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Day 47: Port Campbell to Warrnambool . . . Tuesday 11th December
A day of bay-hopping with the first stop at "The Arch" (pics), closely followed by "London Bridge" which must have been from the nursery rhyme because it had fell down (pics), the "Grotto" (pics) all these are really spectacular to see and hear and the power of the sea is amply demonstrated on this stretch of the coast. On to Peterborough, a really beautiful bay with waves breaking over the rocks which form one side of the bay providing the back-drop for our lunch stop . . . this place runs neck-and-neck with Wilsons Prom as places "you have to see". After lunch we leave the coast to travel through rich pastoral dairy land before coming to the coast once more at the "Bay of Islands" followed 1k later by the "Bay of Martyrs" both variations on a very dramatic theme. Back travelling through farm lands inhabitated by really neat homesteads and thousands of dairy cattle and sheep, we made our way to our overnight stop at Warrnambool. The campsite was really well appointed and whilst I had a swim in the indoor pool, Maureen made use of the Spa and promised to follow suite in the morning after her run. After our dinner this evening we went into town and uploaded the latest blogs and pics at McDonalds, who provide "wifi hot spots" almost all over the country, albeit very expensive ones - though I have to add the pricing is not their fault but Telstra's . . . the Aussi version of British Telecom.
As a postcript for Lynda and Spencer we did visit "Bells Beach" and read that it was an important venue for championships, having said that there was precious little surf or surfers for that matter.
Day 48: Warrnambool to Nelson . . . Wednesday 12th December
First stop of the day at Port Fairy and in particular along the harbour and River Moyne, absolutely delightful with quaint older- coupled with contemporary-houses with river frontage, Keith strolled along looking at the fishing boats and yachts you could have been along the Thames. We saw a Seal in the river washing itself and playing around, tried to get a photo but I'm not sure if it came out until we download in the next couple of days. Next onto Portland a large town with a commercial harbour and aluminium works apparently there were free guided tours but we gave that one a miss, had coffee and moved on. Travelled towards Nelson through large managed pine forests these supply the vast majority of wood needed for new builds around Oz, not too many houses built in brick. Found a good campsite once again practically empty and a reasonable price, plenty of wildlife around in the evening just trying to get some scraps. Met a Dutch couple who are here for 6 months travelling all over the place but his heart was in Asisa especially Thailand. We were both felt pretty tired today, I can't imagine why . . . can only put it down to the driving,and perhaps the anti-climax of leaving the GOR.
Day 49: Nelson to Adelaide . . . Thursday 13th December
Left at 10 a.m this morning heading for Mount Gambier for supplies and bank (needed some finance). The girl at the Bank with the smiling Bank Manager . . . I think not . . . told us to visit Blue Lake, it was formed from the eruption of a volcano many thousands (millions?) of years ago. She said that it was south of Mt Gambier so we travelled back along the Princess Highway and be b*****ed if we could find it, so we gave up and travelled the same piece of road AGAIN only to see a small sign pointing the way, well if you ever decide to come this way and retrace our steps in the future don't bother . . . a complete waste of time and not going down in the touring campervan guidebook. We needed to make some time up as the days are getting less and the mileage still to travel longer, so Keith put his foot down and off we went (400K today). The terrain was dry and parched rolling farmland, looks like a fire waiting to start (Keith's words). Put the i-pod on, we got an mp3 connector when we arrived, and we were away with Chill-out sessions, Offshore ambient mixes, Hardcore and of course the old classics Cars, Commodores and Bobby Womack singing to our hearts content. Temperature about 32C although overcast for most of the time, we took the coastal routes but these were very different from the Ocean Road, suppose we have just been spoilt! Decided on one of the BIG4 campsites tonight with everything in it including a pool just what we needed, perhaps we will get a little breeze later . . . what's the temp in England?
Day 50: Adelaide to Ardrossan, Yorke Peninsula. . . Friday 14th December
Serves us right for being so smug, in the BIG4 campsites' wisdom they decided to put all the motorhomes together and as you experienced campers will know most campervans have sliding doors so the smashing of doors was non-stop all night. Then the van beside us, which had been hired by a group of multi-national youngsters in their early 20's with not a clue how to put the beds together, so at 12.30 a.m they come back from the pub rather worse for wear and decide to have a go at the sleeping arrangements. . . couldn't give a figs-arse about anyone else. Then a football team of Aussi's arrive (well it seemed like it) and decide to play football, the goals posts just happen to be the parked vans . . . but they enjoyed themselves! By 1a.m another couple of blokes arrived on the scene to help with the on-going issue of the beds, they gave up and parked themselves in the back of the van to have a chat. Well by this time. . . the temperature was still very warm and muggy and we hadn't had a wink of sleep and being two bad tempered old gibbers we disconnected our electrics, slung the chairs and table in the van and drove across the other side of the campsite where it would be quieter . . . oops!!! however at 5.30 a.m we were awoken(?) by the dawn chorus and the first flight out of Adelaide Airport literally just across the road . . . oops again! By 8a.m we had showered, had breakfast and were on the road, heading towards the York Peninsula, 130K saw us at Port Wakefield with a view to catching some crabs. After coffee next port of call was Ardrossan, found a very small family run site with pool and then took a tour of the coastline and town. There was a long jetty with young lads snorkelling for crabs and people fishing which is a very popular past time in Oz. Sticking my nose out here but would have thought that the only chance of any football disturbing us tonight is if its on telly as most of the "inmates" of this site are collecting their pensions . . . but we will stand to be corrected! Watch this space.
Day 51: Ardrossan to Point Turton. . . Saturday 15th December
Stopped at nearly every bay and port on the east side of the peninsula, Port Vincent, Edithburgh, Marion Bay and Corny Point, the latter two on the toe of the peninsula. Visited the Innes National Park and Stenhouse Bay which until the 1960s produced Gypsum used in the making of plaster (interesting eh?), it was apparently a thriving bay with some 500 inhabitants during its heyday . . . the peninsula is surrounded by the Gulfs of St Vincent and Spencer. Terrain once again different with mile upon mile of wheatfields and sheep on grazing lands, in every bay or port there is a jetty with people fishing/crabbing or squidding (catchin squid as opposed to the other derivation)! Very blowy (South Easterly the lady said) and overcast today and came to rest at Point Turton where Keith disappeared to have a look at the progress of fishing on the jetty. This proved to be a good stop and probably the best place we have visisted today as the eastern coast seemed a little dour (may have been the weather) the campsite was in an excellent location right on the sea front with an brilliant restaurant just up the hill (really busy and first class food). Keith had "King George Whiting" which is only caught in these waters and was the most expensive dish on the menu . . . he said it was delicious . . . but he would wouldn't he?
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