

Later this afternoon we unhitched the BT and went for a drive around Ardrossan and followed the coast for only a very short distance and found a camp site adjacent to the beach but $10 per night no amenities. We must move on tomorrow anyway so will decide what to do. We went up to a lookout that was right next to a working mine, possibly iron ore, gold and copper. On our way back we spotted a monument built for 6 female sperm whales that beached themselves here in 2014 which was very sad.

We decided to refill our gas cylinder whilst here to save doing it another day on the road, and the price was reasonable compared to several other places we asked back at Greenock area.

Russell has decided to wash the cruiser this afternoon on our return from the drive.

The sun is slowly starting to set and you can feel the coolness coming down- so yet another cold night ahead.

8^th June Thursday

Leaving Ardrossan this morning and continuing onto see more of this area along the coastal fringes. So many houses built right on the edges overlooking the bay- very pretty place.

 We passed through Port Vincent and stopped in Stansbury for a morning tea beside the sea. Beautiful and calm water. A local stopped and mentioned they grow oysters off shore here in oyster bay hence the name. Billy loves the beach and couldn’t wait to get here and swim.

Dropped into an information place and got a host of what to see in and around Yorke Peninsula. First thing on our list was Wool Bay where a kiln was built way back in 1900-1910 for burning of limestone. The long-term success and productivity of limestone was hampered by the climate and high wind.

We went passed a Wattle Point wind farm whilst on our drive.

Located the Troubridge Hill lighthouse on the Yorke Peninsula and stopped for lunch.

Took a drive down a sandy track to Kemp Bay/ Suicide Point and went for a walk on the beach- so windy and overcast.

Our destination for possibly a few days is Warooka.

9^th June Friday

This morning we are going to look at Turton another seaside bay before we travel out to Burner’s Beach. Here we come across one camper with a dog enjoying the peace and quiet. I went and collected some very unusual shells along the sand, at first it was a very unimpressive beach laden with seaweed pushed up from the tides. Some piles were metres high which made walking a bit harder.

So after leaving Burner’s Beach we continued out to see another lighthouse at Corny Point.

We are sightseeing as much of this Yorke Peninsula without the BT as possible so our next destination is Marion Bay which was about ½ an hour drive from Corny.

Here at Marion Bay the community has many homes and rental that seem to be holiday houses, one Tavern a small food shop and not much else. We decided to splurge and buy a fresh pizza and garlic bread for lunch.

Sue drove back to Warooka from here, relaxed with a coffee back at camp and watched some TV.

1Oth June Saturday

Restful sleep so ready to move on today, which we decided will be back towards Ardrossan for a few days.

Set up again in Ardrossan RV site, going for a walk to town to see the markets. Not big markets at all only a handful of stalls, so going for coffee then into the butcher for a very small supply of meat and a bone for Billy.

Sue went to the Ardrossan caravan park do all the clothes washing and drying. Russell checked car and van for any repairs.

11^th June Sunday

After breakfast, we went for a walk down to the beach which I am sure Billy now knows the way by himself. On the way back the traditional drop in to the coffee shop before checking into the information place and had a chat to the lady there.

Back to site and always something to do if not cooking, checking any issues with van, car for our impending trip up North next week.

May 28- June 3

28^th May Sunday

8 degrees

The rain was still pouring down as we packed up this morning and so very cold.

Today we are leaving Tantanoola and driving onwards through many seaside towns. We passed a wind farm at Millicent with well over a hundred wind stations.

The next town was Robe where we came across an old historic relic of a goal and other relics.

We saw a sign about a Obelisk which we had no idea what that was until we read the sign. The sea was pounding and very rough as we got closer to the ocean.

After Robe we decided to walk past some shops and have a look before heading to the camp site for the afternoon.

Following Wiki we decided on Pinks Beach Kingston  RV reserve SA, we were trying to get away from this cold howling wind but the camps are far and few between.

We have a huge fifth wheeler motor home beside us and a few other cars have driven past to look at the beach, not stopping here as there is only room for very few vans.

Billy has finally settled on his bed in the sun next next to us, we are all rugged up against this cold wind.                                                                                                                                                                   

29^th May Monday

12 degrees

Quiet night with a bit of rain- woke to clear skies and finally no wind.

Packing after breakfast and moving on further towards Adelaide although not today. Will be having a look at the town before we leave. 

We stopped in at Salts Creek for a morning tea, just a little place West of Adelaide as we bypass Coorong National Park and a few rest stops. As we slowly make our way ever closer to Adelaide we expect to see fewer free camp sites. Stopped in a nice little town Meningie for a look around. Nice beach and quite busy compared to other seaside towns we have passed. We bought a coffee before moving off to our camp for this afternoon at Punong on The Murray river camp spot. Long grassy bank with a lot of fireplaces from previous campers. Nice river view and we couldn’t really get any closer as we were already less than two metres or we would be a floating pontoon. Later in the afternoon we had a few houseboats and a variety of paddle wheelers drift past us.

