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Published: February 16th 2009
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Kornies 5 continue their travels with a journey from Meningie to Coffin Bay National Park via Victor Harbor and Port Lincoln. When we arrived at Victor Harbor, we were undecided about where to stay. As we pulled up to a Top Tourist Park, Sami and Maxi spotted a jumping pillow out of the corner of their eyes. The decision was made as they ran full speed to their idea of heaven and they spent the next few days trying to jump there! Jojo was not disappointed either as we took a trip on the cockle train that dated back to the 1800’s. We stopped in Goolwa where the Murray meets the ocean. On returning to Victor Harbor, Adam and the big boys went to the whale/shark museum (mum and sleeping Jojo had a well deserved shpatzir-look around) and spent the next hour and a half learning about sharks and whales. After some interesting footage, they both made an informed and unequivocal decision that cage diving with great whites would have to wait for our next trip around Australia. Jojo is still keen!
We wandered over to Granite Island to check out their fairy penguins. As loyal Phillip Island patriots we
Granite Island
One horse power. were suspicious of the competition. We have to admit that were pretty damn cute. All the injured penguins are cared for in a special area which we were able to visit and watch the penguins being fed. Then it was time to feed our brood with hot chippies, followed by a wander down to the pier. Dolphins, seals and a petrel (large seabird) greeted us as we watched three boys’ fish for Tommies (Australian herring). They gave Max, Sam and Jojo a turn and they were all successful and proud as punch. This instilled in them a fascination with fishing which we are still suffering for now. (More on that later)
Sam, after looking at the long walk back to the mainland, shouted his mum and Jojo to a ride on the only horse drawn tram in Australia. It was a great way to explain the idea of “horse-power” to the kids. Adam and Max walked (Max is a saver not a spender).
We are working on a new reality TV show called “Kids you’ve got $15: What’s 4 dinner?” The two pilot episodes have been a huge hit with Max’s beef or Ricotta and spinach ravioli; fresh
$15 challenge.
Who needs a pavlova when you've got Woolies' specials. grapes and cream and jam filled donuts and Sam’s mini Pizzas (margarita and mushroom) and cream-filled meringue with either mango or choc-mint topping. We are yet to give Jojo this opportunity as we think we might end up with Tim Tams followed by jelly and ice-cream. This idea was actually “borrowed” from another family travelling around Australia (4 daughters) who the kids have befriended and we hope to continue to catch up with them on the way.
We had to press on to get our fridge fixed in Adelaide, which was surprisingly easy to organize and then I (Kathy) had the bright idea to by- pass Port Augusta (and 500km) by hopping on a two hour car ferry across the Spencer Gulf. It is amazing how calm the waters seem when you are boarding in the bay. Within minutes, however, Max was green, Sam was white, Adam was out the back and Kathy was getting reassurances from the crew that the catamaran would not tip. Jojo enjoyed the ride! It was that bumpy, that another passenger, who forgot to put on her handbrake, turned green, when realizing that her Ute rolled into the car behind it, puncturing a hole
Coffin Bay National Park
Fishing at our camp spot. in the radiator.
Once back on land we had a pit stop in Cowell and headed to Port Lincoln the following day. This is a town that lives and breathes fishing. It didn’t take much to convince Ads to buy some fishing rods and a tackle box. I think he was in the fishing shop for about 1 ½ hours learning about knots, squidding and setting up our rig. Adam is able to become mates with everyone, whether it is in the fishing shop or the caravan park. (He deeply misses his mate and caravan leveling mentor, Warren, who we left behind in Victor Harbor).
Kornies 5 set out that night to catch our first squid and we caught two! We dedicate this catch to Jeremy- the Squid -Blecher and wished that he was here to witness the capture of his namesake. An interesting fact that we learned (first hand) was that squid spray ink when they feel threatened. I now need Martha Gardner’s squid removal washing spray for Adam’s jeans! (Suggestions welcome) Another one of Adam’s new found friends taught him to gut the squid and boy would his nana have been proud to see him ripping
the head off and cleaning out the guts with his own bare hands. Max and Sam couldn’t watch. Jojo was fascinated and asked “Why did you kill it dada? Is it dead? Look he’s got green eyes! When can we eat it?” We cooked it that night in a bit of butter and salt and pepper…delicious (but not very kosher). Now we have been fishing three nights in a row and have only caught one Tommy. Adam and I realize that fishing requires lots of patience and chocolate chip cookies for Jojo, as well as late nights. There is always hope that another jumping pillow a waits at our next stop!
Alas this was not to be as we are currently in Coffin Bay National Park, where we spent our first night not in a caravan park!( Yes drop toilets and portaloo action after dark) We had the campsite to ourselves, aside from the kangaroo, emu, eagles, and goanna that welcomed us and helped us settle in. I must confess to a wakeful night as I listened to the noises of the wild, often elbowing Adam to check if we were in any danger from the predators outside. We
have seen the most dazzling beaches and a local resident (Eddie Betts’ aunty for all you Carlton fans) told us that Coffin Bay has been listed in the top three in the world when looking at the clarity and beauty of the water. This must be why oysters do so well here. Adam enjoyed a dozen today ($8 a dozen) while we picnicked on the foreshore and swam the afternoon away. This was made possible in part, due to Jojo’s peaceful sleeping in our Hayman sponsored three-wheeler. Thanks guys! We returned to our campsite to discover the arrival of some grey nomads into our little piece of seclusion. It turned out to be a fortunate invasion as we needed some fish-gutting mentors as the boys caught two mullet and a Tommy Ruff. The two couples arrived on the sand, Shiraz in hand, head torch lit and proceeded to show us the finer points of preparing a fish and included some tasty recipes as well. We have been so lucky that there have been so many friendly travelers and townsfolk who have added to our experience tenfold.
Thanks to everyone who has posted comments both public and private…we love hearing
Happy Feet
I feel like a dip from y’all. By the way we were chatting with a local fire officer who was raising money for the victims of the Black Saturday bushfires and feel so incredibly lucky to be doing what we are doing and know that so many are doing it so tough right now. We can only imagine the impact it has had on everyone in Melbourne and Victoria.
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laz
non-member comment
feeling sick
you guys may be a bit sea sick from that boat ride but I am getting a bit sick from reading about all these amazing adventures in paradise. Not to mention the photos. Lucky YOU! (and you won the premiership last year too).