My Adventure – Once More Dear Friends!!

So, Saturday 9th April. Morning was a bit of a top up morning – topped me up by having a shave and trim at barbers on Collonades (these guys are good), plus a massage. Topped up at Bunnings (some straight tent pegs!), Harris Scarfe (couple of new jumpers) and Coles (restore the pantry). Then off to Yorketown.

The trip from Adelaide to Port Wakefield brought back some memories. Many a time on trips from Alice to Adelaide (and back) we took this stretch of highway. This time however I turned off at the Yorke Peninsula turn off. Took my time getting to Yorketown – went via Ardrossan, Pine Point, Port Julia, Port Vincent, Edithburgh (all nice little coastal towns on the Eastern Coastline of Yorke Peninsula). Got to Yorktown Caravan Park – what a little ripper! Only 25 sites, couple of cabins, lush green grass everywhere (a tenters paradise!), great amenities. Did some washing – smelling sweet now!! Voted best small caravan park in Australia in 2019!

Sunday saw me head down to Innes National Park, on the SW tip of Yorke Peninsula. Had done some research, but wasn’t really sure what to expect. Boy, was I in for a pleasant surprise!

Took the park ranger’s advise and started at the furthest “open” attraction Royston Head Hike – a four km hike to a spectacular lookout. The walk wasn’t all that challenging, through coastal flora. The lookout was simply breathtaking.

Next I went to West Cape to have a look. A pretty ordinary lighthouse – but the view. Wow!

Back along the coast to the wreck of “Ethel”. The Ethel was a ship that ran aground in a storm while en route from South Africa in January 1904. One man drowned as he tried to swim ashore with a rescue line, but the rest of the crew reached land safely. The storm drove the ship onto the beach above the low tide mark, where it remained intact for many years. The hull finally collapsed in the mid-1980s, but there is still plenty to see, with many large pieces of rusted iron jutting from the sand, clearly marking the ship’s outline. The steps down to the beach are manageable, going up meant a few rest stops for BDOB!

Visited the Inneston Historic Township. Gypsum was mined from Inneston Lake. The development at Inneston Lake grew into a town known as Inneston, which by the early 1900s has a population of about 150 people and included facilities such as “a public hall, butcher, baker, bank and post office.” Later developments included a plaster factory built in 1916, a chalk factory opened in 1922 and as of 1927, the town had “tennis court, cricket and other recreational facilities.” In all its estimated that over 6 million tonnes of gypsum was mine between 1905 and 1970 in the area.

Last stop at the park was Cape Spencer Lighthouse. Spectacular views, average lighthouse.

Stopped for a feed at Marion Bay Tavern – nice fish and chips and a frothy, before heading back to camp for the day! Finished off with a few wines with my caravan neighbours – two couples from Northern NSW. Both originally from the Lismore area (although it was the first time they’d met today!), talked about the terrible flooding in these areas. Good people, sad stories.

Monday saw me leave Yorketown, bit sad as the caravan park was a fantastic place to stay. Anyway, Tumby Bay here we come! Hour and a half drive from Yorketown to Wallaroo, arrived just in time for an early lunch at this quaint restaurant/antique shop in the main drag. Did the best egg and bacon roll I’ve had for a very long time, quite a nice hot chocolate too. Booked in for the ferry. Went for a stroll along the main beach.

The ferry trip over took about 2 1/2 hours and was a fairly calm experience. Easy loading/unloading. Nice staff. Way better than the nearly 6 hour drive it would normally have been. Ran into a couple who were originally from Deptford in London. Ended up playing a few hand of cards (got belted, way out of practice). Nice to chat about London between hands. Quick 90 minute sprint down the east coat of Eyre Peninsula saw me at Tumby Bay just before dark. Set up camp at the G’Day Caravan Park (HUGE sites, awesome amenities, great location right on beach), fish and chips from the local take away (really good too!), quick walk along the foreshore before hitting the hay!

Tuesday in Tumby bay was supposed to be a bit of an R&R day. Was intending to do some walking, get the fishing line wet, see what was happening at the bowls club. But on the walk along the foreshore it began to drizzle, then on getting back to the tent it started raining pretty heavily. Looked at the forecast – set in all day. Quick rethink…. (Although there were these cool mosaics along the foreshore I want to share, of local fauna. I think they’re cool!).

