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Published: February 13th 2007
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Fish and Chips at Port Elliot
The view is a little blurry because it was taken through a plastic window. As most of you know by now, we are back home indefinitely. We thought we had a buyer for the house with a settlement in early January, which meant that we could keep travelling, but very disappointingly, it all went belly up. So here we are and we have had to go back to work (quickly) ‘cos we used up all our cash reserves keeping up the mortgage payments and being on the road for six months!!
It seems to be totally out of context to be sending the final blog when we’ve been home for 6 weeks - but it feels unfinished unless I do it, so here goes….
27/11 - Through the centre of Adelaide we went and on to the southern seaside suburbs to Moana where the caravan park is within 50 metres of the beach. We stayed there for 3 nights and went on day trips to the surrounding areas. One was to McLarenvale, to visit more wineries and we had a very nice lunch in the township. Another day we went right down the Fleurieu peninsula to Second Valley and another very nice lunch right on the beach at Normanville - since arriving in
Victor Harbor
The horse drawn tram which goes to Granite Island SA we had graduated from cocktail hours to lunches - splendid. Unfortunately the area is normally very lush and green, but because of the ongoing drought, everything was very parched and the colour of ripe wheat.
The next day (30/11) was our shortest trip yet - the picturesque 81kms drive over the Adelaide Hills to Victor Harbor. What a lovely spot. The town was however, recovering from the giant hangover imposed on it by South Australia’s “Schoolies Week”. I must say the locals all looked a little shell-shocked. (Schoolies week is when the graduating students from the city schools descend on the nearest holiday town for some very hard partying).
We had decided to head off first thing the next day for a couple of days of camping on Kangaroo Island - we left the caravan in the caravan park and drove the 1.5hrs to the car ferry at Cape Jervis. The ferry trip only takes about 50mins. It seems we were getting a little jaded due to all the spectacular sights we had seen over the last 6 months because Kangaroo Island was initially a little disappointing. We set up camp at Kingscote after passing through the
township of American River. We visited the Marron farm which was fascinating - Marron are freshwater crayfish and are quite an expensive local delicacy in WA and SA. Then onto Admirals Arch and its resident seals, and Remarkable Rocks.
The place was starting to grow on us - because of its sheer remoteness and the wildlife which was in abundance and almost completely untouched by humans. The next day was the absolute highlight - a visit to Seal Bay where we had the most amazing encounter with a baby Sea Lion. Normally the closest the Guides let you get to these cute creatures is about 200metres, but a baby one wanted to come and play with us and came within about 10ft and would have come closer, but the Guide make us move away, so that they stay wild. He was as cute as a puppy and performed just like one. He was only about 4 months old. Next was something much more mundane with a visit to the Emu Ridge eucalyptus distillery. But the honey factory after this was really interesting. Kangaroo Island is the only place on earth with native lingurian bees - bees which have remained
Baby Seal Lion on Kangaroo Island
This little baby was the highlight of Kangaroo Island pure and not become cross-bred (or some such). They are disease free and produce the most yummy organic honey. Final stop before the boat was the picturesque (pronounced “pictureskew” by a couple of the very country locals - we couldn’t understand them at first!) Cape Willoughby lighthouse - then onto the boat and back to the caravan.
Back in victor harbour (2/12) we went on a bike ride 14km to Port Elliot - this place was so pretty. We had their famous fish and chips and a couple of nice glasses of Sauv Blanc at the Flying Fish café and then rode back to Victor Harbor. Another day we drove to the mouth of the mighty Murray River at Goolwa, vistied yet another winery, crossed the bridge to Hindmarsh island and visited historic Strathalbyn in the hills. A very pleasant day. Our next afternoon was spent with a horse-pulled tram ride to Granite Island, and finished with strawberries & cream pancakes in the park. Oh well, we thought - we can go on a diet when we get home (Christmas fare has since compounded the problem and we’re still working on the idea of a diet!!)
We left on
4/12 and drove the 359km to Robe. A very pretty seaside town close to the Victorian border. We stayed here for 4 nights and did not much at all, apart from working on our tans. Left robe on 8/12 and headed to Port Fairy (302km) stayed 3 nights. We rode out bikes to all the local sites, stopping regularly at the historic pub for ‘refreshments’. We had a lovely dinner and breakfast at the local wine bar and then hit the Great Ocean Rd to get to Apollo Bay. Although this was only 198km, it was a long day because there are lots of Kodak moments to stop off at along the way. For mine this is still one of Australia’s highlights - despite the many times we have both driven this road, we never tire of it.
After 2 nights in Apollo Bay and a visit to Otway lighthouse, we went to Torquay for 1 night, but the weather had turned sour since Apollo Bay, so not much happening here apart from book reading. Late in the day we left Torquay and drove the 49km to Queenscliff where we spent our final night camped just off the main
Strawberries and Cream Pancakes
I may as well have just got a knife and spread it directly onto my hips - save the middleman!! street ready for the early morning ferry ride to Sorrento and our final hour long trip home. (Caravans are a flat rate regardless of size for the first two trips of the day - well, we had picked up a few money saving tips from the pensioner hares!) We reached Sorrento at 9.00am and were still not ready to go home, so we stopped for a leisurely breakfast. Alas, we had been in denial long enough and it was time for the final 44km to home. Happy to report, house was still standing. The shower and toilet felt so roomy after the caravan!! We went back to our king size bed and couldn’t find each other for days.
After finishing this blog, now the only other unfinished business is the rest of the trip - so stay tuned. You’ll hear the whoopees from wherever you are when we get to hit the road again for the second 6 months!!!
Thanks to everyone for all the positive feedback about the blog - I’ve enjoyed putting it together and glad that it’s been enjoyed by so many.
Oh, and we didn’t get around to sending xmas cards this year
Koala - Kangaroo Island
This fella crossed the track in front of us and climbed this tree. Very cute - much too busy doing nothing and playing tourists, but thanks to those of you juggling jobs, kids, sport, running a house etc who still managed to find the time!!
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Dom
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welcome back
welcome back to the real world... C U on Sat look forward to catching up over a few good bottles of Red...