3 Mar 11 Picked up the van from Jayco after having
the fridge (gas), HWS (gas) and stove burner(gas) looked at. Of course the fridge worked perfectly for
them, stove just needed a clean and HWS
still not fixed properly, but can be used Ok.
Headed through Port Wakefield,
Kulpara to Arthurton for an overnight stop. Good free camp behind one of the churches. Nothing to see or do, just an overnight stop.
4
Mar 11 Moved on through Maitland
and Ardrossan, had to stop for a pie.
Refuelled and headed for Black Point Camping Area;
good spot but pretty full so we decided to check out the cheap camping area at
Pt Julia. Not bad, very cheap, but no
water or power and some distance from the beach. Decided to keep going to Port Vincent;
finished up with a large site right on the beach front. Decided to stay for a
couple of days.
5 Mar
11 Short trip to Minlaton to check
out a chocolate shop; a bit expensive so we only bought a few bits (had to
after travelling all that way). Had a quick look at Capt Harry Butler's plane.
Checked out a car boot sale at the local school;
didn’t buy anything so the money we saved we were able to put towards a pie and
pasty at the local bakery. The car seems
to have a built in radar system that always leads us to a bakery; no point in
getting it fixed!!!!! Came back via
Stansbury for a look.
6 Mar
11 Set off for Marion Bay via the
Military Museum at Bublacowie. The
museum is based around the old school that has now become the owner’s
home. Over the last 10 years or so other
buildings have been erected to house the vast collection of both military and
civilian artefacts. The quantity and
array of military bits and pieces is simply brilliant. Apparently the whole complex is valued at $2
million. We were there for about an hour
and a half. Well worth a visit.
Checked out a car boot sale at the local school;
didn’t buy anything so the money we saved we were able to put towards a pie and
pasty at the local bakery. The car seems
to have a built in radar system that always leads us to a bakery; no point in
getting it fixed!!!!! Came back via
Stansbury for a look.
6 Mar
11 Set off for Marion Bay via the
Military Museum at Bublacowie. The
museum is based around the old school that has now become the owner’s
home. Over the last 10 years or so other
buildings have been erected to house the vast collection of both military and
civilian artefacts. The quantity and
array of military bits and pieces is simply brilliant. Apparently the whole complex is valued at $2
million. We were there for about an hour
and a half. Well worth a visit.
7 Mar
11 Travelled from Marion Bay to Pt
Turton via Corny Point. We had planned
to stay at Corny Point and while the park looked Ok but it was some distance
from the beach and it was still only mid morning. Pt Turton was right on the beach, managed a
large site so that we didn’t have to un hook.
8 Mar
11 Today’s plan was to go as far as
Minlaton and position ourselves for a run to Maitland on Wednesday morning for
their annual show. Rained most of the
day so wandering around Minlaton was a no-go.
Decided to move on and make it up as we went. After further research found a free camp in
Maitland opposite the hospital and next to the oval. If the weather is ok for the show we’ll stay,
if not, we’ll move on.
9 Mar
11 Fine day, stayed for the show,
interesting enough, but they don’t have the same feel about them as they did
when we were kids. Managed to get diesel
for $1.35 instead of $1.479 or $1.499.
Moved on to “Cosy Dell” for a couple of days. Fridge would not work on gas AGAIN; we may
have to fine tune where we stay now for the rest of the trip. A couple of calls to Jayco/Dometic revealed
that cutting the 12 volt to the fridge and starting it again will reset the gas
failure light - “problem solvered”.
13 Mar
11 Set off through Bute, Port
Broughton and Ports Pirie and Augusta for Kimba. Heavy rain for part of the way, but apart
from that an uneventful trip except for
the stretch from just outside Pt Augusta to Kimba which never seemed to
end. Stopped for lunch at the Port
Augusta foreshore; well set out and rather pleasant. Overnight in the freecamp area in Kimba;
another neat set up. Surprised when we
heard a train heading our way; turns out
that grain trains still run on Eyre Peninsula on narrow gauge track, now
operated by Genesee and Wyoming Aust Pty Ltd who with others, have invested
millions in refurbishing the rail infrastructure.
