Month: May 2018

Todays drive took us through some pretty epic Australian outback scenery. Flat, harsh, vast plains, red dirt and emu’s. We stopped at Iron Knob for lunch, sandwiches in the van.

What a sad looking place it is. The mine is massive and like the moving sands of a sand dune  it seems to be engulfing the town in its red dust. Driving through the town it has the feel and looks like a ghost town. We had hoped to take a mine tour or at least visit the mine museum but not surprisingly it was close as there was no volunteers to run it.

It become a little more interesting as you approach Port Augusta and the Flinders rangers. And then on the horizon you catch a glimpse of the solar collector tower glistening at you from a far. The first operational tower of its kind in the world. SA loves it’s renewable energy’s, the government has cope some flack for recent failings but their investments in renewables is admirable and ground breaking.

Our camp tonight is Spear Creek Caravan Park. What a little gem. We only stayed one night but felt right at home at this lovely caravan park with very friendly, kind and welcoming camp hosts Todd and Jodi. It was their first day on the job having taken over the running of the park for the next 6mths from the station owners. An would you believe they were from Busselton, WA.

Just past Port Augusta, nestle at the base of the Flinders rangers, it was spectacularly scenic. With the rangers towering over us and a short walk away views across the Spenser Gulf.

Spear creek itself was dry but the beautiful gums of this area are full of character. Twisty, gnarly branches, covered with a smooth, almost glossy bark, mottled with Australian bush tones.

The caravan park is part of a sheep station and you can buy meat direct from the station so we left well stocked up.

I  met another cat in Streaky Bay. This cat was a ginger cat and a scaredy cat, so I didn’t get a good picture.

The next cat we saw was in Kimba. Only mum saw this one and it was also a scaredy cat. She did get a photo then it ran away.

The nicest cat I met was in Beautiful Valley. It was sitting on a bench outside of a toy museum. She sat at the door so maybe her owner worked there. We played with her for a few minuets. She was really soft and friendly and let us pick her up. She even let Lulu pat her which is more like hitting than patting.

Georgia and her oz cats ….. over and out.

 

It’s time to get back on the road and punch out a few km’s and make some progress. First, we needed to scoot past Port Kenny for a photo op, and drive by Venus Bay which listed as it main attraction ‘Peace and tranquility’!

From there we went inland and made for Kimba, the halfway point across Australia. Also our first look at silo art and who could miss the big galah!

They have a super little free camp site in town, so we pulled up and got the bikes down to go explore the town and have a look at this silo art. What a neat tidy and proud little town. Kimba had a really good feel about it.

Eileen’s cafe did great coffee and smashed avo to get us on our way the next day. All in all we loved Kimba

Well the pace of travel has really slowed down and we are loving it! Arriving at Streaky Bay it was our intention to stay just the one night but 3 nights later and we are still here! Tomorrow however we move on, albeit reluctantly.

The Eyre Peninsula is stunning! Vast rolling coastal landscapes, peaceful calm bays on one side and powerful, wild, raging sea batter the other. It’s been dramatic and delightful all at once.

We would love to stay for much longer and explore the Peninsula for much longer but need to press on  to Coolum, (Sunshine Coast) for work in the van and warmer weather!

The Caravan Park is located right on Streaky Bay. Some sites even back on to the beach and we have seen folks having fires.

It’s clean and comfortable, has good amenities, close to town and in a beautiful prime location. The kids have made friend with the family next door also 3 kids, 2 months into there lap of Oz.

The town is small and cute, haven’t spent much time exploring it. But we did have lunch in a very hip and fabulous cafe today. Scrumptious food and coffee top notch. The town has the feel of Dunsborough some 20 years ago.

Highlights, (other than today’s lunch), the blowholes and whistling rocks (although this frightened Gigi), were really spectacular, and this afternoons frollick at The Granites and a visit to a camp place called ‘Ruby’s beach’.

We nearly spent the night there as I flattened the battery leaving the electrics in the car on. Luckily Ken had purchased a lithium jump pack just days before we departed Perth and it got us out of the poo. Phew!

We have managed to string together two days of school for a few hours in the morning and it’s worked well. Being prepared and ready the night before is the key.

After the usual push back from Charlotte we have found a way to provide a structure that will work well for the girls and give us most of the day to explore, have fun and do plenty of natural learning.  With travel days being the exception.

Hopefully this will go a long way to getting us into a rhythm.  Now for the discipline to execute the plan consistently!

We may have to find our way back to the Eyre Peninsula, in warmer weather and continue our fun and adventure.

We have loved Streaky Bay and had an amazing afternoon playing and paddling at The Granites. However as I dipped my feet in the cool, clear waters I spotted and plucked out the above pictured plastic bag from the water.

A habit I have formed over the years, is collecting 3 pieces of rubbish and taking it with me when out in nature or anywhere really. Feeling pleased I had saved some unfortunate marine animal from suffocating on that bag, I thought I would see if I could collect my usual 3 pieces of rubbish from this pristine beautiful place.

As my eyes became attuned it was easy to spot against the pale sands the wee pieces of green and blue plastic, even those micro one’s.

Reduce, Reduce, Reduce. So many towns don’t have plastic bags in their supermarkets and stores. Us city slickers need to catch up and quick!

Anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE kitty cats. So I am going to share on our blog all the cats I meet on our travels around Australia. 😺

First here is us saying goodbye to our beloved River. I am missing her so much. Before we left mum laminated these picture for me and they are in my bunk area.

Let me introduce caravan cat. She sit by the door and tells me she loves waiting for us to come home and open the door.

The first cat that I met on our travels was a travelling kitten. She was on a lead sitting with her family at the the Cocklebiddy Roadhouse. She was a dark grey with stripes, a sweet little thing but we didn’t get a picture of her.

