Distance: 498 km
Fuel: 41 ltr
So excited to be leaving Port Lincoln – cold and miserable place as far as I am concerned. Up early to get milk and ice from the local Coles, like the ACT they don’t have plastic bags.
Stopped a few times on the way to look at landmarks and cairns – a pet peeve – this was one of them.

Now how on earth does that qualify as a site of interest with road signage, parking, a cairn and a plaque? Talk about more having money than sense.
One place I did find interesting was Murphy’s Haystacks. I think the rock formations are created in a similar way to The Devils Marbles in NT though not as spectacular.

Arrived Ceduna early afternoon and checked into the caravan park right in the town centre.

Walked around the shops and waterfront before taking a 35km drive along a dirt road to the OTC Earth Station.

The road was well graded so it was pretty easy but the dish no longer belongs to OTC and has a much more glamorous use.

Perhaps it has been replaced by these dishes much nearer town.

I don’t know if that is so this site was totally unsign posted except for a warning that there was 24 hour surveillance and that trespassers would be prosecuted.

During the early evening strolled to the pub next to the caravan park for a beer and food. Learned all about the difference between South Australian descriptions of glass sizes and the rest of the civilised world.

The weather is much improved quite warm(ish), only needed my light jacket this evening.
I think I have solved the fuel consumption problem. I suspect it was a combination of windy, inclement weather, hilly countryside and the speed limit. Today the drive was virtually flat, windless and I set the cruise control on 100kph for the whole journey. Fuel consumption was nearly as good as without the trailer (Ok, No it wasn’t but it wasn’t that bad either).

 

Cold Night

The night was windy and miserable; the vent on the camper roof kept banging and waking me up. It rained intermittently so I couldn’t leave the glass panels open. Was warm enough but it was not a good night.

A Day Out

Up early to get the laundry washed, dried and packed before 9am. Pretty pleased ($3 for washing machine, $3 for dryer).

After some breakfast I drove into town to see the sights. First stop Makybe Diva, it’s a horse that won the Melbourne Cup and it definitely looked like a horse to me.

Nearby was the Mosaic Couch another attraction of the town.

Not mentioned in the brochure was a statue of Flinders and his Cat.

Back in the car to visit the Old Mill which you can climb for spectacular views of the town,

Well, views anyway.

The Axel Steinross Maritime Museum was next, it was closed but there was an interesting variable pitch propeller and a couple of boats outside.

Onward and upward to Winterhill Lookout for more views.

A 40km drive to Coffin Bay, alas not some macabre beauty spot but a small fishing port named after an Isaac Coffin.

All the time it was bitterly cold. At Coffin Bay I bought coffee and a sausage roll which went down well.

Back to Lincoln National Park to see a monument to Flinders. The bastards wanted $9 to go in so I gave it a miss – I had already seen Flinders and his Cat which was probably enough Flinders for one day. But when too much Flinders is never enough there is always a cairn to mark where he found some water for his ships.

Went to a couple of other interesting spots at the Marina and Billy Lights Wharf but by then felt I had exhausted Port Lincoln’s attractions so returned to the caravan park to watch the goings on there. Believe it or not the sun came out for a few moments.

While it was a good day out, the weather doesn’t suit me at all, far too cold.

On reflection perhaps I should have made this two trips the southern part in summer the northern part a little later in May. Having said that tomorrow’s forecast for Ceduna where I am heading next is better and it has only been two wet, cold and or windy days. I just hate cold weather so much.

25th April 2017 Port Augusta to Port Lincoln

Distance: 379km
Fuel: 45Ltr

Signs of the Time

I had to visit Iron Knob. In the 15 minutes of a geography lesson at school when I was taught all about Australia Iron Knob was one of the few places that got a mention so I had to see it.

After a brief look round (it is not an exciting town) it was on to Kimba.

Kimba is not that exciting either but it does have a pie shop and a Big Galah. I enjoyed a quite reasonable steak and kidney pie (no sauce, thanks) and stretched my legs before moving on. I had intended to visit a signposted lookout but I was 20kms down the road before I remembered; I hope it was a disappointment.

I was thinking of stay at Tumby Bay for the night but after a reasonable morning of sunshine with a few clouds the weather turned nasty. Tumby Bay was wet and miserable so it was another 30 minutes of driving to Port Lincoln where I booked into the caravan park for a couple of nights.

My fuel consumption it has rocketed, used over half a tank to travel 380km – without the trailer a tank lasts over 700km, I expected to use more fuel but not quite this much. Will have to see how it goes tomorrow without the caravan and might have a look underneath to see if I have sprung a leak.