Coffin Bay

Here we are at Coffin Bay and a sleepy little seaside village.  Famous for its oysters!  But for the Red Elephants we will remember Coffin Ba for its Emu's, Stunning Sunsets and the once in a lifetime storm that hit South Australia.

So the Red Elephants where meet by Emu's at Coffin Bay on our arrival.  There are 3 in the park including a mum with her 6 stripey babies.  The junior Red Elephants found out that Emu's are fast runners, when they got to close and Mr Emu thought they where playing a game of chasey.

Coffin Bay National park is Spectacular.  Think coastal scrubby bush followed by a moonscape of white sand dunes and beautiful sea green ocean.  The great Southern Ocean to be precise.  Out there in the ocean we could spot islands and land.  Steep white cliffs also lead down the the ocean that sparkled like a jewel in the sun.  Also in the National Park we spotted our friends the Emu's , Lizards, Sea Eagles and little Wallabies.  A pleasant afternoon was spent exploring Coffin Bay National Park.   The only thing that would make it better is a pod of dolphins or a whale or two. We wizzed home for afternoon tea and a play in the playground then returned to watch the sun set over the ocean and bounce its last beams of the white cliffs.  Mr Red Elephant is a bit partial to a sunset

The last couple of days we have heard people talking about bad weather coming and a storm.  It turns out that here are here for a special event that South Australia only gets every 5o years or so.  Severe storms with gale force winds, rain, hail, cold you name it.  Some campers are trying to outrun the storm.  We have decided to batten down the hatches and wait it out.  So far it is not so bad.  So what do Red Elephants do on a stormy day in a small village.  Well its too wet to go out so we do our homework, play uno and yahtzee, play games on our devices, write blogs, make muffins, watch dvd's and do a little reading and crochet.  Hopefully we will survive the night.  Checking the latest weather warning on the Bureau of Meteorology, I think  we will be OK.  I hope you are safe and dry wherever you may be.

Port Augusta To Tumby Bay

Tumby Bay, dosn't it sound like a sweet little village.  More of Tumby Bay later......

This morning we visited the Wadlata Centre, actually we visted the centre yeaterday and didnt quite have a enough time to see it all so we got a pass out and where told we could revisite any time in the next 12 months.  What is the Wadlata centre.  It gives a history of the Port Augusta/Eyre/Flinders region from when the Dinosaurs roamed to the indigenous time down through history to the present day.It was multi sensory so suited the junior Red Elephants.  It covered the explorers and telegraph track , rail, coal,  drovers, pastoralists, dreamtime, and the outback both in the wet season and the dry. There where things to read, listen to and watch and hands on exhibits.  It was very good although I think we still wizzed through it and need another visit.  The Wadlata Centre was attached to the visitors centre who seem to cover a wide area.

http://www.wadlata.sa.gov.au/

We then set of south down the eastern side of the Eyre Peninsula.  To start with it was all flat, flat country and road as straight as a ruler.  The ground was covered in saltbush, scrubby and some wildflowers.

Whyalla was the next major town.  Famous for its steelworks, you can actually do a tour of the stell works but that was at 9.30am and of course we where to late.  Instead we did a tour of the HMAS Whyalla.  It was dry docked 2 km inland from the sea.  She was used in the WW1 as a anti mine ship.  She had a crew of 80 who worked in very hot, cramped conditions.  Although standing uner the Wyalla she looked big, by todays standards she is only little.  The Junior Red Elephants enjoyed the tour and clambering all over the ship.  They liked tooting her horn especially and steering the big ships wheel.

We shared our lunch with the flies of Wyalla then continued or journey south.  The town we thought we would stop in turned out to be not much chop and the van parks looked like Canberra sand and gravel, so we all agreed to continue on.  By this time we where looking at wheat farms out the car windows.

So Tumby Bay is where we have stopped arriving at around 4pm.  Its a lovely little seaside village.  We have stretched our legs with a seaside stroll and and a walk out onto Tumby Bays very long jetty.  It had railings out along most of the way so I felt safe unitl there was none and of course that was where the water was the deepest.

Leaving Adelaide

Today started with much excited as on the oval opposite our Caravan Park had massed over 1000 vintage cars, motorbike and trucks.

