Saturday 15 December 2012

HEADING SOUTHWARDS

We left the Gawler Ranges behind with their interesting rocks and desert landscapes and headed Southward.
The first sign of civilization was this -
We did our usual trick of finding the Tourist Information Centre so we could learn a bit about the town and surrounding area, but found our own interesting 'bits' on the way.  This was one place that could not be mistaken for anything else......
And this was another pretty nice peice of public artwork.
But for all these very interesting, colourful and creative man made structures - Mother Nature is constantly displaying very interesting peices......
And then there are just other 'things' that are just there!  Not pretty, or colourful, but you cannot say they are not creative, and they definitely catch the eye so make their message known......

although not sure what bicycles have to do with dog trials????
The terrain was getting greener and the crops were changing - we must be nearing Wine country....
The Clare Valley.

It was nice to book into a camp ground again for a 'normal' shower and a chance to catch up on washing and computer access....we even got 'adopted' by the camp's labrador Jaz!

Decided to check out one of the wineries nearby at Seven Hills....It is a Jesuit retreat and church as well as a winery with a really interesting history and some of the actual grape vines date back for many many years!
As you explore the property there are still the remains of the original monastry buildings


and also some of the old machinery....


and old people...................

oops sorry - that's Dave!!!

The craftsmanship in some of these old buildings is pretty special and when you entered this prayer chapel the temperature truly dropped about 10'.

Of course we could not leave without a visit inside - the winery itself.....wouldn't mind taking a few of these babies home with us...

As we wandered back to the car we passed through the wonderful smell of the lavender gardens ......now these are plants that you just have to 'brush' past to release the aroma......

and the views over the surrounding valley would make this place a pretty peaceful place for their retreat....


Onwards South to Kapunda where we found a monument to the original miners that came to the area from Cornwall, so I thought it only apt that the son of a Yorkshire Miner should stand alongside.  
They must have had different diets in Cornwall..........magic beans?

Not too far away we had to stop to check out this unusual tree...

We were just impressed its by it's uniqueness but were not prepared for it's history..

Incredible!!!
and there is still someone in there.....

oh it's just me!!! (ho ho)  But seriously, although its big, I can't imagine living in it for 5 years!!!
We continued to travel along some really lovely roads....


from here we decided to head for the water again and detoured towards the Murray....

A beautiful spot for a campsite, but as with all water you can never be too complacent.......it can get nasty here...note the flood level sign from 1956 ------pretty scary thought!!

But we settled in for a relaxing evening....

until we had some guests arrive......not sure if they were there for a feed or to clean the dishes.......don't think they were too concerned either way...

They weren't much help in the end, and all they did was make a mess. Plus Dave was not too impressed with them using his saucepan!!  So after a thorough scrubbing of pots and a good nights sleep it was on down the river....

and then across the river and Southwards towards the coast!!!!

It's a hard life but someone has to do it!!!!

Sunday 9 December 2012

COASTAL CLIFFS AND RANGES

We headed North from Coffin Bay along the coast- but could not resist a look back......

 The scenery all along the Western side of the Eyre Peninsula is pretty spectacular and we spent a lot of time checking out all the lookouts and anywhere else that looked interesting...

These Rock Channels were pretty cool


and Venus Bay was lovely and peaceful

The local wildlife  were patiently waiting and  hoping the fishermen had been successful....

It always surprises me when we come across these old historical sites out in the middle of nowhere
   


Imagine pulling up here back in the day - hitching up your horse and sitting down to a good old mutton stew......

Then later in the day, this sight was a bit different - but a nice way to pretty up a public loo

Another peice of public art appealed to me as well - not sure if the artist was stoned or just had a very unusual model !!!!


This next place was really good to see!  It's a local bakery ( baked the old fashioned way in the old ovens) but the big difference is that although they sell the bread - there is no shop - just a cupboard with the bread
in it and an honesty box for payment.  

We continue to find some very different places to camp.  Lots are free camps, but we also like to try the farm or bush camps.  This was one that was well publicised.

 We arrived and paid for our site and were then directed to 'follow the wagon wheels' - which we did for the next few kilometres until we found the campsite in amongst the trees.  It was definately quiet, all we could hear was the ocean (but could not see it) and the birds.  And the amenities were most definately RUSTIC 
to say the least.

This would be the cold shower!!!  With only 3 walls - guess that is so you can make a fast get away if a snake crawls out from under the duckboard.......

And this would be the toilet - housed in a water tank - at least it flushed, and there was a curtain at the door!!

As we left the coast and headed for the Gawler Ranges, we were told not to miss 'The Haystacks' - a rock formation, so we didn't!


Some of the rocks were pretty big..

But like everything - age is getting to some of them and the forces of nature, and they gradually shed their layers.....


But the thing that stood out for me were the amazing colours in the rocks!!!

We continued on into the Gawler Ranges and set up camp at a site that has become one of our favourite spots on the trip.  Not sure why, but it just had a good feeling about it.  Called Pildappa Rock.

This site didn't have a shower, but being self sufficient - we just set up our own - 12v shower pump, water in our waterbags left out in the sun to heat - and voila.......bush shower!!!
And ours had no walls at all!!!

As we were camped beside the rock - the only thing to do was to climb it!!!1

The view from the top was pretty good, and the craters that had formed in the top of the rock were really interesting


And even though I am a real chicken for heights, Dave shamed me into it and ----
I Climbed to the top!!!!
These 'free' camp sites often have an honesty box for you to show your appreciation in the form of cash to help maintain them for future use......a great system and a credit to those who established it.

We travelled across the Gawler Ranges,through the National Park, and the dust was so fine and infiltrated into the car and the camper, where we hadn't had an issue on the Birdsville Track.  


We felt almost alone travelling through this area as we hardly saw any other cars, just us and the wildlife...


and this strange sight we came across in the middle of the desert.........

And of course - you can't keep the boy out of the man - - - - 

When he finishes his mission of destruction I'll be back with more.............