2012 Around Australia: Day 25 - 34 9th March

Hi all,

Sorry have not updated the blog for some time now but have been in areas where we have not had very good reception so it becomes rather annoying when it drops out whilst you are in the middle of writing and publishing. Lots has happened since I last wrote so read and enjoy.

Day 25 Friday 9^th March 2012

Today we decided to explore more around Beachport. I couldn’t get lazy bones out of bed again this morning. I normally lie in bed and play a couple of games of Sudoku in the mornings just to keep my brain active. Eventually his nibs decided to rise and shine and we head off to explore Beachport. As we were leaving the free camping site and got onto the dirt road which would lead to Beachport proper we decide to turn right instead and see where the road took us. Well we got to a point in the road where 4WD was allowed and needless to say Oscar wanted to take his baby off the beaten track. We walked the track for a little to see what it would be like and when we had satisfied ourselves that his little baby would do it without a care in the world off we went.

It was terrific even for me. I only panicked once, just when we started slipping on the ascent of a very soft hill. After this Oscar went for a swim in Silome Lake. It is apparently 7 times saltier than the sea. He thoroughly enjoyed his swim. We then took a few detours to walk along the beach climb rocks and just plain explore the area. I must admit Beachport is a lovely spot.

Stopped off at the local pub had the usual Beer Shandy and Beer and a Schnitzel. Back home to camp after a long day and Oscar found an Echidna. Came back to get me and I tickled its bum it wouldn’t come out of hiding only showed the well rounded end of him/herself. We have watched TV twice since this trip started, don’t know what made me think of that just now but haven’t really missed it at all.

Oscar Taking Pictures of his Baby on the 4WD Track

A view of the track ahead

The hill we came down

Spunk posing in the middle of Silome Lake

Swimming back after a good float on the Lake

What the beach looks like at Beachport

"Planking" oh sorry taking photographs

The Echidna's backside - that was all the look in I got

Day 26 Saturday 10^th March 2012

We woke at 6:30am and got ourselves packed up and ready to leave our home for the next destination. We were headed to the Coorang National Park which is the northern region of the Limestone Coast. We stopped off at Kingston S.E. which is an RV friendly town, meaning it has dump facilities for our toilet. After cleaning the toilet and filling our water tanks to capacity and our additional 20 litre and filling up with diesel and fuel for the generator we were on our way.

We stopped at our first campsite in Coorang National Park and were very disappointed. The toilet facilities were a long way off from the campsites. Now I know we have our own toilet facilities but we use these sparingly, so we always attempt to get close to facilities. We decided to investigate the second campsite not too far away. This was even more disappointing. I could see Oscar was starting to get stressed out. We continued on towards Narrung. They have a Jetty Campground there. Well we arrive approx. 3:00pm and setup camp.

The campsite is lovely it is on the Banks of Lake Alexandria on the left and Lake Albert on the right. The only problem with this campsite is that until now we have been pretty damn spoilt as we have had most of the campsites to ourselves or have had sites where you are pretty much not on top of your neighbours. Here we are breathing down each other’s necks. The toilets however are a bonus as they are flush loos.

After setting up we decided to take a ride to the closest town to stock up with food. We went into Narrung but besides about 5 buildings there is nothing so we made a u-wee and headed towards Tailem Bend which was 48km’s away. As we rounded the corner the road disappeared and was replaced with a ferry. Bonus!!! And it is free. There are lots of Pelicans around. The lake is huge I would say from where I am standing as big as Port Phillip Bay if not bigger. We headed for Tailem Bend and this town is surprising as well, we were expecting something bigger, don’t know why, it is small. Oh and change your ideas about RSL’s. RSL’s in Victoria, no matter how small the town, are impressive. Here they are the size of shell holes and closed on Saturday nights. Did our shop at Foodland and stopped off at the local pub for the usual. Had a subway for dinner and headed back to the camp site. Tucking in early tonight it is cold at the water’s edge.

