Our Australia trip

Fly’s in your nose, your eyes, and even last night in my beer. That was the decider, this was not a place to stay. No matter the nice view and location of the bus. Marjo was a bit sad, she liked the wind here.

And the sunset.

So we came to a compromise. One more walk and we would go further to the south coast to see if we could turn that South East wind into something useful (yay, kiting!). Nossi loved the walk.

Then we drove back between dunes and over dirt roads.

We love the bush camps but have had it a little with corrugated dirt roads. So we pick a campsite that’s close to the beach but accessible by bitumen. We drive past narrow, bushy roads and suddenly see Christmas bush. How appropriate!

The camping is on the beach, separated by a dune that keeps out the wind. Unfortunately the beach and shore is littered with coral and with already one kite underway to the repairer I don’t want to risk a second nor be myself scratched on the sharp coral. So we go for a walk.

Then we do laundry which dries pretty fast in this wind and take long showers.

A nice day.

The Gap was not our most favourite spot and we decided to move onto the bush camping earlier located by Marjo in our camp book.

So again the lovely 15 km of dirt road.

Nossi wasn’t happy but Dotti couldn’t care less.

We passed a nice girlie lake (I should of course not be a sexist and say “pink lake”).

And we arrive at a nice spot with many sites, all 4WD apart from the one with the great view.

With no one else camping here, we take this spot and muddle with the awning. With a very strong wind from one side and a strong sun on the other we can’t win. Either we sit in the blowing wind (with a lot of sand) or we sit in the hot sun. I try for under the bus which is free from most of the wind and from the sun. It has the additional benefit that I can check out what’s wrong with the water pump (for the fresh water) but decide to leave when it’s fixed. Although the dogs can lie for a long time under the bus in the shade, I worked out it’s impossible to drink a beer there. So we decide for a walk on the beach.

When we return we alternate between sun and wind. The sun side has the aded pleasure of lots of flies, so finally we decide to go inside. Hoping for less wind tomorrow.

A great day.

After waking up and another shower (it didn’t cool down below 27 at night and is already well in the 30’s in the morning) we pack up. Today we’re switching peninsula’s. That is, we’re leaving Eyre behind and diving deep into Yorke. It seems that there are plenty of bush campings here if you’re a big and ugly 4WD car with tyres that eat corrugation for breakfast. We feel powerful but it doesn’t last long. Seems an age thing and we feel appropriately small again when we see some of the mountain ranges.

It gets only worse when we get taken over by a herd of horses or do you call that a flock……stampede?

In Port Augusta it is clear that we don’t have to mount the ranges but keep them to the east.

While driving I have had thoughts of my submarine like kiting with little wind and while Marjo does some grocery shopping I find a longer and wider board (it seems my board is for a 70 kg person where my weight is a little more). After emailing and texting with a person in Melbourne and some friends, we arrange that they inspect and pick up the 2nd hand board and we’ll receive it in January.

Marjo returns and when stopping for the third time to finalise the deal with payment and stuff she gets bored and snaps left

and right.

Then we follow the road down Yorke peninsula. The strong NW wind with 30 plus degrees is turned to an even stronger SE wind blowing up dust.

It is not our day, first overtaken by horses and then by a train loaded with cars (well a least one).

So we focus on our surroundings and see an old friend. The pademelon, loads of them.

The towns here have purpose. Whyalla is a major steel town and here is the largest lead smelter of the south hemisphere. Nice to know, not to visit.

Then I notice how tall the antenna masts are in the Yorke peninsula which must be to receive signal across the hilly area. Perhaps nice to share and Marjo goes trigger happy.

Well, it proves a point.

Finally we’re brave and go down a dirt road. Only 15 km……

The wind is still strong, blowing tumbleweed across the road.

Then we’re there. The campsite is not what was promised in the magazine that featured the gap. It is very dusty, forgiven with flies, has a yucky toilet and the beach is not what we expected. Still we are glad to be here and on the beach.

I practice for scarecrow and it works on the gulls and Nossi also charges me.

Dotti can finally cool down and Nossi is over the moon after the 15km of grid like road.

And when we want to leave Dotti hides.

And Nossi tries too.

It turned out a great day after all.

Posted from Minlaton, South Australia, Australia.

We thought that last night was hot, well we were wrong. Chased inside by midges (miniscule little cretins that leave nasty bite marks) we were sweating most of the night. That surely contributed to Marjo being up at 6 am and capturing the gorgeous sunrise.

I watched it from my bedroom window 🙂

Then we had breakfast and a slow pack up. It already started to warm up and at 9 am it was 35 Celsius. With my 12m kite gone to the repairer, I felt kinda naked. Normally I don’t mind that feeling but while traveling that is not the best. We spoke about it the night before and did some research to the point that Marjo made me turn off the iPad so we could attempt sleep.

While on the road though I rang the kite teacher from Agnes Water and asked whether a used 9m kite that’s on offer in Whyalla would be a right choice. He confirmed in a non committal way and we arranged to meet the seller. Unfortunately he was about to go diving all day and couldn’t meet till after tea (read dinner). We decided to drive to Whyalla and take benefit of the camping there so we could cool down with a shower. By now the temperature had risen to 39 Celsius.

