Month: February 2021

Sunday, 28th February, 2021.

Up comfortably at 7am considering time difference. Potter around cleaning up, blog etc. The nice people next door are Graham, Rhonda, Elly and …. oh .. just slipped my mind, but a nice lady who happens to be mother in law, I think to Graham. Had very pleasant ‘beer o’clock’ drinks last night. They are returning to WA after an extended stay in the east. Hence, two cars. One with trailer and chock-a-block. The other with van, also chock-a-block. Mother in law is sleeping in a tent adjacent the van. I made the evil suggestion of the poor MIL stuck out in a tent when the others are in the van, but she assured me it was her choice. Better a comfy bed than a small bunk in the van. With our knack for stuffing around, we are the last to leave this morning.

Summary of the park. Very good. Stay here. At this time, nice lady ‘Janet’ a fellow traveler was looking after it and doing a great job. Flies are very friendly. Bring a fly net just in case.

The great little pub we didn’t quite manage to visit.

Gibson

The population of the area was 16 (7 males and 9 females) in 1898. Gibson was originally proposed in about 1910 as a siding on the Esperance Branch Railway due to a reliable water source in the area, named by surveyor A. W. Canning after a man who discovered the soak whilst searching for stock.

N.B.  A soakage, or soak, is a source of water in Australian deserts. It is called thus because the water generally seeps into the sand, and is stored below, sometimes as part of an ephemeral river or creek. Soakages were traditionally important sources of water for Aboriginal Australians in the desert, being the most dependable source in times of drought in Australia. Aboriginal peoples would scoop out the sand or mud using a coolamon or woomera, often to a depth of several metres, until clean water gathered in the base of the hole. Knowing the precise location of each soakage was extremely valuable knowledge. It is also sometimes called a native well.

There you go. Significantly more than you wanted to know about ‘soaks.’

Anyway … We get to Gibson to fill the fuel tank and empty the  bladders. A  mature chap is having a little trouble with his mature car, so I give him a push. (the car that is) We get to chatting. This magnificent machine is a 1929 Model A ford. It has a very English sounding model name because it was made in Canada for the very purposeful reason that Henry wanted to export to Australia and he avoided tax as both countries were ‘British.’ I have forgotten the English model name and Mr Google wasn’t much help. It wasn’t Windsor but it was something like that. If anyone, knows, please email it to me on the Contact email top of site. Anne’s awake! The model is a TUDOR.

The Soak Store is attached to the Soak Pub. What a good, visual name.

Her ladyship loved the car as well.

As per usual, we checked out the public toilets. Modern and good.

What are these things. They are growing all over the place between Gibson and Esperance.

Esperance.

Espérance is one of the two French words that can be translated into “hope”, the other being “espoir”. Whereas the latter is closer to the idea of “dream” or “fantasy” and corresponds to most of the common uses of “hope”, “espérance” refers to an abstract, positive expectation. Esperance as a girl’s name is of Spanish/Italian origin meaning “hope”.

I was trying to get a photo of this 1971 HQ Holden while driving.

The ‘Whale Tail’ of Esperance.

Yes, Seagulls….

… Airbourne

We were trying to get a shot of this helicopter in the background of a selfie.

We  tried and tried probably about five times …

… till be finally realized we got it everytime. It’s just that it was a dot in the background.

Anyway, I am doing this blog while Anne is horizontal and comatose like, with her camera out in the car. She would have had more photos of where we are.

There were no van parks with sites so we headed to the overflow which is in the, or in fact IS the show grounds. A huge expanse with vans scattered. We scattered next to another Supreme van. We have a Spirit. They have a Territorian. They also have pleasant dispositions, so we shared our ‘beer o’clock’ with them till the wind sent us inside, to showers, pasta using chilli con carne as a bolognaises sauce and the mandatory red wine as ‘spag bol’ is Italian and hence must be consumed with red wine. A bit of TV, then rest as tomorrow is a special day ….

zzzzzzzzzzzzz          zzzzzzzzzzzz         zzzzzzzzzzz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday, 27th February 2021

I did indeed get up, not at SA 7am but SA 6.45am which was WA 4.14am. This may take some adapting.

Took this photo for the Everything Caravanning and Camping Saturday morning check in. (as in where you are)

And thus we leave beautiful downtown Caiguna.

