Eyre Peninsula 1

4th February Saturday

Great nights sleep. up early as girls are already up. Cloudier today and not so hot. We ended up with food, towels, folding chairs, Thermos flask and a glass by the time the motor home was sorted. Natalie can barely lift her case. By the time we had a few photos taken it was time to say our goodbyes again, they left about 10ish to drive to Adelade to catch their flight to Brisbane. It was really good to see them. We spent the rest of the day not doing a lot. It has remained cloudy and muggy today, silly Rose should have known better sat in the sun and got burnt. Walked up to the social club again just before 6pm to get gas bottle filled, also took chairs, glass and a few books with us, they were delighted and would certainly pass chairs on. Phil and Maz also at club so we treated ourselves to another night out. Another couple from the camp joined us and we had a good evening. It had been raining whilst in club as was forcast.

5th February Sunday

Lots of rain in the night, even thunder at one point, 8am and still raining it doesn't feel cold,just hope it stops at some point as site is getting puddly. Coldish day same very heavy showers at times, noticed tabs on tent that we zip flysheet to has ripped so took down flysheet, winds gusting over 50km per hour. In evening invited to sit under Ralp and Caroline's awning out of the wind (new neighbours with new Range Rover). Went to bed 8.30ish as getting cold. Colin spoke to Laurie, Nats in bed, Mary and Sandie in pool

6th February Monday

Windy chilly night, overcast at first but sun coming through nicely. Tidying and putting away ready to leave tomorrow. Peter sent through a text of some nice camp sites on the Eyre Peninsula(his sister is there at the moment). Colin received a text from Sandie, they might be leaving Tuesday due to cancelled flights at Heathrow due to the snow(what a shame). Colin rang Natalie and they are leaving at 7am tomorrow, Leigh her partner cant even get his car off the drive due to the snow. Looked on internet and weather does look bad. The day here is cooling down to around 26degs. mmm.

7th February Tuesday

Up early to say goodbye to Phil and Maz, they are off to get new air conditioning fitted to their motorhome, lovely couple. We are going to a caravan place at Port Wakefield to see if they can repair the rip in our tent flap. Bit chilly this morning, quite a bit of cloud. Left site at 9.45, when at Port Wakefield, Hump Caravans they gave George a ring to do the repair, we went for tea and toast to wait, when finally got to meet him he tried hand sewing the tear but it didnt work so had to take frame out of tent, he did a good job but whilst helping Colin he got a bit heavey handed and sheared a bolt by overtightening it, eventually got that out so they could fabricate another one but after lunch, Whilst waiting George stitched a lower strap back on for us. Finally at 2pm slider in place and tent back together. Colin took it back to L Rover and Rose paid $65 for labour(too hot to argue), by the time we left we had been there 4hrs. Filled up with fuel and headed to nearest site at Bute. It is a town owned caravan park $15 for power laundry and showers. It has been a day of stupid things going wrong but we still have a smile on our faces. After dinner it started to cloud over and got a bit chilly.

8th February Wednesday

The farce goes on. A sprinkler system came on at 3.30am right outside our tent, which in turn set off a dog barking/howling nearby, finally turned off at 5.30. Cold night also. Sun is popping head out. After lovely hot showers took keys back and explained problem in the night, the apologised profusely and said they should have been switched off, she refunded our site fees. Off to Port Pirie, after passing through Port Broughton, passing flat open fields that have been harvested for grain. Now lovely blue sky. Stopped at Port Pirie library and shopping before onto Port Germain for lunch. Port Germain is famed for having the longest wooden jetty in Oz.

 The country side is changing to a more barren landscape with hills in the distance. Saw a couple of freight trains, both approximately 1km long. We followed a millitary truck and Land Rover

 from Port Germain to Port Augusta. Now travelling south to the Eyre Peninsula to Point Lowly and camp, scenery changing all the time, the dirt is getting redder. Point Lowly not suitable for us, only flat area for tent is too exposed so retraced back to Fitzgerald Bay for camp,

 no toilets but we have shovel. Put out awning and will sleep in L Rover. Lovely bay, tide came in as evening went on. If we could have camp with facilities would have stayed, shame as very nice place.

9th February Thursday

Up early, tide still coming in.

 Left site just before 10am and stopped at Whyalla info centre. Whyalla is a very industrial town famed for its iron ore. Lady in info centre very helpful and gave us a book about the Ayre Peninsula with free camping as well. On road to Port Gibbon, very straight road and at times no other traffic around, quite desolate looking. Just south of Whyalla we could see a squarish hill, as we got closer we realised it was a working quarry, we could see the big dumper trucks from the road,

 we think iron ore extaction. Countryside getting a bit greener but the road just goes on like a straight rollercoaster,

you can see vehicles about 2kms in front of you. Got to Port Gibbon Foreshore quite early, nice spot to camp but very difficult to put pegs into ground, will just do one night, it is right next to beach and people are catching fish. Got talking to a couple from Melbourne who are travelling the coast for 12months, they have a budget of $1000 per week, we were astonished as ours is only $350 per week, we'd be laughing and in luxuryat $1000pw. Getting cold so into tent early.

10th February Friday

FRIDAY FACT:- MELBOURNE HAS THE LARGEST RUNNING PUBLIC TRAM SYSTEM IN THE WORLD.

Wind got up in the night, cloudy first thing but blue sky on its way. Left site about 10ish, down Lincoln Highway, stopped at Arno Bay but not much there so on way to Port Neill,

really nice bay, quite a few people arrived to go fishing. Arrived at Lipson Cove just after lunch(free0, it is gorgeous, only downer pegs hard to get into ground and quite windy, but been told it will calm down in next few days. The sand is white and the sea is a lovely shade of blue.

 Our neighbour Karen had a walk alomg the beach and spotted Dolphins in the bay. She was telling that her partner Rob was in the sea earlier and the Dolphins were swimming around him, fantastic, will keep an eye out. Had cup of tea "Happy Hour" with Karen and Rob, they are heading home to Port Lincoln as she has a 6month nursing contract, then they will be off travelling again. Rob is a Fossicker(treasure hunter), interested in Gold and Gems. Good chat before dinner, then bed.