Because it sounds greedy to only buy stuff for Axel, we went to the shopping mall where Marjo went berserk in a $2 store. All she bought was some Christmas presents and some head coverings for my red burned bald patch. So selfless. I decided to treat her for dinner tonight.

For the rest of the day we had a quiet one in the shade. The camping here is right on the beach and this view is our back yard. With low tide the water is far out but later it came not far from where the bus is.

We had our showers and shave and also hosed down the dogs with nice cool fresh water. The first time that they didn’t mind getting wet from a hose.
Marjo went for a walk and collected only three shells while I waited for the arrival of the kite seller.

The setting sun left a nice view and while Marjo captured that, I inspected the kite after the seller turned up. The kite was in good nick and well priced so we had a deal.

Now I have two kites, one for 12-20 knots, the other for 18-25 knots of wind. He also mentioned that my board is kinda small for my muscly build (well that’s not what he said but you get the picture) which contributes to my submarine kiting style. Without strong wind it is hard for me to get it up….uhm that is the board from the top of the water. So that could be the next change (a trainer in Port Douglas said something similar).
He also suggested catching blue swimmer crabs while they are running in with the tide. Although we love crab, the idea of catching a life snapping crab, finding a pot with boiling water to dunk it into and boiling it alive doesn’t make us smile. So instead we went to the soccer club next to the caravan park and I treated Marjo on a sumptuous dinner (polystyrene box with 20 chips, a nice pasta and garden salad and a chicken schnitzel). We both loved eating it while looking out over the water and seeing the sun set.

A beautiful day!

Posted from Whyalla, South Australia, Australia.

This stop was nice but enough for an overnight stop only. After feeding Marjo, the dogs and Pluto we’re on our way.

The little town of Port Neill tries to get on the map and become more attractive, but somehow I don’t think that frequently grading an already reasonably smooth dirt road to the town is going to cut it.

From here on the scenery gets a bit more hilly and from some we suspect they’re man made.

Then we come to the town of Whayalla which is already visible from 25 km up the road.

And loses its attractiveness the closer we get.

We stop for a look at the town beach but turn around when we see that we’ll never make it over the mountain of seaweed on the beach and then go for shopping for rye bread and post the kite. This takes a couple of tries as it doesn’t seem simple to insure the kite during transit. I have too often heard of things getting lost and don’t want my kite getting regrettably lost. When we finally succeed, we decide to indulge in a 50 cent Hungry Jack’s ice cream and then say farewell to Whyalla.

Our next stop is Fitzgerald Bay where a couple of bush campings are located. First we pass Defence training land and we’re glad we have camouflage colours.

Then we stop on the side of the road on the top of a hill with mobile reception to congratulate Joran and Christine with their engagement! Very happy for the two of them.

And we come to the bay.

At the first campground the access to the water is a little hard.

So we decide to go to the next site and camp there with a nice view. Dotti enjoys it too and lets herself out for a walk.

Then a yummie dinner from Marjo and coffee after.

Then Marjo and Nossi explore a bit further.

And come back to the bus where Dotti sits enjoying the sunset.

A day with love in the air….congratulations Joran and Christine!

Posted from Whyalla, South Australia, Australia.

It’s difficult to say goodbye from a place with such good memories. Here it was I made friends with Randy (when he introduced himself to Marjo, she replied with “sometimes”) who then came over every time with a liter of home brewed beer and kept feeding me more. And also where the kite decided it was time to split.
Well the decision is made for us. There’s no bread and no water anymore, so it’s time to hit the road again.

The first stop is Port Neill for fresh water and dumping the toilet. Most towns here can be found by looking for a big grain silo.

Also we need some bread and see if we can send the kite for repair. The first shop is a derelict petrol station that seems boarded up.

Luckily there’s an alternative. The only shop open in Port Neill with hardware, fuel, pharmacy, groceries and post office. The bread is limited to white only and they have no clue how to send and register / insure the kite to send to Tweed Heads in NSW. So we get some necessities, leave the kite till we get to Whyalla and continue onto a nearby camp site.

We come past Arno Bay (Arno is a good Dutch friend in Sydney) and we’re now going to be on the lookout for Marjo Bay and Axel Cove.

And we continue the road, now more inland with less wheat fields. A snapshot of our state-of-the-art cockpit with electronics and communication in suitable stands, our happy bird and a lucky travel hangy thingy that I mistook for a voodoo figure.

We arrive at the Port Gibbon camping where you can camp for whatever you think it’s worth. Apparently many people like this idea as it is quite busy and almost mimics a commercial camping with caravans in a neatly ordered row. Not everyone fits though.

We park somewhere on the side (we don’t like orderly rows) and make a beeline for the beach. Very different this time.

And we all want to pose with such a stunning background.

We all take a short cut but Marjo seems hesitant.

There are also interesting things in the water.