The Ranger was filthy – not even heavy rain would have touched the filthy beast (sorry NV not up to your standards!). Nearest car wash – Port Lincoln. Off I went. Quick impression of PL – well, a pretty average place. Beige. Like any other midsize town in Australia. Skyline spoilt by massive grain terminal.

What to do – Google help me out.

Came up with some wineries – never say no to that. There was one 9 minutes up the road. Boston Bay Winery – lovely view and a top notch Shiraz. Also visited Coomunga Wines (by appointment only). This is the smallest winery in the region – met the owner at the winery and had a good old chin wag for an hour or so as he talked through his journey as a winemaker and his delicious wine. Again the Shiraz was spectacular. May have also visited Lincoln Estate Wines where I had a good chat with one of the bar staff who was lamenting COVID and the effect it has had on the wine industry. The lack of backpackers has meant staff at the winery have been involved in the heavy lifting jobs usually undertaken by the backpackers – putting up and taking down the netting (days of work), picking the fruit (labour intensive). She is hoping next year’s cycles of “life on a winery” are once again supported by backpacker workers! They do a delicious sparkling Chardonnay/Pinot Noir which was lovely and refreshing.

Went and had a look at Coffin Bay. Pretty seaside town known for its oysters. Had a lovely half dozen oysters Kilpatrick and a cider for lunch – very nice. Coffin Bay’s name has no link to death or wooden boxes. It was named by Matthew Flinders to honour one of his wealthy mates – Sir Isaac Coffin.

Wednesday saw me pack up and leave Tumby Bay with a heavy heart – really loved this place. Off to Ceduna via Streaky Bay and Smokey Bay. Took about 2 1/2 hours of extremely quiet driving to hit Streaky Bay – a lovely seaside community named again by Matthew Flinders who noticed odd streaks of colour in the water of the bay – these are still present and are caused by the oils that come from the seaweed of the area. Had some spectacular King George Whiting fillets for lunch – grilled, nothing added (omg nothing like this fish for eating anywhere else on the planet in my opinion). Dropped into Smokey Bay (just because I could). Matthew Flinders also named this bay. At the time of his visit local Aboriginals were burning off the land and the area was thick with smoke!

Got into Ceduna. Big 4 Caravan Park. Took one look and shit myself, all the sites looked bone dry and hard as concrete. But on checking in found the friendly staff had a lunch green grassed area set aside for BDOB and his trusty tent. Perfect!

Spent two days in Ceduna – wish I hadn’t! Rained, blew a gale and to be honest the place is a s**thole. Don’t like bagging places out, but REALLY. Not in today’s age! Have some respect. Spent most of the time in my tent reading, R&R, blogging. My advise – wave at Ceduna as you drive through it!

As those who “know me” can testify to – I love listening to music, so thought I’d share what I’ve been listening to as I drive around. I generally don’t listen to songs, rather albums. And I like to binge listen. 2-3 albums a week, in saturation mode. Here’s this weeks …..

Firstly, Marillion’s new album. “An Hour Before It’s Dark” – their 20th album. Now Marillion are without question the greatest band on the planet – simple, don’t ever argue with me about this – it’s a fact! This new album is one of their best, if not the best! An album for today – gone are the love songs (although they’re all about love), to cover such topics as global warming, COVID, death, self discovery, loss, grief. It is simply stunning – Care is the standout song for me, but all the songs are super strong. At least Spotify it – you won’t regret it!

Also been listening to the new Eels album – “Extreme Witchcraft “. Love the Eels (although it’s really only E! – Mark Everett that has been the mainstay and musical genius of the band). First offering since Earth to Dora in 2020. And ….. simply amazing. Typical Eels. Industrial. Lyrically clever. Funky, addictive rhythms. Love it. 4 1/2 out of 5, best since Souljacker. Love the songs Strawberries and Popcorn, Steam Engine and What It Isn’t.

The third album on my playlist is Red Hot Chilli Peppers new spin – “Unlimited Love” – their first studio album in six years. Took me a bit to warm to this – but I certainly now have. They are back to their best I reckon! Typical RHCP – real mix of styles, but all undoubtedly them. Score a 4 out of 5 for this one. Really enjoy listening to Aquatic Mouth Dance, Veronica and Tangelo.

Heading into the West today! New state, new adventures, new music! Hope everyone has a good Easter – stay safe, especially if you are travelling! Til next time ……

Til next time …..