16^th February - Day 13

We got on our way early this morning, once again to the old bloke swimming and singing, he changed it up a bit this morning, he sang, ‘How do I love thee ..’

We drove through Port Augusta and are now in Whyalla, it is so windy! I went for a walk to the beach before, I must have gone out at least 250metres, and I was still just ankle deep – tide is huge!

This is also an industrial city, but nicer than Port Pirie. There is a huge steel works here; we are going to do a tour of it tomorrow.

We had a look around today, Photos. Just not do some of the views justice, even though it is industrial, some views are breathtaking!

We had a look at sculpture of ‘The Loaded Dog’ which is based on Henry Lawson’s bush tale, about a mischievous retriever who made off with a stick of explosive and dragged the fuse through the campfire, lighting it and creating mayhem in the chase that followed. It is made of steel, so it’s location in Whyalla is apt.
                                                                  Whyalla Marina

                                                               Whyalla Foreshore

                                               The Loaded Dog, Mischa or Taj

15^th February – Day 12

It was very hot all night last night, got a slight breeze around 4am.  The local shift workers came home to their cabins about 3 and  didn’t go quiet until about 5am – finally some sleep, but then, we were woken by an old bloke  swimming down the river singing at the top of his voice – “Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day.........” – gotta laugh!

We went for a drive into the Southern Flinders Rangers today. We walked to Telowie Gorge and back, then drove through the Rangers – so rugged looking!

We have decided to make an early night of it, and get on the road early tomorrow; we’re both a bit tired due to lack of sleep and heat last night. We’re thinking we may just spend 2 nights in Whyalla instead of the planned 3, depends on how we feel when we get there. Spending 2 days in Port Pirie is enough industrial for the time being.

Carl spoke with Andrea, who is looking after our cat. Apparently Jetson is very comfortable! Ella loves him, as soon as she gets out of the car, she calls for him, and has been telling people, ‘this is Jetson, he is my cat for a while’ – thank you so much Andrea & Darren, really appreciate it!

We are headed for Whyalla tomorrow.

Until tomorrow! Xx
                                             Telowie Gorge Southern Flinders Ranges

                                                                           As Above

                                 The ONLY sighting of The RARE Yellow Footed Rock Wallaby

                                                                   An Angry Local

14^th February – Day 11

This morning we packed up headed on to Port Pirie.

You certainly meet some ‘different’ people along the way!! There was a couple in a van next to us, who told us that they normally travel with old people – they would have been in their 70’s, don’t know how old he thinks old is? He also started packing up at lunch time the day before, we had packed up and gone the next morning and he was backing the van for about the 10^th time, he’d told Carl he was great at it now, he didn’t need his wife’s help anymore – would hate to see how long it took him when he wasn’t good at it!

Port  Pirie is very hot. We are in a park overlooking the river. One thing that we’ve noticed along our way is that there are a lot workers living in the van parks.

This is a real industrial town, has a lead smelter works and silos for the wheat and grain. We couldn’t get over the difference in the height of the river, it’s tidal and looks like it could be close to a 3 metre tide.

We didn’t do much today, the weather was just too hot.
                                                  Low Tide at port Pirie

                                            Sunset Port Pirie

13^th February – Day 10

We woke up to the most glorious day today, and we’re going to make it a lazy one and make the most of it!

Had a very lazy start, went into Moonta, had a look around and I had a Cornish Pastie.  The history of Moonta is that it was a copper mining town and most of the miners came here from Cornwell – hence a very Cornish history to go with it!

We had lunch, did the museum, and then went back to beach – oh what a beach!!

Tried to catch some swimmer crabs, but they didn’t co-operate tonight. Carl has gone down to hopefully catch me a squid or two! They also didn’t co-operate.

Tomorrow we are moving on to Port Pirie for 2 nights

Until tomorrow! Xx
                                         So far Our Favourite Beach, especially good for Grandchildren lol!

12^th February – Day 9

We packed up and left Marion Bay today and headed for Port Hughes, which we had been told was beautiful. A huge van park, with the beach just over the dunes via a short board walk.

What a beach!!! Miles and miles of sand – gorgeous!  Of course, there is the usual long jetty that all these coastal towns seem to have. They are all so very high as well. Carl informs me that it is due to the huge tide changes that both the Gulf St Vincent and Spencer Gulf experience.

I had been told that the Blue Swimmers were on the go – so off we went, crab net in hand.

You are now talking to an expert!!!!  In no time at all, I had one in the net and within less than an hour I had caught 3, but only one keeper.

                                                         The Hunter & Gatherer!

I have to tell you, this crab catching, cooking and eating is not for the starving! All that work, not just the catching, but the eating as well, for very little return! Just as well it was only entree!

Carl went down a little later to go fishing for squid, but the wind was really bad again, so he came home and we made an early night of it – we needed it, been quite busy, with lots of driving.