Yorke Peninsula

We had coffee before leaving from Auburn as needed to try the new coffee machine purchased for my birthday! Worked a treat! Drove to Pt Wakefield and arrived around lunch time just had to visit the Bakery for a curry pie. Travelled through Maitland and onto Dave & Shelly's property before Balgowan and set up in bush camp with short drop toilet (due to limestone close to top soil!), and a great outdoor shower over an old bath. Nice and quiet as only ones there apart from the very, very friendly flies.

Mallee Bush Camp with outdoor shower

One of the old trucks, great photo opportunity

Next day we drove to Balgowan to stay with Naomi & Kevin where we parked the van on the footpath.  The next day we hopped into their 60 series Toyota and drove through tracks to Cape Elizabeth, followed by pub lunch at Moonta then Icecream & Coffee at Gelati Cafe (a must to visit!!).

Camped outside on the footpath

Balgowan across the bay

Stopped at an old building on our beach drive to Elizabeth Point

After a wonderful stay - huge thanks to Naomi & Kevin for their hospitality, we left and headed to Maitland, then across to Ardrossan for lunch another Bakery! Stopped into Pt Vincent before arriving in Stansbury and catching up with good friends for a few hours in the afternoon.  The Caravan parks were full (as we anticipated at this time of the year), so drove to Yorketown where we stayed at a nice quiet Park for 2 nights.

Port Vincent

Drove back to Stansbury next day to visit the Markets then in afternoon drove to Point Turton to visit a lady Helen used to work with in Adelaide.  Helen and Brenda had a great catch up then it was back to Yorketown for dinner at the York Pub (great meal).

Once again a leisurely departure before taking a scenic drive to Marion Bay via Corny Point, where we had lunch at a picnic spot overlooking the sea.  Arrived late afternoon to Marion Bay where we pulled into John & Gayle's driveway, staying for two nights.  Went for a walk around the streets and over the headland to the beach - sighted a couple of dolphins which made Helen's day.

Stenhouse Bay jetty

Cape Spencer light house

Over looking the Ethel wreck, you can just see the boiler remains on the beach.

Some of the dolphines

Next day we drove to Innes National Park stopping at Stenhouse Bay for a walk along the jetty, drove passed Chinamen's Hat, stopping at Cape Spencer where we walked up to lighthouse and took in the fantastic scenery. Next it was Ethel Beach to view the wreck which was more exposed than when we were there 30 odd years ago, West Cape, Pondalowie beach, then walked along the boardwalk to Pondalowie Surf Break where we were entertained by a pod of dolphins. The Scenery along this coast is fantastic and with the brilliant green colour of the sea completed a picturesque drive. From here we headed back again calling into Inneston Historic Township but did not walk all around as the weather was very hot and the march flies were particularly nasty biting everyone except Gayle!  Back to Marion Bay where we had a great feed of locally caught whiting.  Thank you Gayle & John for your wonderful hospitality - we had a great time!

Port Rickaby jetty damaged from the storms

Time to head off - we drove back to Warooka to the dump point, then onto Minlaton for lunch, temperature 40 degrees!  Drove out to Port Rickaby where we set up at the Caravan Park for the night.  Had a swim which refreshed us - looking forward to the expected cool change later in the evening.  Very windy - Helen nagged to get the awning down early and glad we did as wind became very strong and most people in the park finished up pulling their awnings down.

Port Victoria jetty, also damaged from the storms

Artherton Bike Lane

Much cooler in the morning but still windy which made it interesting towing the van and didn't help the fuel consumption.  Called into Port Victoria for a look then onto Maitland and Arthurton, arriving in Kadina at lunchtime (handy again as they have a nice Bakery!).  Temperature again was 41 degrees so decided to stay at Kadina Caravan Park and put air conditioner on!  Later in afternoon I rode around the town on the bike, checking out the sites!  From Kadina we called into Wallaroo for a look around then stopped at Port Broughton for coffee - nice spot overlooking the jetty with plenty of people heading down for fishing.  Continued onto Port Pirie where we stayed in Pt Pirie Beach Caravan Park - arriving in 42 degree heat!  Stocked up with shopping before heading to Ursula & Michael's for tea - great to catch up with Tyson, Lu and baby Ted for a short time.  After a lovely meal, many laughs and a few reds and whisky Hels drove back to Caravan Park in steamy weather as rain had come but did not cool things down.  In the morning rain continued which did drop the temperature but decided to stay another day - Helen seems to think it was because I was a bit sluggish in the morning!!