We quickly gulped down our breakfast; half packed up the caravan for our journey to Port Augusta (??) and raced over to the oval.  There was a real buzz of excitement as the cars where massed in rows ready for their getaway.  This happens every year and it’s called Bay to Birdswood.  So they leave Glenelg and head up to the Adelaide Hills and arrive at the town of Birdswood.   Some of the drivers and passengers were dressed from the era to match their cars.  Some I noticed had lovely hand knitted/ crochet blankets across their knees.    There was the sound of egg beater engines and old fashioned honking horns.  All the time with a running commentary over the loudspeaker.  People had lined the streets to wave then of and take photos.  At the starting line was a man in a yellow blazer waving the vehicles of with a yellow flag.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-25/bay-to-birdwood-run-in-adelaide-draws-thousands-of-people/7875860

Unfortunately we did not get such a fan fare as we set sail for Port Augusta??  There was a question mark as we were not entirely sure if we would make it to Port Augusta by day’s end or if indeed we would travel further.  I am pleased to tell you we travelled well, sharing the driving and did indeed make it to Port Augusta.  The drive today took as past Port Wakefield, Port Pirie and for some of the time we had the southern Flinders Ranges as a back drop

   Port Augusta feels like an industrial town.  We have a drive through site so we can have a quick getaway in the morning as we travel down the eastern side of the Eyre Peninsula.  Talking to the people staying at the park it seems to be a place you transit.  Perhaps heading east or west across the Nullarbor, heading north up central Australia, or maybe into the Flinders Ranges, some people are on their way to Adelaide or like us some people are on their way around the Eyre Peninsula.  The park tonight put on free entertainment and a sausage sizzle and nibbles.  While I was talking to our neighbours the junior Red Elephants took themselves to listen to the entertainment and helped themselves to a free sausage.

I am looking forward to the next week of travels.  I think we are going to see some lovely scenery and beautiful beaches and cute little towns.

Hahndorf

Hello we are back!  Yesterday we just had a rest day around the park, washing hair, walking along the beach collecting shells and sea glass, jumping on the jumping pillow, swimming in the pool, kicking the soccer ball, crocheting and talking to our neighbours.  By the way, the sun shone all day and my bare arms made an appearance.  Oh yes as the airport is a stones throw away we parked ourselves at the end of the runway watching the air planes come and go.  Sporty Elephant was very happy and thought it was Christmas.

The night before we had visitors for dinner.  An old work friend of mine who I had not seen for well on 11 years.  Well it was just like we had seen each other yesterday, it was so lovely to see her and her lovely husband.  We just chatted away catching up on everything in each others lives.

Today after the showers of rain had cleared and we caught up on our homework we went for a drive to Hahndorf.   Hahndorf is in a very scenic location in the hills just outside Adelaide.  It has a very long main street with foodie , crafty, boutique-ie shops along either side.  It much reminded me of NSW's southern Highlands.  We had a most enjoyable day walking up and down either side of the street.  We even had a bought lunch in a little cafe.  The junior Red Elephants made their candles.  The candle shop smelt divine we smelt all the candles and I could still smell them a long time after we had left.  Soccer boy elephant took and big sniff of some smelling salts and was blowing the salt out of his nose for the next hour.  Maybe it was him who was smelling all rosey up and down the main street.

On my friends suggestion we found Melba's Chocolates factory.  Chocolate heaven!  We sampled all the samples, perused the shelves and all varieties of chocolate before we made some purchases.

Mount Lofty lookout was next on the agenda.  A great lookout that looks back out over Adelaide and out to sea, the Vincent Gulf to be precise.  Unfortunately we still had some rain clouds about so not such a good view for us , but I can imagine on a good clear day the view would be magnificent.

Adelaide Zoo

Adelaide Zoo

We have found finding our way around Adelaide quite easy, but finding our way to the car park to Adelaide Zoo was like finding the Holy Grail.  Eventually we found our way in and headed straight for the Panda’s.  We arrived just in time for the Zookeeper talk.  The Panda was given some bamboo to eat.  She grabbed a paw full of bamboo and promptly turned her back on us and started gnawing.  She looked so funny sitting there with her fat little body and little black ears sticking up.  Mr Panda in the next enclosure was having a snooze.  After Mrs Panda had eaten her bamboo she was all tuckered out and went for a snooze too.

Unlike the Pandas most of the animals where active.  We enjoyed going into the bird aviaries as we were leaving one there sitting on a post next to the gate was a little owl fast asleep.  He woke up briefly to give Soccer Elephant a look that said, “How dare you wake me up.”    The monkeys put on a show for us with all their funny antics.  We watched the lions being feed who beforehand where most agitated, pacing up and down their enclosures.