Coorong National Park

Crossing with the Ferry which is "Free"

Evidence of who kidnapped Houdini

It seems this trip has a theme with Houdini and Trains Johnnie

As you can see he is still very happy

I am loving Pelicans so many pictures to choose from

Day 27 Sunday 11^th March 2012

Didn’t rush out of bed today we had plans to go to the Barrages at Pelican Point, which was not too far away from camp. We drove through Narrung and then proceeded along the dirt roads until we arrived at Pelican Point. Got out of the car and proceeded towards the gate which looked locked from the car. There was a sign on the gate to advise that there was no entry. Well blow me down if my friend Oscar doesn’t decide to disobey the order and jump the fence anyway.

Nervous as all buggery I follow suite. I keep a close look over my shoulder to see if anybody is following us down the road. We go on for a while and finally reach the Barrage. There are Pelicans, Black swans and other birds and another surprise awaits us. Seals!!!! Three large seals are beached on the bank and one is doing water aerobics’. I am ever so cautious as somewhere I had read that a seal had attached somebody. But these seals are not moving an inch. It was only until a little later we realised that because the barrage was open and the fish from the fresh water were spilling out into the Coorong that the seals had such full bellies they were just too full to want to pick a fight with anybody.

We were so busy with the birds and the seals that we did not realise that a group of people had come towards us and were practically on top of us by the time I looked up and as normal first instinct was panic. Now we were in trouble. Oscar, cool as a cucumber, says” what’s the worst that can happen to us. They can ask us to leave but that is that”. So we wait until they reach us only to find out that the bloke leading the group is from a local farm and he is just taking a group of visitors to see the barrages.

Well we walked the 3660metres across the Lake Alexandria and enjoyed photographing the birds and just enjoying the experience that was so unique. Until that moment I didn’t even know that Barrages existed.

After we left Pelican Point we went into Meningie, had a burger for lunch, found a place to fill up with water at the sports oval and headed back to camp.

When we got back to camp we decided to do a spell of fishing. Well I caught the biggest Carp I had seen in my life. Couldn’t get the thing out or the water it was too heavy for my hook. Oscar tried to pull it in but it finally straightened the hook enough to escape. That was terrific. I baited up again, by this time a cormorant bird had arrived and made friends with me. It was really so docile not at all scared. Later Oscar pulled in a decent size Carp and we called it a day. Its not about the type of fish it is more the fact that we managed to catch fish and they were decent catches.

Happy as can be we settled in for the night with a light dinner.

More Pelicans - bear with me

How satisfied can you be

Evidence - Crossing the Barrages Illegally

It is 3660 Metres in length

We did Fish

Really - Not just a pose

Day 28 Monday 12^th March 2012

Today was going to be a very lazy quiet day around Narrung camp. Oscar washed his beloved baby and I decided to make a roast for dinner. This time we were having roast beef, roast potatoes and roast veggies with a side of salad. I lay in the sun for a while. We spoke to the guys next door to us who were “Family”.

After we had our late lunch/early dinner, we decided to try our hand at fishing again. Well not much luck however; I did manage to catch a little redfin. My friend the Cormorant had pitched up again and come and sat close to me. As I was reeling in my catch and he saw that the size of the catch was just perfect for him he jumped off the jetty into the water and onto the fish as quick as can be. Quick thinking Oscar warned me that he would swallow the hook if I did not pull the fish up and away as hard and fast as I could. I felt like a bit of a heel, but I manage to get the fish away from him and got it off the hook. I gave the Cormorant the fish which he swallowed whole.