N.B. It is claimed that ‘caiguna‘ is a local Mirning word meaning “spear track” which may refer to the speargrass which is extensive in the area.

We two occupants only

Just outside the town, a significant sign.

If you can’t read it, it says, ’90 Mile Straight. Australia’s longest straight road. 146.6km’

It goes straight  …..

Straight …

straight …

straight …

straight … for 146.6 long km’s

Balladonia, well known for some Skylab falling on it. It was spread out actually but lots fell on the unsuspecting people of Balladonia. The story goes that President Jimmy Carter phone the roadhouse at the time and personally apologised.

N.B. Balladonia takes its name from the Balladonia Station and the homestead which was built in the area after the first settlers arrived in 1879.

Other memorabilia.

Chunk of the lab.

 

July 13, 1979

Also the REDeX trial went though way back.

Chips for lunch. $6 for a little cup. $8 for a big box. What are ya going to do?

Norseman Galv tin camels.

N.B.  According to local legend the town of Norseman was named after a horse. It is said that in 1894 a horse named Hardy Norseman was tethered to a tree for the night by its owner, Laurie Sinclair. Upon returning to his horse Sinclair had the good fortune to discover that Norseman had unearthed a gold nugget.

Took this through the security gate. The town boasts a full Olympic pool if you squint, you can see a bit of blue middle left.

The famous Hardy Norseman (or statue there of) that found the gold nugget and had the town named after him, as the story goes.

Salmon Gums. small but very nice caravan park. One toilet and shower per gender but the only park I have ever seen with a toilet map. How very thoughtful and nice.

N.B.  Salmon Gums is a small town in Western Australia located 106 km north of Esperance on the Coolgardie-Esperance Highway. The name is derived from a prominent stretch of Eucalyptus salmonophloia (Salmon Gum) trees which formed a landmark in the town’s early days. … The town is a receival site for Cooperative Bulk Handling.

A colourful bird out of focus.

Free vegetables. A nice park.

The one other van back at the Caiguna park happens to be here so we park next to and have/do drinks and laughter. Mum, dad, daughter and mother in law. Two cars a trailer and a caravan, moving back to Perth after being trapped in NSW for quite a while.

In van for showers, food, drinks. Sat dish will not work as too close to tree. So memory stick in the TV, we watch a few episodes of, The Games. 20 years old. Still funny. Bed.

zzzzzzzzzz        zzzzzzzzzzz          zzzzzzzzzzz

 

 

 

 

Friday, 26th February 2021

Made the Bathroom before cleaning with 15 minutes to spare.

Good spot but time to go.

The Eucla Pass where we come down from the Hampton Tableland.

Still coming down.

Down. There it is off to the right.

A little ‘self adoration’ is good for the ego. Bless you my love.

Now we find ourselves in Madura, which by the way is Spanish for ‘mature’. How it applies here I don’t know. I would have understood if it meant unwelcome.

Now   ……  is it just me but, wouldn’t the 80 metres space be determined by the builder of the buildings and/or the installer of the pumps? So why try and handball it on to the humble and innocent consumer?

Look closer below …

Nothing says it better than a padlock on the door.

We don’t have to call reception because the management has further distanced itself by installing these gadgets. Luckily I had some experience with one in Cummins and another in Ceduna. I could actually help a fellow traveler on his first time. You pay with your card in advance. if you pay say, $50 and you only use $44, it only takes $44. After taking fuel, you can go back to the machine, click ‘receipt’, insert your card and you are given one. Soon we wont have to talk to any attendants at all. A cashless, assistant-less, non communicative society. I kind of like to talk … a bit.

Lunch under the tree with all our friends. (Sarcasm. Alone)

Past it’s prime, but wouldn’t you love a new one?

On to Cocklebiddy.

If you squint, you will see budgies.

Don’t squint at the sign, which is the purpose of the photo. See below.

Now progress. 1634km to Adelaide. 1091kn to Perth. As the crow flies. We will be taking a longer route.

Arrived at Caiguna. About half way between Eucla and Norseman. Taking it easy. 350km today and 350km tomorrow. The win is we have now passed the temporary time zone. Daylight saving ends in South Australia first Sunday in April and Western Australia does not have it. So until then there is a 2.5 hour difference.

