Travellin’ Kyds

R&R for six days.

Reaching Ceduna the car was filled with bang water after the Nullarbor crossing, we decided to head for Streaky Bay. This move would allow the kayak to be un welded from the roof racks to do some fishing.

Sad (not) to say we stopped in to Smoky Bay 39ish kms from Ceduna on the way to Streaky Bay for a look.

What a magic little spot. Great sheltered water, a huge jetty and good boat ramp with rock walls placed strategically to protect from the weather. I urge you all not to tell anyone about this place especially fishermen.

 

Checking in to THE neatest van park that we have ever seen we decided that this was the place to stay instead of the very commercial Streaky Bay. The van sites are on sand/shell grit and Mark our host along with his lovely lady Vicky actually rake the sites as vans leave on a daily basis, removing the leaf fall and debris that the trees drop and levelling the sites.

Amenities are spotless and the camp kitchen has to be seen to be believed. $26 per night was well worth it in this place and the tap water was even almost good for South Australia! Tank water was available for kettles etc. but not for water tanks fills.

The fishing was not to be. Rod has been crook for about 3 days and Mavis came down with flu on our second day. Day 3 was planned to take the kayak out and fill the keep it net with King George Whiting and Blue swimmer crabs both of which were easily taken to the daily bag limit, they were every where. Folks were catching crab and huge whiting off the jetty.

Kayak off the rack and rods rigged we snuffled through the night looking forward to the next day peddling and fishing. Awaking early next morning to a howling on shore gale (Westerly), a run to Streaky Bay was done with some diversionary sight seeing instead of fishing (Grrrrrrr) and coffee enjoyed in the bakery, meat procured from the butcher and supplies from IGA. Very pretty coast.

Things could only get worse and they did. Mavis came down harder with her horrible lurgy and I managed to nearly stop coughing but everything moved to the head you guessed it runny eyes nose and feeling like sh.t sorry something the cat dragged in.

As a consequence we are off tomorrow heading south then East to Port Augusta, with the forecast telling us that we are in for howling Southerlies for the next couple of days, oh joy oh bliss that will be a change grin.

Car is mostly packed, van also and we are sitting inside, both on the computer feeling very second hand. Guess we can’t be good all the time!

Two dozen oysters that added up to 30 individuals were purchased from Smoky Bay before we left for the grand sum of $6.50 per dozen. A little history on the oyster farming here, all of their spats (baby oysters) are imported from Tasmania as they don’t reproduce here,strange aint it and the cheapest oysters that we could buy in Tassie earlier this year were $8.

Can’t gripe too much about being unwell this trip has been superb on the whole.

The Southerly did not arrive luckily but the Westerly wind continued, giving us an off the rear quarter boost for our travels. Nice run but not too far we stopped at Kimba free camp in their sporting complex. Great town (RV Friendly designated) with all amenities.

Next morning was a very late start after both of us having the best nights sleep for a long time.

Fuelled up at Port Augusta and visited the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Gardens see http://www.portaugusta.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=820 Nice spot to walk around, the bird life matched the wild flowers and plants in abundance.

Moving on we tackled the trip over the Flinders Ranges from Port Augusta eventually heading for the run across the Hay Planes to Wagga Wagga for Grandsons march out from Army training on the 7^th of October. Only 15 days to get there so guess we will have to do some site seeing before we arrive.(Bugger aint it)

Camped tonight the 20^th Sept. was at Goyder’s Line Memorial rest area 3km North of Melrose

A beaut spot beside a dry creek bed with a massive variety of bird life nesting in the most beautiful old gums.

Mavis got shuckin and I got cookin as we had the oysters from Smoky Bay that had to be devoured. As stated two dozen were purchased and Mavis ended up shucking about thirty oysters. Not too bad at all grin better that a bakers dozen!.

Rang a friend the next morning who is travelling back to Perth with his new Spinifex van and we are trying to catch up for a cleansing ale. The decision was made to travel South to the Barrier Highway and stay at a camp at Mt Bryan township opposite the old pub.(The things we have to endure whilst travelling are quite harsh some times grin.) This would be on the route that our friend would take to Port Augusta from Renmark.

We rang them and told them where we were camped. He said that they would be there tonight and were just getting in to Renmark. After dinner the roar of the red hot F250 could be heard docking beside our van. We have never seem such a huge set up. The air suspension was levelled then a dust settling beer was cracked while we were shown around the rig.(awesome more like a mobile apartment grin)

We woke next morning to the throaty rumble of the big Ford diesel warming for departure. Dressed hastily and bid safe travels and farewell to the boys for their return to Perth.

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