Oscar washing his baby

Roast Veggies

Roast Beef - all wrapped up

Our Home

The neighbours - from the Family

Picture Perfect

The jetty in the background from which the fishing was done

Forever swimming in the lakes, rivers, dams - wish I was more like that

Went back to camp and noticed a new van had pulled up. An auto-electrician named Luke and his wife Kathy a hairdresser. Well the universe was talking to us again. Oscar needed the auto electrician as the auxiliary battery was playing up and not charging properly and he was stressing as he couldn’t keep the Waeco cool. I on the other hand need the hairdresser badly as my hair which was now well and truly dead was getting closer to the “Greatest Shave”. Luke discovered Oscar’s problem was a dead fuse and replaced it for him and Kathy cut 3 inches off my hair, which now was slightly more liveable.

We went for a walk along the jetty later that evening and met Ray. Ray was working in an Aboriginal settlement called Raukkan just past Narrung and told us that before we left we should visit Raukkan and see the church which appears on our $50 note. He then proceeded to give us two flounder for dinner the following night.

We left Ray at the Jetty, chatting to the French kids that had arrived a short while earlier, and went to bed. We needed to rise early the following morning as we were headed off to Fleurieu Peninsula. We had to start out early as we were not sure about which camp site we were going to settle for out of three and needed to see them all before settling in for the night.

Day 29 Tuesday 13^th March 2012

Well we were up and out early this morning. We caught the ferry across the lake at Narrung and then headed for Wellington where we were ccaught the ferry across to the Fleurieu Peninsula. I am loving all this ferry hopping and it’s free, what a civilised state, South Australia, when things are run by the state. We found our way across the Peninsula to the Western side and the first campgrounds were non-existent, but the second lot at Rapid bay were right in the beach. The only thing about this site was there was no real privacy. We were going to be camped right on top of the other campers as we were pretty much at Narrung.

We decided to head for Deep Creek – Trig Campgrounds we could always come back to Rapid Bay they were not far apart. We arrived at Deep Creek and found the Campground much like the other nature reserves which were private and peaceful. This suited us and we picked a camp site. I got out of the car to see if I could direct Oscar into the site. I couldn’t get into the side as there were too many shrubs and I was ever conscious of the possibility of snakes when the next thing I heard was a crash. I looked up and saw that Oscar had connected a tree. I shouted at him but he didn’t hear me and went on a bit. This time I yelled and he heard. He stopped and we both realised that we had ripped the awning off.

We couldn’t go further the only thing we could do was unhitch the van and move it manually. We did this and eventually we could hitch the van again and get the car to move her to almost the place we wanted but it was a tight squeeze and again we had to unhitch her and move her manually. We took off the handbrake and the van ran away. Oscar was on the other side and I was panicked. He managed to get the handbrake back up and I asked him to come over to my side as I could just imagine him getting his legs hurt. He did as I asked against his better judgement and we tried again.

Again the van ran away and this time Oscar couldn’t quite get the handbrake up quick enough and I panicked and decided to stop the van with my foot. So I stuck it under the jockey wheel and needless to say it didn’t stop the van, it just ran over my foot. By which time Oscar had got the handbrake back up. I let go and walked away from the van. Oscar saw me limp but couldn’t see my foot. I hopped around for a while him wondering what the hell had gone down, me dying for a cigarette. Yes that was the first thing I needed for a second and when that passed I needed a stiff drink. When he finally worked it out he wanted to help and all I wanted to do was just get over the pain on my own. Oh I hadn’t blued. Clinton I did it again I only blue for the little things not the big things. That was my next thought it was you. And then I cried and laughed.

Stuck Ice on the foot sorted out our home and settled in for the night.

Check your $50 note for this church - Ruakkan

Ferry across from Wellington

Finally Settled in Deep "SH.." Creek

Damage

Ditto

Day 30 Wednesday 14^th March 2012

Slept reasonably well last night all things considered. We both knew we had a few things to get sorted out during the following couple of days. First on the list was going through to Victor Harbor where we would be able to make contact with the insurance company and lodge a claim for the damage to the van. I left all the important things to Oscar, liking making contact with the insurance company and the repairs company. All in all this procedure seems to have gone rather smoothly and everybody seems to have been rather helpful, for instance; the first company we contacted was the Jayco Dealer in Adelaide who advised they couldn’t do any repairs for us until the end of May. However they did know of somebody that could help us urgently and gave us Slade Mobile Caravan Services as a contact. Brad was marvellous. We sent him the photos that Oscar took of the damage and he managed to give us a quote and also to get the information to the insurance for their assessment purposes.