We are still running on SA time but will change over tomorrow. Sooo … what this means is tomorrow morning I will get up at an SA 7am but will be a WA 4.30am. So until acclimatizing, that means we are going to be getting a bit tired of driving around 2pm and start thinking of bed around 7.30pm. We will also probably wake bright as a button at 4.30am.

Can’t fight nature. For now shower, meal, PCA, red grape juice, watched ‘The Party’ with Peter Sellers then …

zzzzzzzzzzz           zzzzzzzzzzzz         zzzzzzzzzz

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, 24th & Thursday 25th February 2021

Up earlier to do blog and experiment with potato bake as we will soon cross the border and no raw/fresh vegetables or salads or HONEY! Any honey. Commercial, opened, unopened. Doesn’t matter. NO HONEY! Anyway that’s soon but not now. On the road again.

Train.

Still train

Get to Penong and turns out they are BIG on windmills.

The one in the back ground is the Comet. Apparently the biggest windmill in … (the world?)

This ones blades turn 90 degrees to stop rotating.

See what I mean

The advantage of caravans? You have your lunch room on the back of the car.

A swing pump. When the swing swings, the plunger moves up and down and ‘pumps.’

The Comet in the back ground again.

Eastern end of the Nullarbor.

The Nullarbor Roadhouse. A real taste outback.

Welcome to the Nullarbor Roadhouse.

Desolate.

This is a pretty cool bus we were following. It tows a small car. Turns out (talking to the owner,) it’s a Japanese school bus. Apparently good value as they replace them regularly.

That’s our van in the middle of the caravan park.

The original roadhouse.

Commemorative plaque of the sealing of the highway in 1976.

Didn’t see one of any of them.

Distances to …

Good set up. Dining room.

…and shop.

Time for a drink, a shower, a meal, a movie, a sleep.

zzzzz      zzzzzzzzzzz          zzzzzzzzzzzz

 

Thursday, 25th February 2021

Baking cooking freezing. I was so sure we had another avocado somewhere. Can’t find it, Pack up and move out. It took till 11.20am so a bit late.

What are they on the truck?

Closer up and still don’t know.

First of 5 lookouts. Spectacular coast line of the GREAT Australian Bight.

Same view but with a couple of ‘extra’s’. Should have used recognized actors.

It’s so dry all these plants get their moisture from the air through the leaves.

Multitasking with the rear view mirror and ‘lippy.’.

Second lookout towards the west.

Another lookout with one of the extra’s.

Ocean, in case you hadn’t realized.

Extra showing off.

A touching moment. I am touching Anne. Notice the ‘fishing’ gloves she makes me wear now to shield my hands from the sun while driving.

What are these rocks.

It’s a memorial for Annette. That is unless the rocks fell on her and she’s under there.

The border, driving in to be inspected.

The master waits while the servant takes care of things.

We had to clarify when we were passing. When I applied I just nominated a month which comes up on the 1st March. We got there 25th Feb so it had to be sorted. That was it for Border. But THEN Customs. We had gone to a lot of trouble to make sure we were 101% sweet. HOWEVER, behind the crumpets in the car fridge, there was the missing avocado I was so sure we had but could NOT find. Anyway, in the bin and that was fine. Nice people at the border both Police and Customs.

The box Anne is standing in front of is the real, genuine border marker see below. So she is straddling the borders.

 

Now here is the bigger spot for ‘hamming it up’ with the border. Notice the van is in South Australia and the car in Western Australia.

Anne straddles the border. Have a close look. I reckon ther’s more of her in WA.

We keep coming across commemoratives without details. Is this a marker or a grave like Annettes before.

This one’s Melena.

We’re about 1200 from Adelaide now

Into Eucla and will stay here. Van park is good. Great views.

If you squint, you can see the ocean. Much clearer and closer with the eye. The camera ‘dwarfs’ the shot. Can I say Dwarfs?

 

Here’s another. This one’s David Needham.

From the van park. This time to get the more true relationship to ocean, I stayed well back and zoomed in which brings the distance closer.

Without the zoom. She wanted the tree. Again, if you squint, you can see Anne is under it.

