Driving through SA.......

We said goodbye to Port Augusta the next morning after another windy night beside the Spencer Gulf.  We are just about over the wind now and hope by heading inland for the rest of our trip we will see the end of it.

We turned off the Eyre Highway soon after, taking the Horrocks Pass Rd which took us right through The Flinders Ranges.  A really great drive as we made our way to Orroroo, Peterborough and Burra where we stopped to make lunch.

As we were approaching Burra I remembered that the little house from Midnight Oils Diesel and Dust Album cover should be around here somewhere.  I googled it and we discovered that we had actually passed it last year and hadn't known.  This time we stopped and took photos and here it is.  On private property we had to be happy with our shot from the road!

After lunch we passed through the little town of Hallett and I loved the quirky sculpture commemorating Australia's Centenary of Federation in 2001.

Then it was time to find our home for the night.  Bill was taking me back to Worlds End where we found the Burra Creek Gorge.  We had found this lovely camp spot a few years ago as we drove back to Adelaide after a day in The Clare Valley but tonight we were going to stay.

We chose a spot and set up and spent the next few hours enjoying the glorious sunny afternoon.  There were parrots, cockatoos and rainbow bee eaters to keep Bill happy as well.  And no wind, sheer bliss!

Leaving early the next day we continued on to Eudunda.  We had passed through here before late one night so today we stopped for a look in the daytime.  Known as the birthplace of author Colin Thiele who wrote Sun on the Stubble and Storm Boy we found a really lovely town with a central garden that is their pride and joy.

Centenary Gardens are completely looked after by volunteers and the beautiful garden is a delight to spend a few hours in. The gardens also contain stone walls and tiled art featuring the story of a Century of Transport.  

It was hard to drag ourselves away from here but we did and continued our drive through SA as we made our way to Mannum where we crossed the Murray River and spent the night at Bolto Reserve.  Another glorious campground on the banks of the river.  Gee this life is hard to take!

Still making our way through SA the next morning we drove on to Meningie, a tiny town on the south east side of Lake Albert.   We stopped here and had a look at the tiny town and took a walk along the foreshore.  

The Ostrich sculpture here is a little bemusing until you read the storyboard which tells us the story of John Francis Peggotty who became know as The Birdman of the Coorong.  An Irish petty thief who sailed to Australia in 1890 and continued his lucrative trade on the back of an Ostrich - one of the many set free after the market for fashionable ostrich feathers ceased - who knew!

From here we made our way around to Narrung, another small settlement. It is situated at the northern end of the Narrung Peninsula which separates The Coorong from Lake Albert adjacent to The Narrows which separates Lake Albert from the larger Lake Alexandrina. We had our lunch here in a fabulous camp site but didn't stay as we were making our way a little further along the Coorong.

Back on the main road we drove on beside The Coorong stopping for the night at the 42 Mile Crossing campsite.  Unfortunately as we arrived so did the wind and we spent a very blustery night inside.

Still windy the next morning we ate and left continuing on to Kingston S.E.   We stopped for a look here, a cup of coffee and a walk.  As we left we passed the Historic Cape Jaffa Lighthouse which had been built at Margaret Brock Reef between 1868-1872.  It was relocated to its present spot here in 1975 and is now a tourist attraction.

Back in the car and making our way to Naracoorte we did some shopping before driving on to cross the border back into Victoria a few kms on.  We stopped for lunch a little later at Apsley where we ate under the shade of the Biggest Flowering Gum in the Southern Hemisphere.  A very large Red Flowering Gum grows here and in full flower just looked magnificent.

Soon after we were back on the road and continued to cross Victoria as we made our way to Teddington Reservior in Kara Kara National Park.  Arriving about 5.00 pm we set up camp for the night and were soon settled down for a quiet night in.  It had been a long day.

Straight after breakfast the next day we were on our way again this time heading to Chiltern.  We spent three days looking at a number of properties for sale before relocating to Euroa and doing it all again.  Lunch in Wodonga at this lovely park was a pleasant interlude in a busy week.

We left Euroa on Friday and headed for home making it 9 weeks since we had left.  We had driven over 13,000 kms, seen so many new and wonderful places and spent some lovely times with family and friends in Perth.  All in all a truly wonderful trip and a fabulous start to our 'Grey Nomad' lifestyle.  And to cap it all off we had found a house in Euroa to call home for the next stage of our life.  Fingers crossed they accept our offer!  

Watch this space ........