Port Augusta - Coffin Bay

Campsite at Port Augusta SA @ Cenrtal Augusta Sports Club

Our band aid solution in Port Augusta seems to have worked. We added a product called Seal Up with water into the radiator and it has plugged the gaps. On the bottle it says it is liquid glass. No idea how it works but it has. Bess does seem to be starting and running a lot easier now.

Flinders Ranges as seen from Port Augusta SA

Charlie & Asha at Tug-O-War

Point LowlySA

We left Port Augusta on Tuesday 20/3 and traveled south west down the Eyre Peninsula to a place recommended to us called Point Lowly. It has a large and popular free camp with a toilet block with showers. There would easily have been 50 or more vans there when we arrived. We managed to find a spot to set up and then went down to the beach for a swim. It was magnificent! Pristine clear, calm blue water with white sand. The temperature of the day was about 30 degrees without a cloud in sight and just a breath of air for a breeze. Lib and I decided there and then to spend a week there. Charlie had no fear of the water either. Asha was her usual self and stayed most of the time on the beach. When Lib and I walked into the water Charlie was not going to be left behind and in he came. He was happy enough to chase a stick or the ball in the water while we were in there. I don't think he would ever enjoy going in on his own but he had fun in there with us.

Point Lowly SA

While in the water we noticed a couple of other campers in the dunes and so we wandered over to have a look. We found two vans in a car park by themselves with no "no camping" signs around. They were far from the toilets but they were a lot closer to the beach so we then packed down our campsite and moved over to where they were. As it was only a small car park, it only fit four vans in that night.

Lighthouse @ Point Lowly SA

That night the weather changed. A southerly blew in and we thought we were going to blow away it was that fierce. Wednesday 21/3 dawned with howling winds and the temperature that day rose to more no more than 20 degrees. Oh where had our idyllic paradise gone. We spent the majority of the day hiding in the van from the wind but we did get out for a walk around the point at about lunch time. We walked out along the beach and then rocks to the lighthouse and then back via the road to the boat ramp and jetty. It was pretty.

Point Lowly SA

Point Lowly SA

Point Lowly SA

Boobies!!!

Sunset @ Point Lowly SA

The next morning Thursday 22/3 we moved on as the weather forecast had the weather remaining the way it was for the next week or so. We traveled down through Whyalla to Cowell, where we had a seafood lunch at the Franklin Harbor Jetty. After lunch we began heading towards a free camp in the book at Port Gibbon. On the way we saw a another road heading off in the other direction down the coast and decided to see where it went. We ended up driving to the end of a dirt road and came to Point Gibbon where we spent the next two nights camped by our selves. We saw few people during the day but as it was still chilly and windy we spent most of our time in the van. We did go for the occasional walk along the beach and through the big white sand dunes. The dogs loved tearing up and down those dunes.

 View of beach from our campsite @ Point Lowly SA

Whyalla SA

Point Gibbon SA

On Saturday 24/3 we moved just down the coast to another free camp in the book called Redbanks. We got out the fishing gear here as we'd bought some bait at Arno Bay before making camp at Redbanks just north of town. In the first half an hour I caught a foot and a half long Australian Salmon, which Lib cooked up the next day for lunch in an amazing fish curry, but the rest of our time there I didn't even get a nibble. Saturday night saw us acting like children as we got rolling drunk, fished, enjoyed the amazing sunset and each others company.

Sand Dunes @ Point Gibbon SA

We left Redbanks on Monday 26/3 and checked out Port Neill and Tumby Bay as we made our way down to Port Lincoln. They both looked like happy seaside towns though there did seem to be alot of seaweed on the beaches. We had been told that this part of South Australia was famous for its white sandy beaches but so far we hadn't seen any. At Port Lincoln we found out that there were two new free camps in town at the two public boat ramps. We checked out the one north of town but it was highly unsuitable as even with ramps we could not get Bess level. We headed over to the other south of town and it proved to be well worth it. There is a public toilet there which is locked at night but it is level enough. On the way there though Lib and I both missed a "DIP" sign. As a consequence we ended up with a crack in one of our water tanks. We spent that night in the free camp but decided to spend the next three nights in a caravan park while we repaired the crack.

