29th November 2013-Streaky Bay, Too Good to Leave

29th November 2013

After having sampled a few days of the glorious weather in Streaky Bay SA we have amended our plans and decided to stay here until Monday (2nd December) We have plenty of time before we are due in Mount Barker SA and with this town being so gorgeous, thought we might stay put for a while longer.

LOOK AT THIS WEATHER!!! WHY WOULDN'T WE STAY A LITTLE LONGER!?

 

We walked into town today to visit the local Museum thinking that it would be a short visit....but instead found that it was a comprehensive display of memorabilia to do with both the history of the town and of Australia in general. We were there for quite a while before heading off to the Powerhouse Museum, this was a very large shed full of restored engines and machinery. The gents that were the back bone of this display were all happily sitting around having a chat, and indeed they should be very proud of the results of their efforts.

SOME ANTIQUE SPECS ON DISPLAY AT THE STREAKY BAY MUSEUM

(MADE BY LAUBMAN AND PANK IN 1934)

 

MY NEW CRAFT PROJECT!! HARDANGER EMBROIDERY

I have finally started a new craft project!!!...This is a style of embroidery called 'Hardanger' it will eventually become a highly stitched piece and be used as a table centre or a doily style item. With all the months of getting ready for this trip I haven't had any time for craft and it is lovely to now have the time to sit back and be creative.  I will be changing the pattern a little as it won't fit onto my piece of linen that I have chosen....but I really want it in this colour so a compromise had to be made :/

Today is Friday and with 2 more days here, (and both predicted to be hot ones!!) we are having a fabulous time!!

25th November 2013-Onto Streaky Bay SA

25th November 2013
We packed up and headed off from Penong at 9am for the short trip down the road (182kms) to Streaky Bay. We had stayed there previously but for only 1 night and we had promised ourselves to return as the park was literally right on the beach!

Only 70km's down the road we arrive at the South Australian Quarantine Station.....I declare my bag of frozen limes and was happy to hear that I could keep them.....this was good news as I had carefully hoarded them for some months awaiting summer and therefor the need for my lovely lime based salad dressing! I also didn't lose my precious stash of Albany Taylorina Honey (not knowing how long before I would be back in Albany I had purchased a 4kg supply and wasn't in a hurry to lose it!!!) Well pleased with what I saw as a double win we pulled in for a layover at Ceduna to let Sam the Chihuahua have a walk on the beach....she loved it so much we had to pick her up and carry her back to the car as she clearly had no intention of returning on her own.

SAM AT CEDUNA BEACH

 

Rolling down the road with Ceduna behind us we noticed a sign saying 'Smoky Bay' and our curiosity was lit. Turning down the road we bumped along with the assumption that we were heading back to the coast......and we were correct! It was a lovely little coastal town with another beautiful beach. The temperature was climbing so we agreed to park at the big jetty that was visible in the distance and have another snack break. The jetty got our curiosity so leaving Sam in the cool of the van, Les and I headed off for a walk. The jetty proved to have been recently renovated and there was some locals fishing at the end (after a short conversation I found that they were only catching small Herring and that the fishing hasn't been good for some months-too windy)

 

ME ON THE JETTY AT SMOKY BAY WITH THE TOWNSHIP IN THE BACKGROUND

 

We considered buying some lunch here but upon investigation there was only one shop in town and it was responsibly for supplies of food, fuel, bait, alcohol, ice and basically everything.....everything except sandwiches/rolls it seems, and by this time it was way too hot to be eating pies so they lost a sale :(

 

Heading off again we arrived at our destination of Streaky Bay Caravan Park at 2.30pm!!, we got set up in our spot and drove back into town for fresh food as we hadn't been able to purchase any since Albany (9 days previous)

 

It is a beautiful town, the shops are a comfortable walk from the Caravan Park and we were only 20 metres from the water. The next day was did indeed walk into town for some more food supplies and also went for a swim. I had earlier checked on risks such as sharks and jelly fish as we couldn't work out why more people weren't swimming. There was no sinister reason, it may have been because the water is so shallow! We walked out at least 50 metres and still weren't even knee deep, knowing that walking out further would gain us no more depth we promptly splashed about where we were and had a great time, the water was very warm.

 

We will stay here for another 2 nights as tomorrow is predicted to be another hot one.

 

 

 





22nd November 2013-Into South Australia

22nd November 2013
12kms from Eucla we pass over the WA border into South Australia.....we just lost an entire 2 1/2 hours........bummer.

Another stretch of the Nullarbor lays ahead of us........sigh :(
This drive gets a little less interesting every time I travel it, and just when I think it's a bland as it can get, we arrive at the 'treeless plain',   This is the last desert style stretch until we arrive in areas that are more heavily populated ie Penong population 215-woo hoo!! The most expensive petrol was at the Nullarbor Motel at $2.05 litre, and today was the first time we needed to use the cars air conditioner as conditions had been quite mild and overcast up until now.

A highlight today was in the form of an Echidna strolling across the road....he was sooo cute and made it safely to the other side-didn't see a chicken crossing with him ha ha ha.