All the usual now. Shower, eats. Lots of precooked we have now. Potato bake will not run out for a while.  A full pack in the fridge and two more in the freezer. N.B. I tested it first to confirm it freezes OK. A PCA (Palate Cleansing Ale) Then red grape juice.

We have another small hurdle. TIME. To get the relationship, take say 10am in the morning in South Australia, with daylight saving.

That is 7.30am in WA without daylight saving and 1.5 hours behind.

NOW, the plat thickens. for the first 350 to 400 kms inside the WA boarder to soften the shock, there is  a 45 minute zone.

Sooooo…. When it is 10am in SA, it is 8.15am for the first 350km then 7.30am. So who dreamed that one up?

Anyway, it will be important tomorrow because we are still on SA time as we are only 12 km inside the border but the toilet block is closed for cleaning 8.30am local time.

So with this in mind, we will do a bigger 350km hop tomorrow to try to get to the other zone. That will be Caiguna, 353km. 4 hours driving at 90km per hour. We are 6 tonne and the van is like a big wind sale, hence VERY sensitive to wind. Anyway, bed time.

zzzzzzzz       zzzzzzzzzz         zzzzzzzzzzz

 

 

Tuesday 23rd February 2021

We wake up in the paddock. Me first. I put the diesel heater on. All sorts of rigs are getting around but this is half of one. Two vehicles together. First a classic 4WD with 20ft van and second, a truck with the business on the back and towing a serious boat. Well done. Here’s the second half pulling into the ‘free’ $10 RV park we are in.

We decide we will move on. First I want to go to the tackle shop and sort out what I need. No. Make that second. First will be a public toilet. Down on the esplanade with flash public toilets at the tourism premier end of Streaky Bay.

Then to the tackle shop where Nigel sorts up our ancient fishing gear, not used or maintained for 30 years. My original first rod is OK, existing reel OK, new reel for the second rod gifted by PCM on our departure. Swivels and ready set up hook and sinker kits, Nigel winds new line onto the new reel, gives us a brochure for sizes of fish etc, we pay, get two bonus cappuccino’s and we are done.

On to mitre 10 for a bucket, clothes shop for two casual shirts (her, not him) a couple of bottles of grape juice (him not her) the information shop, then ‘On the road again, just can’t wait to get on the road again ….’

We look at Smoky bay and it is a very small town. The mall only commercial outlet I saw was a boozerama. At least they got their priorities right. Lots of commercial buildings/sheds ‘doing’ oysters. We decide not to stop and taste but highball through. We make it to Ceduna, cruise the main street and top up diesel. A bit of a trick. The second time I have had to use a card machine. Last time was in Cummins and a nice lady held my hand, figuratively speaking. This time a nice man pointed and told. Getting the hang of it now. We book into the BIG4 van park. Brilliant place. It has a fish cleaning room, cleaner and better set up than some kitchens. Friendly people and above all, very helpful.

After a load of washing and some maintenance the only place open for oysters is Foodland. N.B. We felt bad about not buying Smoky Bay oysters so figured we would get some Ceduna’s. Surprise of surprises! They are Smoky Bay oysters! so it’s fate. We are destined to taste them. We did and they were great!

Aerial view.

The intensity of ‘the pour.’

Proof of origin.

Proof of location with Ceduna brochure. Also the goodies.

The ‘slurp’ gets the sea water as well.

All good. We also finish the Indian food we bought at Streaky.

Life is good. Two reds.

zzzzzzzzz         zzzzzzzzzzz           zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday, 21st & Monday 22nd of February 2021

Nice sleep in. A visit from the neighbours for some sugar. We are generous with our free satchels of sugar carefully collected from various  coffee places over recent times. Such are our diverse tastes, we can impress said neighbor with a choice of both white and raw. Sorry. No demerara.

We call ‘Dean’ to arrange a visit tomorrow. Primary and High School. Not close mates but we do remember each other. That is in itself impressive as we are talking 52 years.

Now lunch time. Move on or stay? We shall stay.

Hooded Plovers nest in this beach. (They have no reason to lie to us.)

It is lovely rugged coastline. The first of much more I am guessing.

See? I told you. Much more.

The parking lot then down to the beach or off down small tracks to individual camp sites. Well laid out.

The ablution block and shelter. It was a cols water outside shower as well. It is also well maintained. The maintenance ‘chap’ came while we were here.