Sand Dunes @ Point Gibbon SA

There is one caravan park in Port Lincoln which does not take dogs but there is one 10km north at North Shields that does. We had to jack up Bess and drop out the water tank to find the crack to repair it. While at the caravan park we walked up to the jetty each day and we bought a squid jig at the caravan park shop and tried our hand at squidding, but so far we have caught none. Though we have seen others catch them. Looks messy but worth it I think if you like calamari.

Sand Dunes @ Point Gibbon SA

As far as white sandy beaches go we were told that they usually are in spring and summer but that the sou' westerly winds in autumn and winter drove the seaweed up onto the beaches.

One local attraction here I did look into as it looked like fun was Cage Diving with Great White Sharks! Way! Well, it did look good until I found out that it came with a $500 price tag. I don't think it looks like that much fun. I think for that money I'd rather go sky diving again.

US @ Redbanks SA

On Friday 30/3 we left the caravan park and dropped Charlie off at the vets so he could have his nuts cut off. We spent the day running errands, had a look at the local marina where we saw prawns being unloaded and had lunch at a local hotel while we waited to pick him up. I know it is necessary to have him desexed traveling so he is much easier to control while we are living on the road, but I still give Lib a hard time about it. It is good that we are able to joke about it.

Redbanks SA

We stayed that night in the free camp at the boat ramp again and tried squidding in the evening but to no avail. Saturday morning 31/3 we moved on to Coffin Bay where we are spending the next two nights at the caravan park. When we arrived yesterday we stopped at the General Store which is also the information centre in town to get the local hot goss on fishing etc only to find out the guy behind the counter, while friendly enough, had no interest and therefore no idea about fishing in the area. He was happy enough to sell us a dozen fresh Coffin Bay Oysters for $8.50 which were beautiful to eat for lunch. As dusk was coming on and we were settling in for the evening we had kangaroos come and visit the caravan park too.

Redbanks SA

Sunset @ Redbanks SA

Port Neil SA

Prawn Boats @ Port Lincoln Marina

Prawn Boats @ Port Lincoln Marina

Kangaroos at dusk @ Coffin Bay C.P.

N.B. If you click on the photos you can view them at full size.

Mildura - Renmark - Bordertown - Peterborough - Port Augusta

Camper Trailer? Mildura Vic

Border Crossing into South Australia

When we left Mildura and Victoria on the 4th of March the sun came out. It was a very welcome sight as it had been just over a week since the rain began and kept following wherever we went. It came out and has stayed out ever since. We crossed the Border into South Australia at Renmark. We had gotten rid of a heap of salad items before the crossing but when we got there they were very thorough and we had to get rid of plenty more. They also gave us a booklet so that we now know exactly what can be taken into each state and territory. Some of it is weird though. Some items are not accepted at all, some are accepted peeled and some cooked. And those accepted peeled or cooked are not accepted raw.

Plushes Bend, Renmark SA

Plushes Bend, Renmark SA

We camped the following two nights just out of Renmark at a camp site called Plushes Bend on the bank of the Murray River. It was very picturesque. We threw in the yabby pots and tossed in a line. The dogs had a ball as there was plenty of space to run around and being mid week there were not many other campers there. We managed to catch five carp and one Murray Cod but as he was little and it is illegal to keep them at this time of year we had to throw him back. The biggest carp we caught was about 21 inches long.

Plushes Bend, Renmark SA

Lib & Kate, Bordertown SA

 On Tuesday we packed up and decided to head to Bordertown to visit our one South Australian friend, Kate. It was approx 250km's out of our way but who knew when we would be back that way again. Kate is starting a new job this week as the cook in the pub at Leigh Creek, a mining town in SA. On the way there we stopped at Berri to get photos of Bess with the Big Orange to add to the collection.

Lib and I had dinner at the Woolshed Hotel bistro before meeting up with Kate for drinks in the main bar and playing pool for the rest of the evening.

Murray River, Mannum SA

Murray River, Mannum SA

The next day we headed off to Keith to say G'day to all the people we had befriended on our previous visit to the area for work.

We pulled into Viterra to say hi to Robyn and the gang and to catch up on all the goss before heading over to the Keith Hotel where Tony, the publican, talked us into staying the night. We then headed over to the caravan park to check in and we caught up with Leanne. After dinner we headed over to the pub and after the first couple of drinks, were shouted by the house for the rest of the evening. It had been a good day catching up with lots of friendly people. It was good to feel welcomed back again so easily.

