Port Broughton and Cowell

Port Broughton was our next port of call. I forgot to tighten a knob on the awning and the washer fell off on the road somewhere. We had to go to Port Pirie for the part and of course we found a couple of other things at the camping shop that we ‘had to have’. The camp kitchen was the place to meet. We had interesting nights sitting around ‘spinning yarns’ with Graham and Kerry from Unley in South Australia and Ray and Cherylle from Duncraig in Western Australia. We had to leave as the nights were getting later and later. Ray thought we may get told off for making too much noise after the curfew time. We hope to see them on the road sometime or knock on their door. Port Broughton has been put on our list to go back too. It was a great place to be even though the famous pier was closed for maintenance.

Sunset taken outside our caravan

Beemer being cute

Full moon

Having fun in the water

Low tide at Port Broughton

Beemer resting, Jane at work

Cowell is a slow little town this time of year. Our camp site was right on the end of the main street. The pub was on the corner. They had a pig on the spit cooking at the front of the Pub right on the footpath. We could smell it from a block away. The oysters were HUGE. I had trouble eating a dozen and they tasted great. The pier was quite long and Beemer had fun walking along and smelling all the new scents. Unfortunately all the fish were on holiday and even the professional fishermen were complaining.

Mount Gambier to the Barossa Valley

We found Mount Gambier interesting. The Sunken Garden and the Blue Lake were different. There are lots of limestone caves in the area including the middle of town. There is plenty to do including caving, walking and fishing.  On the way to Port Macdonald is an extinct volcano which you can walk right into. It looks spectacular from the Blue Lake lookout. We stayed for a couple of days longer than we first intended as the weather turned nasty and as we have plenty of time decided that we didn’t need to be on the road in bad weather. The camp kitchen with the fire pits was great. We had good times around the fire at night with Kym, Jenny, Michelle and Kel. We exchanged phone numbers when we left and hope to be able to catch up with them again ‘on the road somewhere’ 

Port McDonald south of Mt Gambier

Port McDonald

Port McDonald with Jane and Beemer and shags on a rock in the background

Sunken Garden Mt Gambier

Sunken Garden Mt Gambier

Beemer at the top of the sunken garden

The Blue Lake

Kingston was great although we did have a bit of wind when we first arrived.  We put up the annex for the first time and had to pull it down again because of the wind.  We drove down to Cape Jaffa one day and went on walks along the beach.  It was covered with seaweed and kelp. It wasn’t too bad although it did smell a bit one night.  I wouldn’t like to be there in the summer. We did hear a rumour that it got a bit smelly.

Larry the Lobster at Kingston SE

 The old Cape Jaffa light house

Murray Bridge was not very good.  The campsite was ordinary and we were about 3 kilometers from the river.  We decided to leave earlier and travel down to Victor Harbour. We arrived at Victor on Monday 18^th July. The campsite here is very good and a nice walk of about 1 ½ kilometers to the town along the beach. Mark has tried his hand at fishing again but the resident seals get first go. The locals have told us that the water is too cold for fish at the moment. We have had great weather here although today is a bit windy. It was supposed to get up to 20 today but you would have to get out of the wind. It has been so good here that we have stayed another week.

The ferry to Kangaroo Island. Kangaroo Island is in the background

Andrew and Emily

 Emily, Asha, Andrew and Jane. we went on a bush walk when we visited them in Adelaide

Beemer went too

The horsedrawn tram on the causeway at Victor Harbour to Granite Island

At Trevor and Charmane’s the weather was not too good. It rained most of the time and we thought we may have had trouble getting off their block. It was great to catch up with them and share a couple of bottles of good wine and food. You can’t go to the Barossa without eating and drinking quality. We did our usual and went to Nuriootpa to Linke’s Butchers for his smoked streaky bacon and German Sausage. Yum! We also found Ross Winery and got a dozen of nice red.

Trevor and Charmain's at Tanunda

The view from Mengler's Hill Lookout

The monument at Mengler's Hill

Old Vines at Bethany

On the road at last!

Sorting out our new caravan ready to take home

 We finally picked up our new caravan Monday 20th June 2011.  The weather was awful with high winds all the way from Geelong to Winchelsea. It took us 2 days to load it up ready to ‘hit the road’. We have much too much stuff and plan to unload at least half of it as we go on. I am sure we will work things out as we go.

Our caravan at Noni and Fox's packing

Our first camp was at Killarney Beach Caravan Park which is half way between Port Fairy and Warnambool. It was at a sports oval about 150 metres from the beach.  We had rain and wind on and off until Saturday. Saturday night it blew a gale at about 2am.  I was pleased that the van didn’t rock too much.  Sunday Mark went fishing off the rocks and Beemer and I walked along Killarney Beach.  

Mark is in the red top at Killarney Beach getting ready to fish

Killarney Beach looking towards Warnambool.  There was a lot of kelp on the beach.

Beemer on Killarney Beach looking towards Port Fairy

Killarney Beach looking towards Port Fairy.  We were about 7 klms away.

An old fisherman coming in from the sea. He caught a couple of gar fish. Yum!

Jane with her feet up!

The boys after a hard day at the beach, walking, fishing, driving.

Monday we are heading for Mount Gambier for a week or so then on to Adelaide to catch up with Andrew and Asha.  Then to Tanunda to see Trevor and Charmaine. We then plan to head towards Port Lincoln.

Still at the farm

The weather at the farm at Winchelsea has turned quite cold now. We woke the other day to a thick fog. I had trouble seeing the dam out our bedroom window. We were pleased we didn’t have to go anywhere. It took until lunch time to lift. We have a rain most days. Just a drizzle. I hope the tank is filling up a bit.

The front dam in the fog

An old gum tree in the dry creek bed

We are still having fun looking after the cows and calves and chooks on the farm. Beemer is getting fit chasing the rabbits. I am not sure what he would do if he caught one.

The bunny that got away

A toadstool under the acorn tree

The bull has been here about two weeks now. Daniel said it is gay as it has this squeaky moo when you get close to it. The cows have more of a bellow when they are calling you to feed them. They sound more like the bull than the bull.

The woosy bull

PA (Paul) and Robyn came down for a couple of days last week end.

Getting ready to fly

Up, Up and Wayyyyy

They did the helicopter ride over Geelong and we had a very long lunch in the restaurant on the pier. We also tried the Barwon Pub for tea. We were entertained by an elderly lady playing 50s music on an electric piano. It was interesting!

PA and Robyn on Cunningham Pier

A sailing ship that came into the Pier

Beemer after a hard day at the farm

a couple of wrens cleaning up