Robe - 4WD club weekend

Thursday, Helen and I travelled from Adelaide to a sheep farm between Penola and Robe.  This is where the 4WD club camped for the Australia Day weekend and made day trips to explore and drive along the beaches between Carpenter Rocks to the south and north as far as Rode.  When we arrived several others had already arrived and gone to Geltwood Beach just out of Millicent to have a look at what is known as the hardest beach to transverse due to the soft sand and steep slope towards the sea.  We set up and when the group had returned enjoyed a late happy hour catching up with 4WD friends.

Sunset over our camp

Camping on the sheep farm

Friday was into Millicent to the information centre then to Carpenter Rocks which is approx 40km South West of Mt Gambier.  Helen and I decided to travel with Dianna, as our vehicle was overloaded with Briony and Todd's possessions which we are going to drop off as we head north!.  After spending time in Millicent to gather local information and walk the main street we had a coffee before headed to Carpenter Rocks.  It was here that we deflated our tyres to head north along the beach and into Canunda National Park. After stopping at the light house where we could view the Admella wreck it was down onto the beach.  Following our illustrious leader it wasn't too long before the first Pajero was bogged.  It wasn't long before we had another 2 bogged on the soft sand.  With some tyre pressure adjustments (deflated even further) a bit of digging and the MaxTrax out we were all on our way again.  From here we found our way behind the dunes and meandered along the winding tracks to the northern end of Lake Bonney SE before heading back to camp. 

Admella wreck

The group gathered around the lighthouse to view the Admella wreck before going onto the beach

Two motorcycle riders stopped to offer assistance with 2 stuck in the sand.

Some of the track off the beach in the dunes

On top of a large dune overlooking Lake Bonney SE with the wind farm in the distance.

Lance had gone back to Adelaide for a wedding on Saturday so this was going to be a "free" day.  At our visit to the Information Centre yesterday it was noted that Saturday morning was the Millicent market, so a couple of the group set off a little before the rest to have a quick stroll around the Millicent market.  This was a great country town market with various jams and needle work for sale, and off course the sausage sizzle, how could I not support the local community!   We had also decided to stay off the beach and find a winery for lunch.  This option proved most favourable for most of the group, so we set off to Penola to meet up with the others.  After having a look at the 'John Riddoch Centre' in the visitors centre we headed across the road and had a pub lunch before walking to Petticoat Lane, visiting the historic cottages. 

Penola museum in the information centre

Lunch at the Prince of Wales Hotel, Penola

Petticoat Lane Heritage Area, with Woods-MacKillop Schoolhouse on the corner.

Inside Mary MacKillop's first purpose built school, built in 1867

Gammon Cottage built in the1860's, the pressed metal tiles were used briefly prior to the introduction of corrugated iron

Sharam Cottage, built in 1850, the first house in Penola, this building contained 2 rooms, the kitchen and living area

Next door is the second section built in 1860 comprised of 3 bedrooms and a parlour.  The two cottages was home to three generations of the Sharman family.  Ellen and Christopher Sharam raised their 15 children in these cottages.

Sunday was Australia Day, Robe had Australian Day celebrations which included a farmers market.  So it was hear we met Lance before heading to Little Dip NP for some more beach driving.  We travelled south along beaches and over rocky out crops, having lunch on the beach , it seemed we were all travelling with relative ease, without any major delays.  Being a long weekend the 4WD traffic was extremely busy and we had several delays waiting to transverse along some sections. After leaving Little Dip NP we travelled the gravel road further south before crossing through the sand dunes back to the beach via an access track adjacent to the Millicent Buggy Club.  Now back onto the beach  we were approx 22km north of Beachport and the sand was quite soft with a reasonable gradient down to the sea.  At one point we got bogged and the vehicles who passed had to go into the softer sand on the slop.  This caused Bob in our group to get bogged then three vehicles from another group also got bogged, basically blocking access along the beach.  After much digging and snatching along with a winching operation all the vehicles made it off the beach.  Unfortunately no piccies as too busy digging and pushing. Thanks to the V8 power and assistance from the other group we were all back on firm ground again.  From here it was a slow trip back to Beachport with the anticipation of fish and chips for tea.  Unfortunately there was a long wait so we headed back to camp for a late happy hour and tea combination.

Robe Australia Day Farmers Market, I had the best Chilli Kranski from the Penola butcher!!

 

Heading to Little Dip NP, stopped to deflate the tyres

The motley group

 

On the beach, some was easy going

Some spots had a lot of traffic

Lunch stop, out came the sun protection

Lined up on the sand for lunch

On Monday those that did not have to head back to Adelaide stayed do some more exploring.  There was a reluctance to go beach driving after yesterday's event so headed to Southend  to check out the town and the northern end of Canunda NP.  We explored the dunes which lead us to the coast.  The coastal views were quite spectacular and we were able to travel along the cliff tops without venturing onto the beach.  After making our way back to Southend a pleasant drive along the firm beach between Southend and Beachport made for a pleasant way to end the weekend  ..... oh the ice cream in Beachport was great as well!!

Southend, across the bay

Some of the magnificent scenery just south of Southend

Stopped on one of the large dunes to admire the scenery

More of the rugged coast

Can see the beach but not going onto the beach @ our lunch stop.

 On our way back to camp Dianna and I went to have a look at Woakwine Cutting.  The cutting was constructed by Murray McCourt in 1957, taking 3 years to complete.  The cutting drained a 420 hectare of peat swamp on his property.  McCourt used a D7 Caterpillar, 7 Ton Draw Ripper, 11 Yard Le Tourneau scraper and a single furrow swamp plough to excavate the cutting. The length of the cut is 1km, depth 28.34m and removed 276,000 cubic metres of soil. 

Woakwine cutting looking west towards Lake St Clair

The D7 Caterpillar and 11 Yard Le Tourneau Scraper

Tuesday the group left at various times some as early as 5.45am to travel back to Adelaide while we stayed to enjoy the SE a little longer.