Thursday saw us passing through Tailem Bend and visiting the Big Olive followed by lunch by the Murray River. Then we headed through Murray Bridge and on to Mannum to spend the night, again on the bank of the Murray River. No fishing here however we did take the dogs for a swim in the river.

Paddle steamer, Murray River, Mannum SA

Peterborough SA

 On Friday the 9th we kept heading north and arrived at a rest area north of Tarlee to spend the night.

The next day we kept heading north and arrived at lunchtime at Peterborough. I was looking forward to getting here and checking out Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre. The heritage listed Roundhouse has 23 bays, a working 3 gauge turntable (only one left in the world) and parts of the original workshops now displaying a wide range of historic rolling stock, i.e. a 1923 1st Class Lounge car, a Baby Health Carriage, Engines and other carriages dating back to the start of the century.

Roundhouse

Ist Class Lounge Car

Weighbridge

3 Gauge Turntable

Supervisor's Car

 It was great seeing all this old history. Although, we were told that up until 911 one of the big engines along with some of the 2nd class carriages were used as an attraction. They had an outing once a month which was very popular with tourists but sadly after 911 their insurance premiums went from $5,000 per annum to $85,000. As it is run by volunteers and funded from local business donations and the tourist industry, they could no longer afford to keep it running.

Stored Together???

Aaron's "Bushy" Look

That night we stayed in a rest area just out of town and the next day before heading off we drove out to the lookout above the town for a sticky beak.

We continued on our way and stopped to look at the Big Red Gum at Orroroo and then Hancock's Lookout as we were passing through the foothills of the Flinders Ranges. It was a great view and well worth the 7km drive along the dirt road out there.

Lookout above Peterborough SA

Lookout above Peterborough SA

We had been having engine problems for about the last two weeks and it had finally come to a head as we would be crossing the Nullabor in the next month or so. When we arrived at Port Augusta we decided it was time to get it looked at. We decided to spend Sunday night at a cheap camp spot at Central Augusta Sporting Club at $5 per night. They don't have power but they do have water and only require you to be self sufficient i.e. your own toilet. We also found out along the way that day that Monday was a public holiday in SA so we would have to wait til Tuesday to see the mechanic.

How do you pronounce this?

So we set up and waited til Tuesday and then went to Bruce & Steve's Automotive Service (great service so I thought I'd give them a small plug). They were fully booked for the week and said they would pencil us in for Friday. So we set up again at the sports club to wait. We didn't want to drive Bess because she was getting increasingly harder to start cold. She wouldn't start on gas at all and it was getting increasingly more and more difficult to start on petrol. That night was very warm and we decided to shower in Bess. It was the first time in the two and a half years we had owned the van that we had used our indoor shower.

We drove to the mechanic early Friday morning and dropped off Bess. We then walked around the corner to the local vet so that Charlie could get his final puppy shots. Once completed, we headed back to the mechanics where we spent that remainder of the day.

The Big Red Gum Orroroo SA

They determined that the reason that we couldn't start Bess was that we were getting weak and intermittent spark and so they replaced the coil and module which along with some minor re-wiring solved that issue. That solution inadvertently gave Steve the reason as to why we had been losing coolant as well. I could not for the life of me find the leak but when Bess was running Steve walked behind the vehicle and found coolant coming out the exhaust pipe.

This means we either need a new head gasket or we have a cracked head. Either way it is going to be expensive to fix in the long run. But it is better to know what we are dealing with than not to know. At the end of the day we decided to return to the Sports Club for the weekend to ponder our next move.

Yesterday Lib wasn't feeling well and spent most of the day laying down. I made some minor repairs around Bess and after lunch I decided to go for a ride to have a look around as it was a fairly still day. It does seem to be a fairly windy part of the world most days. I had ridden about 10-12 km's out to West Port Augusta and found myself at Matthew Flinders Lookout. Shortly after I started on the return trip I road through a patch of cat-heads and got a puncture in my rear tyre. I found a servo and bought some tyre weld but as it is an old tyre and tube when I put it in it blew out the side wall of the tyre. So I then had to walk about 8 km's back to the Sports Club via Big W to buy a new tyre and tube. A good run of luck lately, what?

Our Family

We have decided that tomorrow (Monday 19/3) we will try the cheaper band aid solution first and put Wynn's in the radiator and see if it plugs the leaks and allows us to continue on our way and see us through the next two months, which by then we will need to be looking for work again and get it repaired properly.