Day 67 - Gawler to Langhorne Creek.

After we left the caravan park we visited my old Ryan chum Juanita and her little girl Valentina just down the road. She is doing well and enjoying her time in South Australia. Took off from there through Williamstown to the Whispering Wall at the Barossa Dam. Amazing. You can talk really quietly and the people over 100 m away can hear you quite loudly.

Then we went to the giant rocking horse at Gumeracha.

Next was the place Jeff had been waiting for for the whole trip - the Melba Chocolate Factory where they make inch liquorice blocks. Jeff's favourites. Bought far too many sweets - 20 liquorice blocks for a start! Then to the cordial factory for a cordial topup. Not my normal brand but the oldest cordial manufacturers in Australia. We'll see how they compare. Bought pies for lunch and ate them there.

We drove through Harndorf - up and down the Main Street but it was far too crowded to even try to find a parking spot so we headed off to Victor Harbour - the Rosebud of SA. People everywhere, fairgrounds, horse driven trams, fairy floss, the lot.

Next we went to Middleton to see cousins Hughie and Liz's new house they are building after pulling down their holiday shack. This is where they are planning to retire to.

And the beach just down the street.

We decided to go to a free camp at Langhorne Creek. Settled in for a quiet night.

Days 65 & 66 - Auburn to Gawler

A short trip of 60 kms today. Arranged to visit my cousins Hughie and Liza for the afternoon. Wonderful to catch up. Decided to have dinner together as well. Beautiful food. Settled into the Gawler Caravan Park for 2 nights. Need to do some washing - running out of knickers among other things. Today spent sleeping in, washing clothes and generally doing as little as possible. No photos either.

Day 64 - Whyalla to Auburn

Note to Self: Fractionation plants are not good on so many levels. They whoosh all night like a quiet jet engine. They have dodgy environmental credentials. I wouldn't live anywhere near one for quids. The poor giant cuttlefish that come to the area to breed and lay their eggs are being quietly decimated and many fingers point to the plant. Journeyed from Point Lowly to Port Augusta, another heavy industry port and then to Port Pirie where we had lunch. Weather is overcast with odd showers. Moved inland through Snowtown (scene of the bodies in drums murders). Such a quiet little town, must have been a huge shock about the murders. Across to Clare and down to Auburn through the vineyards and olive trees. Very pretty area. No pictures today, hard to get Jeff to stop anywhere, bit of white line fever when you let him drive on Highway 1. Stayed at Auburn Caravan Park (SA 390), a lovely little council run park, only small area but very friendly manager and lovely amenities.

Day 63 - Port Lincoln to Whyalla

The weather has cleared a little so we can see the town better as we drive out. We were going to stay for the weekend but we couldn't do or see much so decided to move onto Whyalla. Not a lot to see on the way, the countryside has gone back to semi desert with some big mines near the road. Whyalla has lots of mines and different processing plants around it. This is the HMAS Whyalla, next door to the Information Centre. 

We are staying at Port Lowly (SA 663) a cute little fishing village where giant cuttlefish come to breed. Unfortunately it is too cold, wet and miserable to explore. We are in a free camp that you need to get a $5 permit for so it is no longer a free camp but fine for the night with toilets and a fairly firm base under Glen. Our view is great and we had a lovely rainbow over the water.

Sunset over the fractionation plant over the hill was quite spectacular.

There is also a lighthouse spinning around just down the road.

Day 62 - Coffin Bay to Port Lincoln.

Woke to a cold, wet, miserable day. Luckily we only had 30 kms to get to Port Lincoln. We looked around town, nice place. Difficult to tell with decreased visibility. Went to the supermarket, different layout than normal for a Woolies but we coped. Decided to stay at the Tourist Park for the night and so pulled in there before lunch, got out the knitting and knitted away the cold, wet, miserable day. Watched the footy at night, at least it cheered Jeff up. No pictures because it was too cold, wet and miserable.

Day 61 - Venus Bay to Coffin Bay.

Woke up to this out of my bedroom window.

Travelled from there a short distance to some caves. This is The Tub.

Not an encouraging sign.

This is The Woolshed.

Had lunch at Elliston and arrived at Coffin Bay. Lovely spot.

 Decided to stay at the Memorial Rest Area (SA 691) which was mainly a gravel pit with a nice little parking area down the back. Had a quiet night but the rain started falling during the night and wouldn't stop.

Day 60 - Ceduna to Venus Bay.

Bought some oysters from a fish factory where they were filliting the fish as you stood there. Got to Streaky bay for lunch. Lovely village on a beautiful bay. The area is full of islands and bays and very pretty. 

Lots of birdlife around.

Travelled down to a rock formation called Murphy's Haystacks. It was called this because someone thought they were haystacks from a distance.

Arrived in Venus Bay and watched the seals surfing the waves off the cliffs.

 Settled into the Venus Bay Caravan Park. Another lovely bay and camping spot.

The birds flock to the fish cleaning tables to get scraps.