The zoo is next to the botanic gardens are next to each other and over the Torrens River.  They are both very leafy and green

Having finished at the zoo we visited Glenelg.  Walking down Jetty Road to the Jetty.  Much to our disappointment the jetty was closed to the public.  Apparently it was damaged with the recent storms.  Probably just as well, I seem to have a habit of falling of jetties.  Instead we found a playground and had a good time there.

https://www.adelaidezoo.com.au/

photos to come

Adelaide Day 2

Well let me just start by saying that the Antarctic winds have been blowing cold and feirce here the last 24 hours.  Not much sleep was had last night as the caravan was rocking and rolling in all the wind like that Ketch we visited yesterday at the Maritime Musuem.  The junior Elephants had to swap beds as their bed was bearing the brunt of all the wind this meant that the roof above them and the side wall was flapping up and down.  Very Scary.

Today we visited the city.  Walking Rundle Mall, stopping to listen and watch the various buskers.  Surprisingly they liked the young lady with the Violin and a chap playing a banjo. We caught the free city loop bus to the markets and had a walk through the markets sampling some cheeses, checking out all the deli meats and nibbling on some cheesy bread sticks.

Just as our bus was leaving the markets Soccer Boy Elephant spotted a soccer shop.  We may just have to go back to visit.

We completed the day with a tour of the Adelaide Oval.  Let me make it clear my family are all sporting but I am the black sheep who likes craft.  The other three Elephants had a wonderful time on the oval tour.  I walked around pretending to be interested but was actually frozen to the bone.  We accessed the media rooms, the change rooms where I was hoping to see a fine sports man such as Mr Elephant, but no such luck  We also saw the " get ready for the game room," the recovery room and ran out onto the oval like true sportsmen and women.  There where different change rooms for the footie players and for the cricket players.  They also had  memorbilia  rooms dedicated to football, cricket and Don Bradman.  Sporty Elephants then asked the question who is Don Bradman,  I was most surprised that Don Bradman had fallen through her education both at school and at home.  I made a mentel  note that we will just have to visit the Don Bradman museum at Bowral to complete the junior Red Elelphants education on cricket.

I forgot to mention we where taken inside the old score board and I mean old scoreboard it wasn't hard to imagine dads army in there watching the game with binoculars and changing the scores with what looked like bike peddles.


thttp://www.adelaideoval.com.au/107/adelaide-oval-tours.aspx

The day was ended watching airplanes fly in a jump on the jumping pillow and a hot chocolate and crumpet in front of the heater.  By the sounds of it the Antarctic winds have blown themselves out.

Adelaide day 1

Adelaide - Day 1

With so much to do in Adelaide we are spoiled by choice.  As today’s forecast was for showers we decided we needed an indoors day.

So the Red Elephants headed to Port Adelaide.  This was a request from the junior read Red Elephants who are airplane buffs.  They had picked up a pamphlet for the Aviation Museum.  The highlight being an F111.  We have visited many Aviation type museums in our travels over the years at Temora, Williamstown, Nowra, Longreach and the Airplane hall in our own War Memorial.  At the Port Adelaide Aviation Museum we where meet at the door by a couple of old fellas, we then entered their hanger that was filled with all sorts of planes including the prized F111.  Sporty Elephant was in here element and was clicking away with her camera.  Afterwards we all agreed that the best Plane type museum we have been to is the one at Williamstown.  Could this be because they have the really fast jets (F18’s) flying overhead?

 Keeping with the transport theme we then visited the SA Maritime Museum.  This is housed in an old warehouse with bare beams and you really felt like you where in an old ship.  On entering the museum there was an old Ketch you scramble over and explore.  Let me tell you our caravan is luxrary compared to the captain’s quarters on this Ketch.  The museum had an interesting collection of figureheads you know those wooden carved heads they had at the front of the old wooden ships.

The junior Red Elephants even got to sample sailing cabins on board ships from the 1830’s, 1910’s and late 1940’s.  We found treasure and learnt all about ships GPS systems in the olden days, finding longitude and latitudes on the globe.

http://maritime.history.sa.gov.au/visit-us

A good day was had by all and was finished by singing Happy Birthday to our cousin Neymar Jnr  and eating Birthday Cake in his owner.

Sheeps Back

The Sheeps Back – Naracoorte

Before we left Naracoorte  we called into this little  ripper of a  museum that was attached to the visitors centre.  It was called the The Sheeps Back  and was an insight into the wool industry.  The Red Elephants really enjoyed this hands on wool museum.  The juniors got to shear the sheep, class the wool, sleep in the shearers quarters and be a shearers cook.  We also got a bit of a look into farming  conditions through out the decades.  The junior Red Elephants also learnt about Rabbit Plagues and how these plagues where fought.