Neat, clean, flushing, soap, toilet paper and all free.

Getting crowded near departure. (Sarcasm)

Venus Bay. Nice town.

Had to snigger. people having a picnic under shelter with an audience of four overly attentive ‘Mr Percivals.’

Ordering coffee and fish and chips for lunch, we meet this lovely lady and end up lunching with her on the shop verandah. She is 90 (plus?) and in transit, solo from Port Lincoln to Streaky Bay. Very independent. We show her the van and she confesses she is thinking of buying one. Good on ya Mary. Mary tells us she was standing near water with her shiny purse in hand behind her back. A pelican swooped and grabbed it out of her hand and took off over water. I said, I guess you hoped the damn thing choked on it. She said, no, she say it dropped into the sea. We can assume it realized shortly after the snatch that it wasn’t edible. N.B. never hold something fish size and shiny when there are pelicans about.

Another modern ablution block. Someone must have been through here selling them.

We get to Streaky bay and fill up at the servo. Two things. Firstly Anne spots the stuffed shark while on the way to the bathroom. A bit of history. This monster was caught by a young guy back in 1990 and it may have been the world record of its time. some of the papers indicate that.

So what would you do if you were in the drink and you saw this guy coming for you? Yes. That obviously, but what about after that. I reckon if the selectors  had have been there, you would be on the Olympic team.

The second thing is the interesting guy filling up next to me turned out to be a fisherman and he was down right extroverted and interesting. He points to this, his car a short hop up the road and says that indirectly, he bought it off Malcolm Fraser. After, he checked out on credibility with the servo attendant.

Shopping at Farmland and a cruise through town.

We decide to go to the free RV park that costs $10. Define free. Well it should be free anyway. there is no toilet, not even a long drop, no water and no dump spot. Then again, if you are looking for some traveler company, and most do, then I can justify $10 for a leveled, cleared and purpose made spot that comes with five to ten neighbours. No problem.

Well, we visited Gerard in Cummins after around 40 years. Now we catch up with primary school and high school fellow student, ‘Dean’ who I last saw around 52 years ago. He visited us in the van and as I said before, we weren’t best mates at school but we do remember each other. We had a great chat over a couple of beers and compared notes over how we had spent the last 52 years. Turns out we have both been busy (Busy? What? We spent 52 years standing around doing nothing?) and we are both in happy places. Also, we haven’t changed a bit … sort of. He is a fine man and I am glad we both made the effort to get together. Another 52 years Dean?

I forgot the number three from the servo. They sell curries! So this evening we dined on Chicken Korma and Dahl with steamed rice, just like mother used to make. What a stupid thing to say. Mum was a lovely lady but she would have thought a chicken korma was something to restrain the chook while you prepare it.

Anyway, thanks to being set up for free camping, we have nice hot showers and watch some TV sitting in the middle of a paddock, then retire to dream of Indian food, sharks, school days and Malcolm Fraser. That’s where it turned to a nightmare.

zzzzzzzzzzzzz        zzzzzzzzzzzzz          zzzzzzzzzzzz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday, 20th February 2021.

Off at 9.45am from lovely Coffin Bay. So where did the name come from? Something dark and sinister like a ship wreck and coffins on the beach?

Nope.  ‘Matthew Flinders on his return to England in 1810,  named the bay after Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin, who, as Resident Commissioner of Sheerness Naval Dockyards in England, had been responsible for the outfitting of Flinder’s ship the Investigator, for his imminent voyage to Terra Australis. ‘

Farewell Coffin Bay …

We arrive at Cummins in time for diesel and toilet stop before out 11am appointment ….

 

… and these were the flashest public toilets I have ever seen….

… depicting the history of the town and the armed services veterans

… including tiled sculptures…

Just great.

So it came to pass that only after a mere 40 years-ish we have a coffee with Gerard from old Torrens Rowing Club days. Wife Joanne absent in Adelaide. Never mind. Try again in another 40 years.

Then we stop for a pie at Sheringa road house. Interesting, with poor reviews but we found it fine. The operator was quiet but pleasant enough which may have been interpreted by others as unfriendly.

Guard cat.

Lots of salt lake heading north.

Elliston for a short break.