With all of that behind us, we went and did a laundry run, grocery shop and water refill. We then went home to our camp and wounded van. There was a mum and bubs kangaroo in our area that did not seem to mind us too much. Didn’t come too close but also did not run away. Had a light dinner and early to bed.

We didn't take any pictures today so just sharing some from previous days.

This is a Cormorant - my little friend didn't have a white head though and he had the most beautiful green eyes.

Oscar informs me this is a Humpy....Humpy, House and Tin Shed

Day 31 Thursday 15^th March 2012

Well neither Oscar nor I slept very well last night. I think we both had a lot on our minds and it was an extremely warm evening. Oscar had a few problems with his ears and also worrying about how we were going to get the van out of the camp we were in. Early hours of the morning Oscar work up to an ear that was annoying him no end. I woke up when he did and he went out to the car just to keep himself busy with some things not many of which were of any significance or importance but more to keep himself from lying in bed worrying. He called out to me and I went out to see mum and bubs. Bubs was having a feed. It was a truly precious moment and they had no problem sharing this with us. We went back to sleep after having decided to go to Goolwa the following day. There was nothing more we could do. We can lie awake and worry about something we clearly do not have any control over or we can just enjoy the time we have and deal with the issue when it finally arises.

Well we went to Goolwa and then off to Hindmarsh Island. Found a brewery that made Oscar Ale. We also boarded the Oscar W which is a steam paddleboat which does the Murray River. We had lunch in Goolwa. We bought ourselves an Opera House Yabby net. If nothing else we were going to do the things that we wanted to learn the Australian way regardless of everything else.

Back we went to Victor Harbor and finalised a few things with the insurance company and Brad. We had booked the van in for Friday. We also decided there and then that we were going to go back to camp and get the van out so we could deal with whatever we had to deal with in the day rather than in the early hours of the morning when we were already under pressure to get to Brad to have the awning repaired.

So back to camp we went and the big move was on. We packed up the house as normal, backed the car up to the van, hitched and stabilised the van to the vehicle and it was time to get her out of the camp. Oscar got in the car it was my place as normal to ensure that he got out of there without a hitch. Well this time it worked. I was sick by the time he finally pulled out of there and we were home free. We parked the van in an open area which was not a designated camp site but at that point I don’t think either of us actually gave a damn about being correct. We were just damned relieved that we were home free.

Cape Barron Geese on Hindmarsh Island

More Pelicans on Hindmarsh Island

The Paddle Streamer "Oscar W"

Onboard "Oscar W"

The Bridge crossing over from Goolwa to Hindmarsh Island

The Beer named after Oscar....."Oscar W" that is.

Well can you spot him - Houdini attended school in Victor Harbor. Not only have a good time but getting educated as well.

Statue of a Whales Tail at Victor Harbor.

Day 32 Friday 16^th March 2012

We were up really early this morning had an appointment with a van doctor. We left Deep Creek and travelled through to Lonsdale south of Adelaide without any problems. We arrive in time, and just as Brad was pulling up to his workshop. We unhitched the van and got directions from Brad so we could find a doctor for Oscar, for his ear, which was now really annoying him.

Went to the medical centre but they could not see him so we decided on going to the local hospital. They were really good and saw him within 45 minutes. They removed some more gunk from his ear and put a plug in. We left there and went for a walk along Christie’s beach. I have not been to a beach in quite some time that had as many skimming stones as this beach. We spent the next hour or so skimming stones on the water and just walking on the beach and enjoying the tranquillity before we headed back to Brad’s to pick up the van. It was a pleasant interlude to a rather stressful last three days.

