Sunday 25 November 2012

EYRE PENINSULA

Finally out of the desert and down to the sea.


We meandered around the coast and found some lovely views....

This was a funny place to park a boat though - in Wyalla...


After travelling through here we  could totally  understand why they call this windy Wyalla.When it wasn't windy the flies nearly carried us away.  We couldn't work out what was worse so we decided to head inland to at lease escape some of the wind...

We found a great free camp at this old disused weir.  It was one of our favourites and credit goes to the Lions group that keep it looking this way


We had a few very relaxing days here with only the animals for company, but unfortunately there is always the housework to do....
This washing was all done in a 20L drum and shaken!!!   And then the bed had to have clean sheets!!!

And after all that work we were ready for a shower, but the only amenity provided here was a toilet.  What to do???  - Break out the shower tent!!!!

And we had to share all this with...

and

But they were pretty quiet camp mates!!!   
From here we went back to the coast to Tumby Bay.

We were told about a free camp nearby so off we headed to Lipson Cove.. and found a great spot on top of the cliff near some new friends that we had met at the weir, but didn't know they were headed the same way as us.


From here we watched  the moon come up....

and the sun the next morning....




Just Beautiful!!
It was then down to Pt Lincoln and across to our next campsite.....
and again we had to share the park with the locals....

 our early morning call was provided by this one and his mates


We really enjoyed Coffin Bay - a really lovely little corner of SA..




We were told about a great place to buy meat just out of town - direct from the source.  We didn't get there but we couldn't fail to notice the sign


Back in the camp our fellow campers kept us amused.

We even had our coat of arms wandering nearby....


But not everyone was happy to play......These two guys decided to shape up...

And we had ringside seats!!!


All too soon it was time to make tracks so we had to say goodby to these guys and continue our journey.....
This little guy almost looked sad to see us go .......


But we'll be back on here soon with some more of our travells......



Wednesday 14 November 2012

ON THE ROAD AGAIN - HIC!

Back again - I finally got Dave out of the pub - It really was hard to leave.......Not sure but I guess the owner of this must still be in there.......somewhere........
The wildlife in the Desert is amazing.  Didn't think there would be anything much in the way of animals but we are constantly suprised....Although there was no-one home here we have come across quite a few Wedge Tailed Eagles......

And again we had our fellow travellers competing for road space.....
wild......
and not so wild....

You cannot imagine that out here in this desolate place that there used to be towns.......the reminders are dotted around, but this was an interesting find..


Hard to imagine what it was like here all those years ago.. This was once a thriving township...

The signpost tells it all

It is such a shame to see them just crumbling .......a part of our history eroding away.......

But we have to get on......lots to do and we are still in the desert......but wait........what's this?


Water over the road.......and in the distance... Our first view of the Flinders Ranges

It is still pretty dry but there are signs of life  like the windmill.....

Soon we were entering the Flinders Ranges National Park, and waiting to see our first beautiful cool water in the river........unfortunately not a lot of rain has fallen here lately.....and this river bed is just a tad dry!

A bit disappointing but this looks a little more promising..

This little guy did not seem to mind either way....


And eventually......
Not a gushing torrent but at least it was wet!   You can really appreciate what a dry country it is travelling round like this......But again some beauty in the dust....


Sturt's Desert Pea - Such vibrant colours and I guess they must be pretty hardy to survive out here.
We had a little visitor at our next camp,  but I think these guys can survive anywhere.....

 I thought i had seen most of the road signs but this one was a new one to me......

Dave picked up on an ad on TV a few days later and it was to stop people creeping their speed up and up. It's probably old news to everyone else but we haven't been watching much TV this year!!
A more important item for us these days is where find some shade for lunch...

We were driving along at one spot when we came across these guys..........not sure what they were up to..

Scramble!  Men -  Scramble!!!

And we last saw them heading off into the distance....

And so are we....
Down to the sea....







Sunday 11 November 2012

BIG RED AND THE TRACK

We enjoyed a couple of days in Birdsville, checking out all the many sights...haha....The bakery had just closed down for the summer and reopens in April 2013! And we took the Grand Tour around the other half dozen buildings in town.....
The local garage was good for a laugh though...as well as a sign for "Mechanics wanted!  For an hour, A Week or Forever!!!  This sign also took my eye.

We also checked out the Birdsville Hotel (of course ) and were quite suprised to see amongst the miriad of hats left behind was one from an old friend....

The picture did cost us $1 donation to the RFDS but we were happy to pay up.  In fact there is a sign in the bar that all mobile phone usage in the bar is banned - anyone caught will be fined $1 for the RFDS - no exceptions.  While we were there the barmaid caught a few and as we left the RFDS was another $4 better offf.  A great idea I reckon.
Our next big mission was to head out to Big Red - A sandune out on the way to the Simpson Desert.  Dave had read about it and decided we needed to go check it out.  So off we headed.  And of course when we got there - another sign!

First we had to traverse Little Red....


.Looks pretty straight forward, but first had to wait for another car crossing from the other side.
Then it was along the sandy trail to Big Red.


Then it was up and up and up........


and this is what we were amazed to find when we got to the top!!!!

It was incredible......out here in the desert - to find a vast lake, full of birdlife...... so alive.  The water was pretty good as well.   Aparently it does not happen often so we were privileged to be able to have this experience.
All too soon it was time to head back over Big Red.

As we headed back to Birdsville, we passed the track heading off into the Simpson Desert.......maybe next time........

We were ready now to head down the Birdsville Track to South Australia and see what we could discover there.

Wasn't hard to find and can guess which way we are going---------pretty much straight ahead.................


Along the way the signs are pretty typical of the pace of life out here.  Nothing is for sure, and do details really make a difference.  For instance, why would you need the exact distance when you have this to indicate.......

Not that it matters a lot when it's closed until April 2013.............

Or better still this one............

But one thing that was definately apparent was the Desert!!!   And the vastness and lack of vegetation..
And for some reason the sky just seems just so much bigger out here!!!!!!!


No wait - - - -  I lie - - - - - there is life after all......

Or was it a mirage????  Better still was this - most welcome in the 42' heat.......


Ummmm   might just be a while...........