Here we are in
the quaintly-titled Robe, SA. Not sure why it’s called that, but it has a lot
of history and very attractive stone buildings. Perhaps you could Google it and
let us know!
We have
progressed over 1500 km since the last post, but in a kind of up-and-down,
zig-zaggy way and have once again been fortunate enough to experience the
kindness and hospitality of people in this spectacular country.
Two days after
leaving Ceduna, we arrived in Port Lincoln and liked it so much we decided to
celebrate our two month – from leaving England – anniversary by having lunch
there on the Friday. While we were there we went for a walk along yet another
jetty and encountered a sea lion swimming nonchalantly very close to shore, so
we followed it for a while before it decided to continue its frolics further
out to sea!
We also came
across a couple we have been tracking unintentionally since Norseman. They are
in their late 60s and have been touring from Tasmania for about four months,
taking in Alice Springs, Uluru, WA and more. They are travelling by motorbike. By
motorbike, with a small tent and just enough storage space for a few
clothes and daily rations. Every time we met them, they had friendly words and
were permanently cheerful. When we last met, they were off the next day to swim
with tuna!
The day we left
Port Lincoln, Saturday 22nd, we passed our 10,000th
kilometre for the trip to date. There’s a picture of the very spot below. It’s
much like 9,000 others. (joking).
Lowly Point was
our next stop, just past Whyalla. Both areas are stunningly beautiful looking
one way and blighted by massive steelworks and power stations looking the
other. Lowly Point was more or less a free site ($5) and had a beautiful
sunset. The power station looked spectacular at night, but the wind was fierce!
We also saw our first snake, crossing the road near where we sat enjoying a
glass of wine. I’m reliably informed it was probably a Brown Snake – not to be messed
with…
Auburn, in the
heart of the Clare Valley wine region, clearly had a lot going for it, but we
met it on a quiet Sunday. The campsite was the friendliest we have come across,
with a ‘Happy Hour’ when all the campers (or most) gather for a drink and a
yarn about 5 pm – earlier if the men have their way, apparently – around a
table. Main topic of conversation – the price of fuel. We got lots of very
helpful information from the travellers – some of whom had been ‘on the road’
for four years!
While we were
on our way to Auburn, we got a phone call from our friend Sally’s step-brother
Peter, who lives in Adelaide. He and his wife Nora very kindly invited us to
stay with them in their beautiful house for a couple of days while we had a
look round the city.
Needless to
say, we jumped at the opportunity and drove up to their place on Mount Osmond
on the Monday. To say the house is lovely and the views are spectacular would
be an understatement. It’s right up near the top of Mt Osmond and from their balcony
you can see across Adelaide to the sea.
Our eternal
thanks to Peter and Nora, their son Lockie and daughter Pip, who gave up her
room while we were there, for their kindness and friendship, lovely food and
general wonderfulness, not to mention washing machine, sparkling shiraz and
eggs from the hen coop at the bottom of the hill!
We stayed with
Peter and Nora for two nights and had a look around Adelaide, which is a
charming city that we will certainly want to come back to when we do our trip
into The Red Centre…
We took our
leave reluctantly and moved on to another free site – Frank Potts Reserve in
Langhorne Creek, before moving on to Robe, where this post started.
PS. It’s been
noted that there’s been an absence of ‘Gillie” in the blog, so here I am!! (I’m
still here!) I’m going to be doing a
regular PS to let you all know what’s REALLY going on.
Needless to say
we’re having a wonderful time and still can’t believe we’ve been allowed to do
this! We feel as free as birds and wake
up every morning looking forward to our next adventure. I’m mostly navigating, which so far has been
easy as there’s really only been one way to go, except for Perth and
Adelaide. Melbourne next week and then
Sydney will tax my skills, however a few yoga moves from Emily and Holly will
relieve the tension.
Yes we are
still talking to each other, about what, I don’t know, seeing as we’ve been
joined at the hip for over 2 months.
However in our quieter moments I zip out the crossword book and the
kilometers fly by while engrossed in the cryptic clues. We are sooooo looking forward to seeing the
girls, rumour has it I’m using my ‘count down to Christmas’ Good Housekeeping
knowledge to whip up a turkey and all the trimmings on Emily’s balcony
overlooking Bondi Beach. (We’ll see
about that!!)
Well ,that’s
enough from me for now, it’s Friday, so it’s down to the local bookshop, where
we’ve discovered they have a garden and sell wine and beer……just like the
Oatsheaf……bye for now xxxxxGilliexxxxx
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| Some pelicans |
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| 10,000 kms - much like 9,999 others!!! |
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| Peter, Nora, Lockie and Pip Willis - thanks so much |
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| A snake - honest! |
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| Ok, so we got a bit lost... |
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| pigs in the city! |
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