Adelaide and South Austrlia

The first thing we noticed in SA was how dry and brown the whole state was, when the east and top of Australia is flooding.

We drove from Bordertown to Adelaide and past the Coonalpyn silos.

In Adelaide

A hospital visit for John to find the pain issue is muscle and not the kidney stone

We did domestic things and had the new Fridge fitted

Our one sight seeing day was a trip to see the Dale Chihuly glass art at the Adelaide Botanical gardens. Spectacular.

We also caught up with long time friend Glenys , a fellow podiatrist I have know for 40 years. She hadn’t changed still just as friendly and happy.

April 2 and we finally leave Adelaide with the new fridge.

Our first stop

Parham for two nights . A small town with a good camp on the beach where its good to go crabbing, best done at low tide making it a long walk out to the shallow water. 2 kms approx.

Dave and Andy plus friends Paul and Louisa were joined for these four days.

We went crabbing with rakes and 45 were caught the first day and 55 the second , us not contributing a great deal with a poor rake we scored at the camp.

We spent the afternoons cooking and getting the meat out of the shells

A bbq the first night and we watched the starlink satellite’s train go overhead and Andy made crab cakes for dinner the second night. Very yum!

Androssen Yorke Peninsula

We stopped in Androssen for the second two nights with Andy and Dave and Co. John and I stopped and took a walk around the park and down to the jetty in town prior to getting to the camp.

The red cliffs along the beaches a interesting backdrop to the water and jetty.

Our camp was 4 kms out of town ( Parrara) on the waterfront and past the silos in town.

We hung out at the camp while they went fishing. John read a book and i worked on the travel

plans. Pizzas were made for dinner, everyone pitching in.

Next we left Androssen and the others and drove via

Bute a small town with an amazing silo art , prettiest we have seen and other interesting iron bits farming machinery and a lovely old stone building.

Snowtown was next stop and is where the bodies in the barrels murders happened.

Here there was more silo art based on four local people and a big windfarm blade on display with info on windfarms and more old buildings. The area has the biggest windfarm area in SA

Next Port Pirie

We stayed in the Cmca park behind the football field, did some shopping and went to the Shakka shark exhibtion a 5.6 m shark caught here near Port Pirie.

Then we did the 3d shark cage experience which was really good and a bit scary.

After a drive along the foreshore and over the ” bridge to nowhere”

we left town.

Laura

Next we drove across to Laura Est in 1872, which had lovely heritage buildings, a statue of CJ Dennis a famous poet and another family statue. Laura is also known for its Golden North Ice cream which we indulged in.

We stayed at a caravan park here for two nights. An afternoon of washing.

Next day

Wirrabara

We walked into town via the bush walk to see the silo art.

Followed by a visit to the info/craft centre and the bakery for coffee.

Then we took the car out to Wirrabara forest, first to the king tree which is 400 years old & 36 metres high a river red gum one of a few rare river gums that survived logging between 1870s and 1930.

we also did a Forest loop walk of 1:5 kms.

Next was Bluff lookout with a great view over the hills, farmland and out to Spencer gulf.

Port pirie and Port Germain in the distance.

Melrose

The oldest town in SA. It is at the foothills of Mt Remarkable.

A stop for a walk around, we have been here before. Went to the old swing bridge, pub and bike shop.

Wilmington

We were going to stay here for two nights but Alligator gorge where we wanted to walk, was closed due to fires earlier in the year so after seeing the toy museum we moved on to Quorn.

The toy museum had every match box car imageable train sets meccano and heeps of other things, one mans obsession.

The country still very dry.

Quorn, staying at Warren Gorge, 21 kms from town.!

After lunch at the pub and a colour for my hair it was out to Warren gorge for three nights.

We did the 5:2 km hike, me not finishing the last 800 metres as I had some sun stroke, it was 30 degrees and the down hill slog over lose gravel was not enjoyable. John got the car and rescued me.

Another day we went on the Pichi Richi railway, which was established in 1973, the aim to préserve the dry stone walls and bridges along the old ghan railway. The train runs from Quorn and goes to Woolshed flat and runs with either a steam or diesel engine depending of volunteers, all staff are volunteers. We had a steam train experience.

The scenery on trip was lovely but the country is very dry. A great view on Devils peak was seen amoungs other views and scones served at Woolshed Flat.

Devils peak and the views were great.

On the drive back to Warren gorge we detour out to Yarrah gorge for the views.

and also viewed Dutchmans stern

Off to Port Augusta

On the way we stopped at Tickleberry Hill cafe for coffee and viewed an old Ghan railway lattice bridge from 1878.

then some views over windfarms and the gulf prior to Port Augusta

Overnight in Port Augusta next to the footie field , a shopping and washing stop.

Now we travel north up the stuart Highway, first stop for lunch overlooked island lagoon currently mostly dry like the rest of the country where there is not even a tree. Some lovely cloud formations pink and streaky.