Today was the second of my preparation days for a departure after having been home for some time. Since returning from the East in June last year, I have been on a couple of short trips in the Bushtracker. First during very early spring was to look at wildflower country to the North of Perth, getting as far as Geraldton over about a week or so. Next was a pre-Christmas excursion down South, with a visit to Albany to catch up with Kris & David, then across to the West via Walpole to Augusta, where I spent Christmas, returning to Folly Farm on Boxing Day.
My enthusiasm for the blog at the time was low, as I still had not completed the final section of my return from the Adelaide Hills last year. Alert readers will have noticed that I did finally do this not long ago..... However, not all is lost as I did post a few photos on Facebook where they remain if you were really keen and not concerned about your privacy being sold to the highest bigger.
I digress as usual... On Sunday I hitched up the van, transferred everything I thought I might need for a 3 month excursion and topped up the water tanks.
Nearly ready to go again. A warm and steamy early evening at Folly Farm.
Monday 11 March 2019
I finally got away just after 9am and set off via Berry Road, Baillup Road then Wundowie through to the Great Eastern Highway.
First stop after a couple of hours was Kellerberrin (again) where I stopped at Succulent Foods (again) for a very nice coffee followed by a visit to a very sweet smelling and spotlessly clean public toilet. While I was there, the Prospector (regular train to Kalgoorlie) made a stop at the tiny local railway station.
The Prospector is a very pleasant way to avoid a very long drive from Perth to Kalgoorlie.
Normally I would have stopped at Merredin, but I decided I would press on until Bodallin, where I would again normally have stopped to top up the diesel in the Landcruiser. When I arrived, the diesel price was higher than I expected so I thought I would drive on to Southern Cross and refuel there. That turned out to be a bit of a mistake as both of the two service stations in Southern Cross had either run out or were not supplying fuel for some reason.
Next option Coolgardie, another 186km further along to the East. It would be tight, but I did have a jerry with 21 litres of diesel on the van drawbar. 4km outside Coolgardie, the low fuel light came on, but I made it without having to top up from the "jerry can". On the outskirts of town, I was waved off the highway by a Policeman and directed to an area being serviced by a Booze Bus and about 50 Police. I was asked for my Drivers Licence, my hands and the steering wheel were scanned for drug residues (a new experience for me) and I was breathalised as well. The young "Copper" said they were searching some vehicles, but I was given the all clear after a few minutes waiting for the drug testing tool to its thing.
Next stop service station and 117 litres of diesel. A thirsty vehicle towing the Bushtracker. Final leg of the day was around 75km to Kambalda West where I had found a 24 hour stopover camping spot provided by the local community listed on Wikicamps. I was all on my lonesome for the night.
Well lots of words and a few photos from a well travelled first day repeat route to the East. No doubt the amount and standard of my writing will drop rapidly as my enthusiasm for sitting in front of the laptop typing declines as the novelty wears off again....
Tuesday was much less eventful, except for the expresso coffee machine being broken at the Norseman BP Roadhouse. Definitely a first world problem. Semi reasonable coffee was however available at Balladonia where I also topped up the diesel despite it being $1.96 a litre. I spent some time catching up on email and then had a short snooze. That allowed me to safely continue on and by-pass Caiguna and Cocklebiddy (filling up next on Thursday morning at Mundrabilla for $1.80 per litre.)
Wednesday 13 March 2019
Got going shortly after 8am. First stop (after by-passing Madura services) was Mundrabilla where I managed 113 litres of diesel in the landcruiser. They have no expresso machine, so I consoled myself with a toasted bacon and egg sandwich instead.
Next stop a short hop to Eucla where I topped up the fuel as well (also $1.80 per litre), which will last me through to Penong where prices are substantially lower. I did not stop at the Border crossing or Border Village Roadhouse. South Australian quarantine is located not at the border but on the outskirts of Ceduna.
Nullarbor Roadhouse has the most expensive diesel on the crossing at $2.00 a litre, which I did not buy, but spent $5.20 on a medium flat white, which was not bad considering the remoteness.
I did not stop at Nundroo Roadhouse this trip, electing to wait until Penong (tomorrow morning). I camped out overnight at a Rest Area 16km West of Penong.
Thursday 14 March 2019
What a beautiful sunrise to wake up to....
A nice short drive to Penong, where I filled up with diesel again, then another short hop to Ceduna, where I was met by a very helpful young lady from South Australian Quarantine. Nothing to worry about, but it turns out I could have kept my carrots. I do need to remember that SA is now fining people who don't dispose of fruit & veg before coming in to the Riverlands and in general from Victoria and NSW.
I had a stretch of the legs followed by a toasted bacon & egg sandwich and coffee at the Blue Dolphin Cafe in Ceduna. That has become a regular event as they have a range of nice food and good coffee. Same chef (& perhaps owner) as for my previous visits. She does an excellent job.
Back on the road and I stopped briefly in Streaky Bay for another coffee at the Elliott's Bakery, not succumbing to the pastie temptation this time. Quite a long trip South to Coffin Bay. The route looked familiar until I got to Elleston, then it could have been all new territory. The memory is fading after a few years.
I did however remember the road into along the edge of the bay and the caravan park. The park was busy, mainly with grey nomads into serious fishing. Lots of boats. I had made a booking at the 1802 Oyster Bar and Bistro for Dinner and that was the main reason for my long diversion down to Coffin Bay. I had previously had an excellent meal there three or four years ago whilst travelling in the Kedron van. Unfortunately this time it was quite a disappointment. The oysters were OK, but I had Kingfish as a main and it was overcooked and ovewhelmed with a strong sauce and capers. Ah well, one to cross off the list, but Coffin Bay is still a beautiful spot.