A pair of cyclists rode into the campsite with all their gear and set up their tent for the night. Further down the bank is one other motorhome closer to the ferry. This ferry is a free service to anyone that needs to cross the river 24 hours a day.

Whilst we have been here the bird wildlife is amazing to see with pelicans, kookaburras, egrets, ducks, galahs and many small finches.

30^th May Tuesday

Sarinda’s Birthday.

Deciding to stay here for a few days and relax, check stock in van and Russell is planning to do maintenance on the cruiser and check van. We found the third battery has collapsed which runs the car fridge, quite unfortunate to have to purchase another one.

Everything else seems ok.

We went for a walk to one end of the street past some houses here, most are accommodation style houses.

Today Sue did some baking and we all sat outside in the glorious sun most of the day, enjoying the river views. Billy has missed sleeping outside I am sure.

Billy is keen to try to get in the water but the banks are very steep with no access to climb back up, so he resorts to lying down in the thick grass looking at the wild ducks.

As the afternoon ends we take the opportunity of good weather to have a fire, not only to use up the timber we have been carrying from three weeks ago, but to cook in our camp oven and sit around.

The stars are out which we haven’t seen for some time due to the weather we have had over these weeks. We enjoyed the warmth of the fire right to the dying embers before we went back inside the van.

31^st May Wednesday.

3 degrees.

Fog encompassed us as I wearily opened my eyes to only see white windows, condensation within the van and Billy waiting to greet me on the bed.

A coffee awaits Sue which she happily slurps as we plan our day ahead. 

This morning after breakfast we decided to go into town at Mannum which is only 15 minutes away or so. There is a ferry service to cross the Murray on either side which we used on the way back to Punong. 

Once back to camp we begin the pack up process to move on a bit further up the Murray to Swan Reach, hopefully more service on a few things like mobile and TV.

Well the new camp we moved to is not as nice as what we left, no grass, lots of caravans and we had to move up to a hill so nowhere near the river. But we do have TV service for the origin tonight and mobile range is better......so for the sake of an argument it was a better move.

We will be moving on tomorrow.

Qld lost ☹the Origin. 4/28

1^st June Thursday

First day of winter.

1 degree last night, must be getting used to these constant cold mornings and nights.

Packed and moving on from Swan Reach and of course looking at towns along the way.

Stopped in at a town at Blanchetown for morning tea, prior to that we had to re fill our water tanks. I walked around and spotted a community garden that was flourishing with many vegetables and had a great watering system. I spotted some parsley growing outside on the ground so I picked it for later use.

Truro was the next small town of interest and an old antique shop which I looked in.

We planned to follow a Wiki camps at Angaston but unfortunately it was only a rock based carpark and we weren’t keen to stay. So, we decided to walk along the streets and check out the shops. We came across a pet shop which welcomed pets so we took Billy in and wasn’t he the star. He performed tricks for treats and loved all the attention. Within the shop was a holding room for adopted kittens and cats that Billy had an interest in. After this we located a pizza place further down the street and had thought this would be nice for dinner if we had stayed.

Anyway, we continued further to a $5-night stay at Greenock Centenary Park. Nice and green so the camping is just around the outside area. Within this park is a dump point, water and we are close to a small town for shopping. We plan to stay a few days and leave the van here, drive into Adelaide and look around.

Cold again tonight.

2^nd June Friday

Slept in till 8am and so very cold.

After a nice coffee and pancakes for breakfast we decided to join the traffic and drove into Adelaide for a few things which we hope to find. The trip in is about 70kms away so we hope to be back to camp around 3pm.

We have never been within Adelaide city before so getting around is by our GPS and frustrating as ever with not knowing the roads, parking and finding what we want to look at. But we were lucky enough to find an inner-city parking bay and a beautiful beach with a jetty (dogs allowed) at Henley seaside. Nice café and restaurants to stop and have lunch at as well. Billy loved the off-leash beach and even got to make a few friends with a puppy border collie of 12 weeks old. We were of the opinion dogs have a lot more freedom here in South Australia than other States we have been through.

After leaving the seaside we tried our luck and ventured further  further into Adelaide looking for Spotlight and Super cheap before heading out and back to camp. Glad to see the sun out again without the wind.

3^rd June Saturday

Third night here.

Absolutely freezing again last night……. diesel heater has well and truly been worth buying.

Need to do some food shopping today at a close town Nuriootpa food co-op, and find a butcher as well.

The sun is out and no wind thank goodness.

Most of the smaller shops here like boutique shops, post office, bank, gift shop close by midday but the food co-op is open till 7pm.

After we come back from the shops and put the food away, Russell has plans to convert the long orange lead to a new short lead specifically designated for the power supply, rather than running the orange lead outside all the time when we need it.

Billy had some grooming as well, not that he was very happy about it at all watching his hair come out in handfuls and blow away in the wind ( treats work wonders)

16 degrees at 1 o’clock and feels way colder.

Billy has learnt to play with almost any dog that is keen to venture his way, must be missing Forest and Parker.