Then on to tonight’s camp, Walkers Rocks camping ground à l’océan.

Fear, shock, horror. A group of three families, nice enough but many children, a generator and music. Should we move on? They were all sound asleep before we got into bed.

What tomorrow? It is of no real consequence.

zzzzzzzz        zzzzzzzzzzz           zzzzzzzzzzz

 

 

Thursday, 18th & Friday 19th February 2021

Cool and calm but warming up. News facebook won’t be doing news for us.

Pulling out but Anne hurt her knee and be need a support. Also, we are told me must check the oysters before we go. So we cruised four of the places but alas not an Oyster to be found.

So on the road. Lunch at Arno Bay with sea view.

On to Port Lincoln but first a stop outside the town to visit our dear departed old mate, Ants Nurk. Know as Joe or Nurky, he was a unique and much liked good man and rower. (that’s how we know him). He passed away two years ago and we with Phillip and his Ann went to the funeral.

I was sort of hoping to see a big head stone but the only name note was a metal name marker fixed to the concrete.

The head stone we see is the back of the grave facing the other way.

There was however evidence of some grave maintenance.

We go onto town and through to Coffin Bay.

All set up, I lend a hand to a neighbor with his awning.

Tea time, the usual TV, very light meal a couple of drinks then ….

zzzzzzzzzzzzz          zzzzzzzzzzzz         zzzzzzzzzzz

 

Friday, 19th February 2021

Busy morning, Anne clothes washing and I doing ‘things.’

Then just across the road to  Oyster HQ, a seafood restaurant.

Between us a dozen natural, two crumbed fish with chips, salad and a squid tube stuffed with yummy stuff. Oh! And a bottle of white wine.

Back via an adjacent shop to look at fishing gear. not enough info so no purchase. Although they dive have ‘Golden Gay Times.’ Now lets be perfectly clear here. We don’t mean Gay. We mean Gay.

Back to our oasis. Chat with neighbours, showers, light nibble tea, a drink or two and an early night for an early start.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzz           zzzzzzzzzzzz          zzzzzzzzzz

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday, 16th and Wednesday 17th February 2021

Lovely seaside sleep, but up to make ready as van park (and not free park) means out by 10am. Straight to Port Pirie for shopping, (food and liquid) and another IT for Anne’s iPod. Left it with them and on to Port Germein. Camper next to us looks a good small unit.

Can’t beat nature.

The Italian Job movie showing and The last Python show ever (2014) and bed.

zzzzzzzzzzzzz         zzzzzzzzzzz           zzzzzzzzzzzz

 

Wednesday, 17th February 2021

Time to go but first I show the good quality of the facilities. It is the park on the foreshore near the jetty.

A nice little historical town.

… with a dump point and In have to say Anne is bloody marvelous at operating the thing……

…. which deserves an ice cream from the Post Office. (?)

I don’t think I mentioned this is ‘HENDERSON’ country, that being my mums maiden name. My Grandpa grew up here, so it’s off to the cemetery to see what we can find.

A Henderson plot with lots of names. Photos will be off to the Henderson Oracle, my cousin Mal Henderson. But I spotted some interesting things here. Amongst all the names was two siblings of my grandfather and my mothers aunties. They were Lily May and Laura Linda. I never knew where my mothers names Lily Laura came from but I am taking this as a fair indication.

By the way, when you see Olympus Digital Camera, it is 99% likely they are Anne’s photos.

She also spotted a boat tragedy where two sailors, a Finn and a Dane lost their lives off the coast. Sad but silly. Their three mast Barque, ‘Penang’ was anchored 150 metres off the jetty. The crew rowed in to a dance on shore, had a good time, returned well oiled to the 12 ft row boat, ignored the captains instruction to take two trips to ferry the lot and all twelve bundled in. It was rough and the boat went over. The Barque hurriedly dropped another boat in and managed to save 10 but not Axel and Lars.

Now, That big light that shines out at the top od Spencer Gulf. What is it?

Google answer: The giant light is a receiver; it sits among a sea of mirrors which beam the sun onto it, producing intense heat that creates steam, turns a turbine, and makes electricity. It’s known as concentrating solar thermal, a new breed of energy.

 

The road to Cowell.