The bay looked beautiful in the early evening.
On Friday morning I headed North again, via Port Lincoln, Arno Bay and Whyalla to Port Augusta. There I did some shopping at Coles, and had a coffee at the nearby Wadlata Outback (Tourist Information) Centre. I refueled on the way out of town and headed for Booleroo Centre. The route took me over Horrocks Pass in the Southern Flinders Ranges, a very scenic journey. Unfortunately no photographs as it is a very "windy" road and not a lot of pull over points for a significant caravan.
In Booleroo Centre I visited Jean's Brother Will, his partner Vickie and her Daughter Bianca. Vickie and Will had stayed with us at Folly Farm a couple of months ago on a visit to WA. They were both recently back from a cruise around Tasmania, which they had enjoyed but had both ended up with the flu (fortunately I did not catch it but had come down with a mild cold).
I had a few drinks with them and some snacks in "Neds Bar" which Will had set up in a shed at the back of the house.
I parked out front and had a comfortable night set up in the van.
Saturday 16 March 2019
Will cooked breakfast with bacon, eggs and mushrooms in the morning. Good for the diet again, then Vickie offered to show me around the town and the local hospital where she works.
That was a good excuse to take all the dogs for a walk and there was much excitement as Vickie got them all ready with leads and harnesses.
Booleroo Centre is a small rural town with an IGA, pub, takeaway, primary school and a local hospital / aged care facility. Nice quiet place to live, less than an hour from Port Pirie and between 2 and 3 hours North of Adelaide.
Around lunch time, I headed South to Clare, which was a leisurely drive of just over an hour or so. Very little traffic on quiet roads, which was a pleasant change. I had booked into the Caravan Park for a couple of nights for a break in the journey East and yet another excuse for a lunch at Skillagalee Winery, one of my favourite restaurants in South Australia.
On Sunday morning, I did a small wash in the caravan park, followed by a trip to the local Woolworths for a few top up items. Then lunch again at Skillagalee.
Pleasant surroundings on the shady veranda of the old stone cottage, but still very dry and brown at this time of year. In the final stages of vintage at the winery.
Entree was twice cooked blue cheese soufle with salad leaves - yum!
Main course was a confit duck breast salad with nectarine slices - very nice.
Dessert was saffron poached pear, with honey icecream, honeycomb and praline - very tough living. Shame I could only have one glass of the fresh rose as I was driving.
Yes, definitely no disappointments this time and I did manage an afternoon nap as the day was quite warm again.
Monday 18 March 2019.
About an hour's drive further South took me into the heart of the Barossa Valley (I know, yet again.....). I stayed for a couple of nights at the Discovery (caravan) Park on the outskirts of Tanunda. I had been there before and a very comfortable and shady spot. Also fairly quiet on a Monday which was an added bonus. Spent a quiet afternoon and evening with an excursion to Langmeil Winery on the other end of town to buy a few bottles of their excellent Rose for drinking whilst the weather remained warm on my way to Victoria. I also drove to Angaston to visit the local cheese shop to buy a couple of soft cheeses to take to Ric and Ann on my next stop.
Late Tuesday morning I did the trip back to historic Seppeltsfield, where I had booked in for lunch at Fino Restaurant in the old bottling hall. Another beautiful sunny, warm and calm day. Autumn is starting to happen.
Fino is a very good modern restaurant, occupying part of the bottling hall with tables also outside in the courtyard.
The menu had changed since my last visit, now offering choices of tasting plates featuring local and seasonal foods.
Choice number one was raw mulloway with charred corn, green chillies and heaps of coriander. Very delicate & light.
Course two was a gratin of leek, with wakame and chives. Wonderful.
Next was a small portion of duck leg with beetroot. Also very good.
Plate number four was a compact serve of very rich slow cooked lamb with farro (whatever that is), yoghurt and salad onion. Wow...
Then.....
Another tough travelling day and definitely no dinner for PJ in the evening. A very nice way to celebrate another visit to the Barossa. Remind me to be more adventurous next time.
Wednesday 20 March 2019.
My journey South continued, past Roland Flats, Lyndoch and out of the Barossa via Williamstown, Mount Torrens and Woodside into the Adelaide Hills. I skirted past Nairne and arrived at Ric and Ann's place in Blakiston, between Nairne and Mount Barker in the early afternoon. Still more familiar ground, which is good for me.
Spent a bit of time "digging" in the caravan on the slope just below Gnome Cottage, amongst the apple and pear trees. Not so good for the shoulder... Then had an excellent afternoon and evening catching up on much gossip and happenings since my last visit.
On Thursday, Ann left for work in Adelaide fairly early, so Ric and I had a leisurely breakfast and retreated to our computers to catch up on some paperwork. Around the middle of the day we did a trip to Mount Barker and Nairne for a number errands and some lunch and coffee at the Pallet Cafe in the main street of Nairne. Massively good ham and cheese toasties with a "level 8" caffeine hit to wash them down.
The afternoon was spent finishing preparation of Ric's famous chilli and an outing to the local wetlands to take a number of motion perspective photos of Ric on his very "flash" bicycle for an article he was writing for the Lifeflow magazine.
Chilli with tacos, plus some 2004 Merlot from Mount Langhi Ghiran Winery in Victoria rounded off a very pleasant day.
...and given the extremely long gap since my last announce blog entry I think this would be a very good place to pause and publish. Stand by for the the next edition (hopefully before years end).
