touringtonkins

Left Ballarat after a fairly horrendous night. A storm began just as we were going to bed. We have been in heavy rain before while in the van and it has never been a problem, however this night it was. The old tin can has sprung a leak. As Ian was Lying in bed he had a constant drip, drip, drip on his chest and Xavier had water just seeping into his bed via the back wall. So some major moving around had to be done. Ian removed the table and set up a bed on the floor. I slept with the baking dish, collecting the water and waking every so often when a big splash made it to my face or the remant odours of baked dinners long gone wafted across the bed. Poor Xav ... read more

Left Mt Gambier early on Saturday morning and before we knew it we were in Victoria. Roads became pot-holed and windy, but that might be more as a result of the suddenly hilly landscape. Lots of pine and eucalyptus plantations, sheep and cattle in feed up to their bellies and dairies everywhere. Devondale seems to be here. Travelled through to Heywood then took the C191 inland instead of the supposedly more superior A1. There are no superior roads here! Port Fairy was a beautiful little town with bluestone buildings, huge churches. Very undulating right to the sea, with lots of heath covered paddocks (heath so we're told) and very few trees. We think it must be windy here! Warrnambool was also a real surprise for us. It is a city but with some fantastic views. Check ... read more

"God's own country" - the Germans have Bavaria and they also found this part of the world. It is so picturesque with vineyards in small square fields beside hay or olives or almonds or fruit trees. The overall picture is a tapestry of colour covering the hills. On Monday we had a drive to the Mouth of the Murray. From McLaren Vale you travel south east to Goolwa and then to Hindmarsh Island (controversial Bridge - secret women's business - do you remember? ) which leads to the edge of the southern part of the mouth. Huge sand dredging tugs stand at the mouth apparently working all the time to ensure the salts, minerals and sand have an escape route to the ocean. In 1981 for the first time the Murray stopped flowing and since then ... read more

Thursday - traveled to Kings Canyon which is 300km north of both Kata Tjuta and Uluru. Like Uluru, there is a resort here which is more like a little settlement with options for accommodation. It was a pretty hot day so when we arrived we stayed out of the sun until about 6pm before going on the Creek walk in the gorge at Kings Canyon. Kings Canyon is quite different to both Uluru and KataTjuta, red sediments of rock, with huge willowy grasses, bright flowers, trees and shrubs lining the layers of the red, rocky outcrops. The creek walk takes you past huge gums coolibahs and cycads!. Birds everywhere and happy to let you wander by. The perfume was thick from the heat and the budgies everywhere. We are only spending one day here so we ... read more

What an enormous day. Left Coober Pedy early and headed north, where it became greener and greener. Stock could be seen on either side of the road and water lay by the road. River beds were dry but the trees were big and the countryside just became lusher and lusher the further we were away from Coober Pedy. Arrived in Marla, the supposed geographical centre of Australia and were amazed to find an oasis - lawn everywhere with sprinklers going and 'The Sydney Morning Herald'!! Left South Australia and entered the Northern Territory and it is 130kms/hr speed limit - thank you. This place is fantastic, beautiful! Not at all what we expected and of course this is due to all the rain that has fallen recently. Flowers, birds everywhere. Decided to spoil ourselves today as ... read more