Continuing the Eyre Peninsula

The weather in Port Lincoln became less favourable with cold blustery winds coming in from the Southwest.  We weren't alone in getting out of bed in the wee early hours to roll up the awning and secure the camp site.  we did venture to the Lincoln National Park where you can also camp ant there were certainly some lovely spots

                                          Lincoln National Park
As we packed up camp we found this very cute little lizard had been been living in our midst

     

                                          He looked like he was straight out of an Aboriginal painting
After 2 nights it was time to move on and we travelled the 45 or so kms to Coffin Bay National Park.   The park itself is smaller and again camping is available.  We camped at Yangie Bay which requires on 2WD to get to but there are many more camping spots and some of them are glorious but are definitely for the serious 4WD as they involve a variety of deep sand tracks and rocky rutted tracks and to camp even further out involves a great beach drive

                                          Our camp at Coffin Bay
We found the National Park very interesting, some of the areas to visit are able to be done in 2WD.  We were able to visit a great beach where there were many surf fishing and there was a great view across to some amazing white sand dunes

                                                        A blustery but beautiful beach at Coffin Bay NP
The following day we did the 4WD tracks with some beach driving to take a closer look at the dunes

                                          Start of the beach drive

                                       The sand dunes close up, they look so good - not a single foot print on them!!
While sitting having our drinks and nibbles(very civilised) a friendly small kangaroo and her young came to visit on the camp site next door, they stayed for quite some time totally unperturbed by our nearness - very cute.  We did almost step on a small snake too, probably about 30cm long that just happened to slither between mine and David's feet as we walked along - too quick to panic though :-)  We left Coffin Bay yesterday (Monday) heading for Venus Bay but arrived to find 'no room at the inn' so we continued another 100kms ro so and are now in Streaky Bay.  our camp site is literally backing on to the beach and it is truly delightful, may have to stay a little longer.

Port Lincoln

Well we've been very blessed with the weather, lots of sunshine and warmth - so far - but me thinks that's all about to change.  They are predicting that autumn is about to hit and the top temp tomorrow is expected to be only 20 after 34 today :-(
We are now in Port Lincoln, home to the Tuna fishing industry and the place is really busy, everyone seems to be heading in the same direction as us.  We've spent the last couple of nights in interesting camp spots.  Last night we were in Cleve, a great free camp site with shade, bbq, water and modern flushing toilets!!  Met some people from The Netherlands on their third trip to Aust and had hired a camper van in Sydney, traversing the country to drop the van in Perth and all in 6 weeks.

                                                Bush camp at Cleve
The night before, we spent on the beach just north of Whyalla.  As we travel along we keep bumping into people that we've met previously.  Today we finally caught up with Kathy and Bruce who arrived in Cowell via ferry from Wallaroo on the other side of the Spencer Gulf.  After a couple of days here in Port Lincoln we'll head to Coffin Bay for who knows how long (weather dependent) before heading across the Nullabor.

                                               Beach camping north of Whyalla

On the Move

So we left home yesterday to rather grey skies and speckles of rain.  We reached Red Cliffs (south of Mildura) after some 7 - 8 hours and found ourselves a very lovely little spot beside the Murray with not a soul in sight.  A short drive today and we're in Renmark this time in a Caravan Park again beside the Murray.  Tomorrow we'll head toward the Eyre Peninsula and Coffin Bay to meet up with Kathy and Bruce who we'll cross the Nullabor with.

                                         Camped at Watts Bend, near Red Cliff

Getting ready

With just 3 days left, preparation is well under way for our next 'big trip'.  This time the plan is - we leave home and head west.  The last trip saw us driving through Esperance WA on our way home in September 2011.  Having had months of sunny warm weather it was too cold to want to hang around to enjoy the area plus we had destination syndrome. We felt it would be better to return at some future date in the warmer months.   The future date has finally arrived.  At this stage the vague plan (and I use the term 'plan' loosely) is to spend a couple of days in Renmark on the Murray and then to Coffin Bay on the Eyre Peninsula for who knows, maybe 4 or 5 days then back across the Nullabor to Esperance, hopefully stopping on the way at some of the lesser known bays.  Much will be weather dependent.
Last trip we towed a large off-road camper trailer and this time we'll be in the caravan.  The only thing left to do now is last minute clothes packing (will probably take way too much as usual) and the food buying and packing.

The blog site's changed since last time I used it so hope that I can get my head around it!!??