Coastal route to Adelaide

Did I mention Neil got gaol time for his drug offences? :). This old gaol at bordertown SA was the gaol for gold robbers but today has been converted into the toilets- innovation :)Note the ladies toilets arnt in the gaol block- maybe only men need reinforced toilet structures :p.

Well we are now in Adelaide. We traveled some beautiful coastline to the East of Adelaide.

Port McDonnell


Showing just how far we have to go. Note Neil is doing a penguin impersonation as the fairy penguins were supposed to be there BUT as always they were out fishing (one day I may see one- more than the dead one Neil proudly photographed for me last yr :)).(Sorry for the orientation issue- blogger has issues :().


Robe SA.

We drove along the Coorong NP. I remember as a kid 'Storm Boy' set on the Coorong was a favourite movie of mine. Those of you who know 'Storm Boy' will know it is about pelicans BUT we saw only a couple of pelicans even when we were at the pelican breeding grounds where one typically see thousands- we sure have an effect on the wildlife- one of mass exodus.

We crossed the Murray via ferry (in fact our car and caravan combo took up half of the little ferry) and headed to the quaint village of Strathalbyn know for it's heritage buildings. Here we not only see a beautiful old church and many nice building but we discover that SA doesn't do plastic bags (NONE!!) not even for those who forget their 'Green' bags) so we loaded our pockets and arms up looking rather like thieves and awaited a break in the seemingly never ending traffic in this tiny village- a funny sight.

From there we stayed in the wine country at a great free camp with about 25 plus other caravning buddies- it was more like a caravan park.

Next stop Victor Harbor where we went across to Granite Island via a long bridge which we shared with the horse drawn carriage. I saw penguins- for which the island is know- bronze statues of them cause once again the penguins were out to sea.


Adelaide was the next stop. We timed it perfectly to see a friend of mine from my time with Mercy Ships and stay with her family. They headed off on holidays and we got to house and puppy sit for 6 days. In fact the puppies are so so spoilt by Neil that I think I will need therapy for husband neglect.

Our young charges.

We have caught up with old friends from Armidale and Mercy Ships, enjoyed 'The German experience' of sausages and pretzels in Handorf (a little German village in the Adelaide Hills, and been to the beach where the water is freezing despite the 38 degree weather here.

Till next time........

Police raids, volcanos and more

Well for those of you wondering how we have been funding our adventures.......... Yep our crop been hauled in the police raid at Taylors Arm that resulted in our questioning.



Never a dull moment camping. The truth is we arrived at Taylors Arm (remote place only known for the 'Pub with no Beer') and what do you know but police dogs and a chopper arrived at the free camp and set up a base to do raids on the Marijuana crops in the hill country. The police were very friendly and we scored a tour of the chopper and a run down on what the crop looks like, how it grows and it's street value- this raid turned in $400,000 worth of crop and was a overt operation meaning we could know about it. They were just focussed on ripping out the crops before they came to harvest and made it to the street. The covert team runs the on famr under cover survielance to catch the crooks at other times. The whole affair made for a very entertaining day as the chopper came in and out with the haul and men were lowered into crops to rip them out.
Oh and did I mention we were actually quitely camping with Neil's folks despite it feeling like we were witnessing a Hollywood film set. So we enjoyed a drink at the 'Pub with no Beer' a name that suits a pub for Neil and I, two no drinkers to party at :).

A couple of days earlier we all got our birthday presents which was a days kyacking on the Bellinger river. Fun times and when things got tough a good gentlemany tow was a bonus :)



We had a few days with family kicking up our heels at the Tamworth country music festival. We saw Becky Cole (for free) and Kasey Chambers also for free- we are true cheap scapes :)Oh and the chook man who is still alive (I remember him been old 10yrs ago at the festival but he kicks on).


From Tamworth we headed in land to Orange and Bathurst (where we did a lap of Mount Panorama with our caravan in tow quite a sight).
Crossing the Hay Plains we saw numerous bush fires and then headed into a massive wall or smoke- thankfully the wind got going and before too long we realised we were in fact in a huge dust storm not a smoke cloud- dust storms are a regular out there. We camped along the Murray in the vineyards of Renmark and were offered grape picking/packing jobs which we declined.

We meandered across the SA border and down south to Mt Gambier's volcanic country. We stayed with Kate Rhook an old friend who made a great host and tour guide. The Blue Lake is stunning as are the caves, sinkholes and volcano's.


Feeding possums with Kate at the Umpherston sinkhole.

Well thats not where were up to but thats way too much reading for you for one sitting so next time we'll up date you on Mt Gambier to Adelaide where we currently are.