14
Mar 11 Another longish stint to
Ceduna; not much to look at, but a bit more variety than the stretch from Pt
Augusta to Kimba. Stopped to look at the
granite monument to farming in Wudinna; Quite impressive. Checked out a couple of cheap/free camp spots
along the way that we may be able to use on later trips. Checked out the parks in Ceduna and finally
booked into the Airport CP on the outskirts of town; not as flash but a lot less crowded.
16
Mar 11 Headed off for Streaky Bay
after refuelling at $148.90. Not much
variety in scenery, seemed to go on and on.
Caravan Park was full, not many other options so rang ahead and booked
into Elliston, no problems, drive through site, stayed hooked up. Between
Streaky and Elliston we detoured to view Murphy’s Haystacks; not really
haystacks at all, but dirty great big pink granite boulders. Quite impressive including the panoramic view
of the countryside, well worth the gold coin donation. The local hall has had
murals painted on most of the outside walls, again quite impressive.
17
Mar 11 Refuelled at $1.63 per lt
(dearest so far) and moved on to Port Lincoln to stay for 3 nights. Better driving conditions, more variety in
the surroundings, not so many long straight stretches of road. The caravan park is the dearest we’ve
encountered so far at $33.00 per night, less our membership card discount of
10%. We’re in the newly renovated part with concreted drive though sites; guess
we’re paying for the reno’s.
18 and 19 Mar 11 Checked out the
city and its’ sights; had a lengthy walk along the coastline, into town and
back again. Drove to Coffin Bay for a
look; quiet little place. The caravan
park looked as though it had plenty of space had we chose to stay there.
21
Mar 11 More rain overnight. Refuelled and headed for Morgan with the rain
easing as we got closer to Morgan. More
open spaces with not a lot to see other than other RV’s, although not as many
as on the Pt Lincoln to Pt Augusta stretch.
Checked into the caravan park; only a handful of others there, plenty of
space, stayed hooked up – bonus. Checked
out the local museum, walked around a bit and settled in for the night; nice and peaceful, only occasionally heard
the ferry coming and going.
15
Mar 11 Toured Ceduna and Thevenard; didn’t take
long. Checked out the grain, salt and
gypsum terminal at Thevenard.
16
Mar 11 Headed off for Streaky Bay
after refuelling at $148.90. Not much
variety in scenery, seemed to go on and on.
Caravan Park was full, not many other options so rang ahead and booked
into Elliston, no problems, drive through site, stayed hooked up. Between
Streaky and Elliston we detoured to view Murphy’s Haystacks; not really
haystacks at all, but dirty great big pink granite boulders. Quite impressive including the panoramic view
of the countryside, well worth the gold coin donation. The local hall has had
murals painted on most of the outside walls, again quite impressive.
17
Mar 11 Refuelled at $1.63 per lt
(dearest so far) and moved on to Port Lincoln to stay for 3 nights. Better driving conditions, more variety in
the surroundings, not so many long straight stretches of road. The caravan park is the dearest we’ve
encountered so far at $33.00 per night, less our membership card discount of
10%. We’re in the newly renovated part with concreted drive though sites; guess
we’re paying for the reno’s.
20
Mar 11 Today’s plan was to refuel
and visit a couple of museums on our way to a cheap camp at Pt Gibbon. However, it rained all day which made the
gravel roads a bit dicey, as well it may have made Pt Gibbon a bit suspect
also. So – change of plans; head for
Laura for an overnight stop and then onto Morgan on Monday. Apparently Laura had 2 inches of rain today,
causing minor flooding in the caravan park for a while.
22
Mar 11 Refuelled and set sail for
Milang, topped up again in Murray Bridge. Showers on and off for most of the
way. Drive through site at Milang;
stayed hooked up, so much easier, plenty of space. Corellas serenaded us when we arrived, took a
break after some considerable time, then all manner of other birdlife took over
well into the night. But they returned
at day break and went through their song list AGAIN. We were going to have a sleep in – didn’t
happen.
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