Out the back of the museum was a modern day shearing shed complete with a robotic shearing system!!

We attended and old time one room country school, cane and all.  One little Red Elephant came very close to receiving the cane , he squealed in fright.     I found in the school one of the students sewing sampler books and an exercise book where the student had been learning about cotton she had put in fabric samples and fashion samples no doubt cut out from the latest Womens Weekly circa 1945.

 We had a sneak peak inside a post office.  Another shed with all the old horse carriages. And all the various horse paraphernalia that goes with it

On our many travels we have  found that local museums and information centres  in country towns are really worth visiting.    The people are so friendly and the museums on the most part can be better  than big city ones.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.au/places/the-sheeps-back-museum/

South Australia - We made it.

Naracoorte South Australia

We left Stawell at about 10 am, had a good drive past mostly flat country, still with plenty of water lying around.  We stopped in at the Big Koala at Dadswell Bridge.  Poor Koala looks a but grumpy, I dont know why. He has lots of friends out the back mainly chickens, turkeys, sheep ,pigs,deer and emu and a lone koala up a tree.

The Vic/ South Australia border was crossed with a big fanfare.

 Arriving at Naracoorte we checked out the visitors centre planning our next day and then collected some groceries.  Boy does this family know how to eat on the road.  There is not much room to stash food in a caravan.  While travelling I feel we are forever topping up supplies.

Naracoorte Caves was a success, it could of gone about bit pear shape with 2 claustrophobic's and a recovering achilles rupture elephant.  The caves had a wide entrance and where very open and spacious inside.  We opted to do the bat cave.  First we watched the bats via a infra red monitor in a separate room and found out all things micro batty.  Then came the exciting bit of entering the bat cave.  Although the bats where not in the part we went into, but it was still pretty cool.  No sign of Robin though or the bat mobile.

The Red Elelphants also explored independently whats called the wet cave. This cave was lighted up inside with easy excess and big and open inside.

The Wonambie Fossil Centre was visited by the Red Elephants.  This centre recreates the habitat and the dinosaurs that wandered this area 200000 years ago.  Heaps of fun for the whole family.

Naracoorte Caves/Wonambi Fossil Centre

Bool Lagoon was then visited, this is  a vast wetland area being extra wet after all the recent rain.  Its a birds lovers paradise with apparently 150 species of birds.  The Red Elephants where lucky enough to see Ducks, Swans, Magpies and a Echidna!!

Forgot to mention the beautiful wildflowers around the caves.

Finding our way to Stawell

FLOODS

 So it seems the state of Victoria is under flood.

  We had planned to leave Bendigo and head to the Great Ocean Road.  Different parts of the Great Ocean road are flooded and there have even been landslides.  The caravan park we are booked into is flooded.

Ok no worries we will just head on over to South Australia and see the Great Ocean Road on our way Back.  Sounds easy HUH?

No! Not so easy.  The normal route out of Bendigo heading west via St Arnuad to Horsham is flooded the road is blocked and we cant get through.  Option 2 going via Avoca  is also flooded.

So after calling into Vic Roads and the staff making phone calls to their own family who live along our intended route  it was thought we could go one way making lots of detours.  BUT one river  at Charleston was due to peak and if we did not make it through before it peaked we would not get through.  This sounded like trouble.

 So we headed down through Castlemaine, Daylesford and Ballarat before heading west.   We  had a stop in Daylesford and walked  the main street, although very picturesque  the shops are all little to posh for our liking.  Earlier this year I read a book about a family who rode their push bikes from Victoria up to far North Queensland.  I spotted the lady in the main street of Daylesford and we had a chat about each of our travels.

We have found ourselves a lovely little park in Stawell with a very friendly park owner who  has provided us with a fire drum and delivered free fire wood to our site.  Our Site sits over looking a billabong with horses and gumtrees in the background.  A family of swans keeps cruising  past tooting quietly to us.  We watched  daddy swan  at dusk as he prepared the nest on the little island opposite us, he was getting it ready for his families bed.

While Soccer Elephant and Mr Red Elephant fished the billabong (read fed the fish), Sporty Red Elephant and myself went for a walk around the billabong. It was very soul soothing here in Stawell.

We ate dinner out side under  the stars in the fresh , fresh air in front of our campfire.  Now we feel like we are camping.

Thank you Stawell Grampians Gate Caravan Park for a lovely stay.

http://stawellgrampiansgatecaravanpark.com.au/

By the way  Fun Fact every Easter Stawell is home to the Stawell Gift , a running race.