Penong is a great little town and we have stayed here before, the big bonus is that there is water on tap!!! I quickly settled in and did the housework (ie swept the floor and shook out the mat) We are going to stay here for a few days as tomorrow has a round of the V8 Supercars and Australia is doing quite well in the cricket, so should be worth watching.

I pulled out the Weber and BBQ'd some chicken for dinner, we are out of fresh produce now as we haven't see a supermarket since last Saturday, and it's a good idea to run your supplies down to go through the Customs Checkpoint at Ceduna which is only 100km down the road, it's a case of eat it or lose it!

OUR RIG AT THE PENONG CARAVAN PARK......NOTE THE BLUE SKY!

20th November 2013-Eucla Stopover

20th and 21st November 2013
Waving goodbye to Caiguna and watching the petrol price climb- $1.95(one of the joys of going outback)  we headed off expecting to get to Eucla or Bordertown for the night.

A stop for morning tea has become a ritual for us when on the road, it gives Les a rest from driving and Sam can have a good wander around. We had pulled into a cosy roadside bay when none other than Geoff and Jill pull in. They were expecting to head to Eucla for lunch and then go further before stopping for the night as they were trying to get across to SA at a faster rate than us. After another good chat we headed off separately, Geoff and Jill going first.

Needing fuel we stopped at Mundrabilla to top up (grabbed some awesome chips while we were there!) and only 35kms from Eucla saw Geoff and Jill in a parking bay, we presumed them to be having lunch, so with a toot and a wave we sailed right past and didn't expect to see them again that day.

Ignoring the bad reviews about Eucla we had a look for ourselves and were very happy with what we saw, water views, clean amenities and good TV reception. Booking in for 2 nights we set up the TV to get the first day of the Ashes Test which was starting the next day, when you wouldn't believe it.....Geoff pulled in on his own. It turns out that when they had stopped for lunch Jill had noticed smoke coming from one of the vans wheels......they had seized a bearing and it needed repairing before they could continue. Geoff was organised enough to be carrying a bearing kit but the nut had seized on so tight be needed more tools to get it off before any repairs could be done. They are RAA members so armed with some tools we could offer him, Geoff headed back to the van (and Jill) to continue with the repairs whilst we organised the local RAC man to go out and help. We didn't see them again that day but they knew we were staying on for another night and promised to let us know when they were ok, which happened at 1pm the following day.

They were back on the road and full of jokes about the experience, Jill hadn't wasted her time and had re-done her hair colour whilst stranded. Parting ways again they headed off to get some more miles under their belts whilst we settled in for more cricket and a much needed rest day.

THE VIEW FROM OUR WINDOW AT EUCLA CARAVAN PARK

19th November 2013-On the Road

19th November 2013
Our first morning waking up on the road and we headed off early again as have learnt that if the wind is going to come up, it will do so later in the day. We will be starting across the Nullabor later today after a stop a Norseman. Les' sister Dianne gave us some maps, info and pictures of the town as their mother Barbara Moyle grew up there. So armed with the map and photo's we found the site where the Moyle house once stood. Norseman isn't an attractive town ship and I can only imagine how basic it must have been back then.

Deciding that his would be a great opportunity for morning tea (I have a good supply of Lions Christmas Cakes!!) we pulled into the parking bay at the local Tourist Stop only to bump straight into friends Geoff and Jill. They are from South Australia and have been on the road for a few months, we knew they were in the area but thought they were a few days ahead of us and were expecting to catch up to them somewhere in SA. We hadn't seen each others vans or tow vehicles so it gave the guys a good opportunity for a cht whilst Jill and I walked the dogs. Geoff and Jill headed off first with waves and laughs about catching up again somewhere on the Nullabor.......we didn't know how soon this would come true.

We pushed on to Caiguna before resting for the night, it is a stopping point we have used before and though it is plain (you don't get anything fancy on the Nullabor) it is a nice level spot with a beautiful sunset.

18th November 2013-Heading Off

Monday 18th November 2013
Les, myself and Sam the Chihuahua packed up and headed off early, having spent some time at Emu Beach Caravan Park whilst we got the final touches done. We made some new friends while we were there as they had pulled in right next to us a couple of days before, towing the exact same Jayco caravan with the exact same Mazda! We were able to give each other tips on living in the vans and different set ups of storage.

LES ON THE BOUNCING PILLOW WITH OUR GRANDAUGHTERS SHARNI AND JESSICA .

(AT EMU BEACH CARAVAN PARK-ALBANY)

We weren't sure how far we were going to go today but ended up at Salmon Gums-a tiny town that's about half way between Esperance and Norseman. They brag about having the cheapest fuel until the border and this claim is correct (Their price is usually the same as Albany prices!!) They should brag at having the cheapest caravan park too as at $15/night for a powered site you can't go wrong. We will not have water hook up from now until Penong (4 days drive away) We are carrying 160 litres and this sounds like a lot but when it has to do everything from showering to drinking it can quickly disappear if you're not careful. From now on I will use the parks ablution blocks for showering as I prefer the luxury of a long hot shower in an ablution block over a short fast shower in the van-that's the girl in me I suppose!!