Finally at 3:00pm we were at Brad’s to collect our van. She was repaired and looked better than she has looked since we got her. It is at this point that I told Oscar that I was really not happy when we opened the awning for the first time and realised that it was in the most shocking condition, something that had not been disclosed to us and something that did not make me very happy. I felt really ripped off but did not say a word until just then. I revealed to him that I thought that once again the universe was in alignment with us. The awning had to go and even if it was a very stressful experience it went and now we have a brand new awning. I can’t wait to use it for the first time, it will be a week or so yet.

We left Brads and went off to Mawson Lakes to meet up with Mark and Kathy who I had met on the Cruise last year. I hadn’t seen them in a year but knew I would recognise them anywhere. We arrived in Mawson Lakes about an hour earlier than we had arranged to meet them so we decided to stop off at the pub have a drink and then go over to their place. As we were parking I happened to look up and saw a woman in a car pull out of the parking I took the number plate. As we got out I said to Oscar remember the number plate I am sure I just saw Kath. We went into the pub, ordered a round and were just about to sit down when I heard a voice say “Hello Stranger”. I looked up and there was Kath. She had also recognised me as when was pulling out and decided to come back.

We dropped the van off at Kath’s daughter Kates and went to Kath and Marks. We spent the night there.

Christies Beach

Skimming Pebbles

Day 33 Saturday 17^th March 2012 St Paddy’s Day.

Woke up relaxed all the stress of the last days had been wash away. Kath and Mark offered to take us to Hahndorf, one of the first German settlements in South Australia. What a quaint village, worth a look. We spent the time browsing all the stores, another Oscar store. I am starting to think that the South Australian’s have a thing about Oscar’s.

After this we drove through the Barossa Valley and stopped off at number of wineries and sampled their wares. Returned home had an early night. Oh wanted to go Rock and Roll dancing tonight. Found a spot at the Windsor Hotel but Oscar was not up to it, what with all his ear problems. Will have to dance when we return from Kangaroo Island.

If you could pull her out of the ground she was yours to take home.

Autumn colours - we are moving into the cooler months

Yes....and what does that mean

Mark and Kathy - Our wonderful Hosts and don't tell Mark I said that

Hahndorf

Well what can I say...

In the Leather Goods Store in Hahndorf....Be wary fo those Germans

Mortal Friends sharing a bench.

Day 34 Sunday 18^th March 2010

Well today was another of those home maintenance days. I finally got around to stitching the netting that we purchased, sometime ago whilst in Nhill, onto the flyscreen of my bedroom. Also noticed when we packed up home the last time we moved, that the external flyscreen on Oscar’s bedroom was showing signs of needing some stitching. Needless to say it was hard going as you are stitching through canvas and with a thick needle. Only jabbed myself twice, once in the index finger and once in the ring finger. Not too much blueing but it was damn sore.

Oscar in the meantime had gone off to the hospital again to try and get his ear sorted out for the fourth time. They are still no closer to a solution and it is definitely giving him the irrits. I really feel for him and also feel pretty damn useless as there is nothing I can do to help except put drops in four times a day.

He came back to Kates (Kathy and Marks pride and joy) not very happy and started cleaning out the car and packing it ready for our trip to Kangaroo Island. We are going tenting at Kangaroo Island. I don’t think Oscar is very keen on the idea, but I am looking forward to it. We have decided not to take the van to Kangaroo Island as it is way too expensive.

We finished all our chores at 3:30 this arvo and headed back to Kath and Marks. I Skype’d my babies today. I spoke to Chase, saw Troy whilst he was asleep and spoke to Callan. The kids are all good.

Went out to dinner at Mark’s local pub and the food was really good. Mark and Kath have been so very good to us. Not sure how I will repay their generous hospitality. Mark keeps taking the piss out of my accent but what the hell, Oscar is learning from him.

Well I am finally up to date again. Sorry for the delay. We will probably not be writing again until we return from Kangaroo Island on Thursday or Friday.