Before we head back Marjo convinces Dotti to take a bath and Nossi contemplates rock climbing.

Later that afternoon Marjo and Nossi check out the other side of the beach and find a jelly, tiny and prickly.

Posted from Whyalla, South Australia, Australia.

From Louth Bay we want to try the next bush camping along this coast which seems to be Lipson Cove. First we have an opportunity to stock up on water at Tumby Bay, a nice but sleepy town where we take the dogs for a stroll along the town beach.

Then we drive another 20km before turning off a dirt road towards the coast. The first glimpse of Lipson Cove is promising.

And it only gets better. We’re not alone but to say it’s quiet is an understatement.

We find our spot and settle in.

Then our hectic life starts, breakfast, walking, coffee, watching dolphins, kiting, lunch, read a book, art, kiting, walking, and it’s time already for a wine / beer and a snack. Then it’s time for dinner, a coffee and either talking, reading or a movie. Added to this busy schedule we have some social visits of other campers, general bus maintenance. In short…..we love this life of leisure!

To give you a little taste of our nice stay here:

Our walks

The wildlife:

(A little birdie collecting Dotti fur for her nest).

Some passing dolphins.

Some art:

(Marjo artistically trying to hide her hurt toe from the camera).

Some kiting:

And an unfortunate ending…..a sudden gust made the kite flip up and do some pirouette. After landing it showed a tear in the canopy…..off to the repairer.

Might as well repair some smaller tear in a strut as well.

Some flowers:

Another beautiful stay.

Posted from Lipson, South Australia, Australia.

It was nice to freshen up again and feel solid grass under your feet instead of the dirt of most free camp sites. While Marjo and Nossi drop off the key for the ablution block, Dotti and I drive the limousine (bus) to pick them up.

Then we drive to see where we could have kited if there was wind and high tide, Dotti and Nossi made a new friend, we pick up some new fresh oysters, post the mail and move on.

Next stop is Port Lincoln to stock up a little, buy some Dotti medicine and get tyre levers to do our own tyre fixing in future.
We saw on the map that I have a first-name-brother who got himself a museum. Unfortunately it was closed today.

After that we continue to Louth Bay where we have seen a campground near the beach. The camp ground nor the beach are great but the people are nice and we decide to stay for the night.

There is not enough wind to go kiting so Marjo and Nossi go for a walk and find some jelly fish and nice clouds.

Then it’s dinner time (yummie rice cooked by Marjo) and for Dotti a nice after-dinner snack.

After so many carrots, no wonder she’s hopping like a rabbit.

Another great day.

Posted from Louth Bay, South Australia, Australia.

Sheringa Beach didn’t feel right; the ocean was too strong to swim, the camping didn’t feel safe with locals coming and going and we didn’t want to leave the bus alone while being on the beach. I think Marjo and the dogs have enough of traveling so we are looking for a spot where we all can be happy and stay a while. This is not it.

First we look at other roads around Sheringa Beach and take some nice shots on and from the cliffs.

The weather is not great when we take the road back to the pub.

We stop at the pub for a dozen of $6 fresh oysters for Marjo and then head onto Coles Point.

Then the road leads us past filled and empty lakes and big and small trees.

Marjo gets inspired by the shapes of the big gums.

And I by hers.

While Nossi watches it all enfold.

Then a turn off on another dirt road towards Coles Point. The road is overall not too bad allowing us to do 60 kph with some corrugated parts where we are shaken to bits and slow down to 14 kph.

We come past farmers who seem to be more productive then we are.

And keep following the road to nice views but no camp ground.

We stop for some lunch and walk to the beach with wild waves.

After checking out Greenly beach, which works out inaccessible for the bus, we decide to head to Coffin Bay.

In Coffin Bay we do the proper thing and go full out, meaning showers, laundry, cleaning the bus, finished by beer & wine, Marjo’s oysters and on the bike for some takeaway.

That evening Nossi got all exited by our late visitors and then we went to bed.

A beautiful day.

Posted from Coffin Bay, South Australia, Australia.

As promised we went first to the beach in Sceale Bay. The water was really fresh and Marjo only marginally succeeded in luring the dogs in with her.

But then they decided that it was too cold before midday and let her go by herself.

For us the dip was nicely refreshing, certainly now the sun was already quite hot. Today is forecasted to be 31 degrees.
Then we drove back to the main road and further south towards Sheringa Beach.

We stop at Murphy’s Haystack for lunch and some pictures.

Then the road takes us past some nice spots where we stop for some pictures.

And we even have the opportunity to give Nossi some Grid therapy.

We come to the pub near the Sheringa turnoff where we need to get a camping permit.

Then we decide that we want to go nowhere else but Sheringa Beach.

When we arrive after 9 km of excellent smooth dirt road we again find that the campsite is deserted.

And stay for a night. I am tired after driving and can’t even make it up the beach.

Before we turn in though we get rewarded by a nice sunset.

And an equally stunning moon rise.

A beautiful day.

Posted from Sheringa, South Australia, Australia.