The morning dawned cold, windy and raining. Quite a change from Midnight when it was still hot with Thunderstorms all around.
Late yesterday the weather forecast changed fairly drastically for the next few days. Instead of just a pleasant cool change, Thunderstorms with localised heavy rain and flash flooding, along with damaging winds were predicted for the next couple of days across the Eyre Peninsular, the Gawler Ranges and a number of other areas. Not the best conditions to be a 100km off the main road on dirt if I got unlucky.
Quick change of plans. I decided to continue East and spent the day driving through intermittent heavy showers to Nuttbush Retreat at Pandurra Station, about 30km to the West of Port Augusta. I had stayed there before and it is a pleasant small rural caravan park and stopover point (pictures posted in a previous blog last year). Only disadvantage is that it is right next to the Eyre Highway, so all night the trucks roar past, lighting the sky for miles with their huge spotlights. Not a problem for someone as deaf as I am with the blinds up on the road side of the van.......clear sky overnight with brilliant stars and the distant light glow of both Whyalla and Port Augusta.
On Thursday morning I drove into Port Augusta and had my van Anderson Plug connector replaced and repaired at a caravan hire & repair business in town. I also got them to cut some links out of my safety chains so I could install hammer locks and large shackles to match the new chain 4T rating. They did a great job, whilst it just pissed down outside. About 35mm of rain during the morning. Had an excellent light lunch at the Wadlata Outback (Tourist Information) Centre and did a small shop at Coles. I then drove to Port Pirie and set up in a free RV layby area quite close to town. Again a noisy location but not a problem for me and walking distance from town. Had a long evening walk up the main street and around town.
The Port is right next to the main street.
The lead smelter chimney stack, Railway Station Museum and Post Office, with Port immediately behind them.
Such a magnificent building.
The Nyrstar Smelter is just so close to town. Just undergone a huge refit and rebuild to extend its life and significantly reduce pollution and heath effects in the town. Not like the old days when it was run by BHP.......
Some great old buildings including the office of the once famous Adelaide Steamship Company. Another one gone.
Late morning I set off for Clare, with a pleasant lunch stop at a free camping site next to the main East - West railway line in Crystal Brook. Fasting day so a couple of eggs and a grilled tomato.
Booked in for a few days at the Discovery Parks Caravan Park a km or so South of town as there is very little free camping available close to Clare. I have stayed before & it is convenient for a number of the wineries, including Skillogalee, one of my favourites.
So of course on Saturday after an early visit to Woolies & the local hardware store in Clare, I made the short drive out Skillogalee, where I had booked lunch for 12 noon. My third visit and again, I was not disappointed.
Lovely shady verandah, looking out over the garden and some of the vineyard.
The old olive tree, next to the verandah. More Summer and sunny dining.
Port Lincoln sardines with parsley butter on the left and duck breast with an orange and brandy sauce with beetroot and sugar snap peas above......Yum
A beautiful herb garden just next to my table.
Made it back to the Park successfully and had a very long afternoon nap to recover from pigging out on such a special lunch. Did I mention the bone dry cabernet merlot rose.....
I talked to Ric & Ann in the evening and decided to change my plans again. The Barossa will have to wait for another time. They start their trip away to NSW on Monday with an overnight visit to Kurlana Sanctuary, which is in the SA Mallee Country South of Waikerie on the Murray River. It is owned by the Lifeflow Meditation Group where Ann works and teaches. I am now going to meet them there and on Tuesday travel on to Mildura where they have a Birthday dinner for Ric planned at Stefanos Restaurant, which has an excellent reputation. (some of your may remember that Stefano had a local produce and cooking show on ABC TV some years ago). When I was in Mildura, last year, it was closed for renovations so I missed out. Another special meal to look forward to.
Sunday 26 November 2017.
A catch up day in the caravan park today. Filled the water tanks, dumped the toilet cassette, talked to a couple of old friends I hope to catch up with in Warnanbool and Melbourne, transferred photos to the computer and updated this blog.
Should be time for a short visit to one new winery this afternoon. Perhaps Mad Bastard Wines - Wines of Finery for something different. Trip advisor also recommend Indi of Clare as an excellent Indian Restaurant. Could be take away this evening, followed by a fasting day as I travel on the the Murray to meet up with Ric and Ann tomorrow.......
Maybe that will be another Chapter. Who knows......
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