But first a quick look at Whyalla. I spent lots of time at Whyalla when the ship yard was still operating. There was a business that had to go. I think the unions killed it eventually. It’s all but a ghost town now.

By the way, that funny looking statue is supposed to represent a big rudder so making a statement on the ship yard. Back when I was going there in very late 60’s early 70’s, I was told the guy who designed it got about $100,000 which was quite a packet for back  then. Then they had to build it. I wouldn’t mind betting it would have been, cheaper, easier and quicker to just put a bloody big rudder there. They had plenty of them. They made bloody big ships. Now they don’t so the thing is now more or less a mystery. Well that’s better than eyesore I guess.

 

 

Look at the sign. Remember when Gay didn’t mean Gay but meant Gay?

Whyalla done.  Welcome Cowell. The park at the end of the main street. $35. The down side of the heat at around 38 degrees is, we want air cond. and hence 240 volts.

Booked in. Two loads of washing. Anne has twisted her knee, TV, chicken salad, showers. Bed.

zzzzzzzzzz        zzzzzzzzzz          zzzzzzzzzzzz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday, 13th Sunday, 14th, Monday 15th February 2021.

Up at 7am, finish computer about 8.45am. Have to be evil and wake her because we are moving on. A slow farewell after a fun week with Kay and Mal. Always pleasant and memorable. We departure around 11.30am.

As we are running late , we assess we have enough fuel to go straight through and we have ample food and grape juice for the same, so we decide on a high-ball run. That lasts till Ardrossan when we need a toilet stop.

Anne walks ahead and goes in the Ladies. I near the Mens and are approached by a lady with a toilet roll in her hand. She asks, ‘Are you going into the mens?’ I confirms that was my intention. She says, ‘Can you give this to my husband. He is in there. He called me and said it was empty.’ I obviously agree. ‘His name?’ I ask. ‘Bruce.’ comes the reply.

I enter and call ‘Bruce?’ We make contact and I pass it under the door suggesting it would be worth about $20. All four of us have a chat outside after and for a chance meeting we cover many topics including their purchase of an old house boat to strip down, add a pontoon and rebuild two storey at Renmark.

Anyway, we will skip a coffee to high-ball it.

We make it to Tickera around 3pm. Greetings. Chats. Evening meal and conversation.

What is this? The most positive was one of those lymph cups where uoi heat it, put it on the skin and when the air in it cools, it lifts or cups the skin. Any better suggestions?

Chit chat. Good times.

Hosts Rober and Helen.

Advanced arrival guests Ann and Phillip. (Ann on the right)

The night progresses from the initil BBQ.

Good shot. I hope I took it.

No. I definitely do NOT want to go with the boys 7am to fish.

So, 7.30am I walked the 12 minutes to the water and joined in. The two experienced chaps hard at it.

This is me. That is to say the blue uneven mass at the bottom is my had which is on my head.

I remain consistent with three nibbles and no fish.

Robert comes out with a zero and Phillip is the winner with a crab and this monster fish he wrestled on to land, and returned to it’s mummy as soon as the photo was taken. Anyway it’s the sportsmanship that counts.

A civilized lunch seems a good thing. So we pack up and off to the shelter shed and benches overlooking the sea. Great spot. Perfect for over eating and drinking.

Interlopers.

Phillip and Ann must return to Adelaide and we remaining four settle for a very light after the monster bacon and eggs plus, plus, plus for breakfast and the ‘extensive’ lunch. A good night of chatting and laughing.

Next late morning we push off after farewells and waves. It was a good visit.

Now back to Kadina to gas up, new headlight and let an IT look at Anne’s iPad. N joy on the iPad. Cornish Pasties from this, the land of the Cornish settlers, then on, on but not far as we want to have a short and easy day. So Port Broughton at 3pm. Unhitched park so very good. Happy hour at 5pm and we make our pre-showered appearance at 5.30pm. BYO drinks, make payment and we find out what a pleasant little spot this is.

As apparently is the habit, one of the group puts on ‘eats’. CRABS! How about that! Anne’s forte.

A good bunch of people. Great host ‘Rus’ and good stories from fellow travelers. One gives evidence of an excellent pub via beer cooler.

Back to van. Pleasant night. Stay another day? Let’s move on as we are already a month behind schedule.

Cheers

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