The next cat I met was Streaky Bay cat. We met her as we rode into town on our bikes. She was sitting by the the sea, cleaning herself. She was really friendly and pounced up at me when I went to pat her. Then she followed me down the path back to my bike.

I really wanted to take her home, but she had a yellow collar so I guess she had an owner. It always makes me feel happy to meet a cat.

So we have made it to civilization again. A spotless, small, well cared for and privately owned caravan park. With a playground a short cycle away and a windmill museum just opposite. In fact   Penong claims fame to the home of Australia’s largest windmill – the comet!

Water was the most exciting feature though. The laundry amenities immaculate so I took the opportunity to get all the linen done. Our little machine in the van won’t manage to do more then one sheet at a time and the bed spread is out of the question. $4 a load didn’t seem too bad.

Unfortunately we have had a few niggling issues with the van. One being it’s big claim to fame, being dust proof. Well ours is currently not. An issue I am sure Zone will sort when we arrive in Coolum. But in the mean time we will try and stay off dirt roads now and continue to clean up the dust.

While I did the washing, Ken and the girls explored the town and windmills on their bikes and in the evening we had a lovely pub meal and friendly conversation with the locals.

The next day the girls were sick of the traveling wanting a day about the van. So that’s what we did. We had hoped to visit a few local sights but somehow the day slipped away.

We did a little schooling in the morning. The day before Charlotte had spotted the local netball courts and wanted to go, so we jumped on the bikes and Georgia and Lulu played in the play ground while Charlotte produced from her bag a netball and her trusty speaker, (great birthday gift Grandma and Papa). Never movement without music for this girl. She was willing to take a few coaching tips from me and I have to admit it felt good being back on a netball court.

The rest of the day we relaxed before dinner and we were treated to another dashing desert from Charlotte. She does like to cook up a storm and has some very high faluting idea’s for a small caravan kitchen. But the end product was delicious, it only took me a few hours to clean up after her ;).

We enjoyed our stay here even though we really didn’t really explore the local area. Next stop Streaky Bay!

Streaky Bay is a great little town and we couldn’t wait to check out the bakery when we rolled into town last night.

Custard Tart Review – Charlotte

It’s a really nice bakery all the food looks really delicious.

The pastry was crunchy and crispy in some parts and in other not. Dad said the pastry was nearly burned in some parts which he loves.

The custard was sweet, wobbly and delicious.

Te amount of nutmeg just went perfectly with the amount of custard and pastry.

Overall the savoury tasting pastry and the sweet custard with the sprinkling of nutmeg just worked!

Custard – 5

Pastry – 5

Presentation – 4

Custard Tart Overall – 5

Coffee Review – Ken

I asked for a flat white – double shot and was offered a cup or mug. Coffee in glass is always better so I opted for a mug.

Presentation was pretty but with no creama art. Not a bad thing, the colour of the mug and saucer matched the overall decor of the bakery – classy! But we’re here to taste coffee…

Initially, although the temperature was again perfect for me, I thought it tasted a bit milky – probably my fault for ordering the mug rather than a cup.

As the coffee progressed though I really grew on me such that I was disappointed when I had finished with that last swig!

Temperature – 5

Strength – 4

Taste – 4

Presentation – 4

Coffee Overall – 4

Great coffee, I might try the normal size tomorrow and see if it turns into a perfect coffee.

Cold, windy and dark was our arrival. A late dinner and bed was on the cards but the kids had other idea’s. They are doing great with all the traveling in the car (although we are not doing massive distances) but when we arrive somewhere they go nuts! They have energy to burn and need to get their silly’s out.

Lesson learned. The 3pm pull up is magic and the only way to go. Enough time to set up, have a play, pour a glass of wine, get dinner and bed done aaaaaand relax.

On the up side, arriving in the dark always offers you that element of surprise the next morning. Our stay was very brief. Just a quick visit to the bight and back on the road.

A stop at Nullarbor Roadhouse and then on to flushing loos, water and a shower tonight. Looking forward to that!

We were needing a change of pace and I was getting a little over the red dirt everywhere and on everything (yike, already its only the beginning). WikiCamps again delivered and a super little camp. Just before Eucla, white, powdery sand!

Ken was needing to get a little work done and I new the girls would entertain themselves for hours in the dunes.

We were loving the free camping but we are having issues with the water tank monitoring system in the van so really had no idea how much water we had on board. Turns out not much, I did a load of washing and that was it. But with plenty in the drinking water tank and Eucla only 16 km away it wasn’t enough of a bother to up camp.

We really hadn’t reasearched the water supply over the Nullarbor well enough (or at all) and it was going to end our stay here earlier than we would have liked, but with plenty of beaches to come we’ll just have to wait a little longer.

Getting to the site was a bit of fun in itself. After putting the Audrey (the car) and Goldilocks (the van) over some pretty good corrigations to arrive at the dunes we weren’t sure we’d get the van through the dunes. After a pause for thought, Ken jumped on his bike and went for a recky. It was worth a try so we let the tyres down and had nae bother.

The camp isolate, the kids delighted, the weather warm. Time to relax a little and enjoy a break from the car for a bit.

The kids have taken to the free camping well and no complaints about digging your own hole to poop in. I think its quiet natural for Georgia, being part cat and all, but even our diva Charlotte found the experience interesting. A first for me also, and please to report its not that bad, beats some of the drop loos I’m sure we will come across.

Our star gazing has been foiled by the magnificent full moon but the moon risings amazing.

The next day we decided to hang by the beach for much of the day and leave at about 3pm to take a shortish drive through the WA border and camp by the GAB (Great Australian Bight). Things all took a little longer and by the time we arrive at the bight it was well and truly dark, cold and windy. So an early night was had.