Week 515 - Port Lincoln, South Australia

Our visit to the Eyre Pennisula has been spectacular but challenging at times.  The highway following the cliff's edge has had some awesome scenery with sea vistas interrupted by towering cliffs, surrounded by the sparkling Southern Ocean.

Murphy's Haystacks - Perched on the top of a hill 
in the middle of nowhere are these rock 
formations known as Murphy's Haystacks.

A close up - The granite rocks are up to 8 metres high.

On our departure from Streaky Bay, the highway heads inland and we stumbled across Murphy's Haystacks, an outcrop of granite rocks.  This is a photographer's dream.

In perspective - Jo strolls past the huge boulders 
that have been shaped by the wind over 
thousands of years.

Coloured Rocks - The mixture of coarsely 
equigranular rock consisting mostly 
of quartz and orthoclase.

The weather has played an important role this week, dominated by strong sea breezes and building a temperature that peaked on Thursday, 46.2 degrees.  A record for us and a record for this part of the world.  Fortunately, the oven like temperatures only lasted 24 hours.  Any longer and we would have really suffered.

Elliston Cliffs - Rusti poses for a puppy 
shot on the cliff edge.

Fishing Fleet - Port Lincoln, famous 
for it's seafood, prawns, tuna and oysters.

We have spent the most part of the week at Port Lincoln.  On arrival a free camp perched overlooking the ocean and indulging in a personalised sunset.  We were the only ones there.  

We are now staying on Chris Pfeiffer's sisters' property for a couple of days which will give us enough time to sight see and take in some of the Tunerama festival which is on every Australia Day weekend.

Comments

Thrush
2019-01-25

Good to be cool in Brissie!

Leigh
2019-01-26

We loved it there and took about a thousand pictures but we had much more reasonable weather.

one stick
2019-01-27

Long time since we've been in Lincoln. We used to go for dinner from Coffins Bay which is quite a drive.

Week 514 - Streaky Bay, South Australia

Our welcome to South Australia was extreme heat and strong winds and our overnight camp spot was perched on the edge of the Great Australian Bight at Bunda Cliffs.  Our photogaph depicts the remoteness of this Australian icon.  Not a peaceful night as the winds were howling.

Bunda Cliffs, South Australia - Bunda Cliffs
on a magnificent summer day.

Painted Dragon - These critters have got a 
magnificent camouflage. After I took the 
photograph and took my eye off him, I never saw 
another one, but they were there.

Our journey across the Nullabor has been steady but sure and on the seventh day we rolled into Ceduna.  Our motorhome's engine didn't miss a beat on the 1200 km across partly due to our engine management traversing this magnificent continent.

Penong, South Australia - A fascinating 
look at the powers of the past.

At Ceduna, we turned right onto the Flinders Highway, heading south into the Eyre Pennisula.  Unchartered waters for us and the scenery took on a distinctive arid look - sand dunes, red rocks and salt bush.

Haslam Jetty, South Australia - The sunset 
sets on another hot and windy day.

Our camp spot tonight is at Streaky Bay, a sparsely populated township that is frequented by seasonal travellers.  During the winter, this place would be deserted.

So to finish our blog this week, Horror has now completed 18 days of beer abstinence.  We went to the local sports club for a meal and he drank two pints of Lemon, Lime and Bitters (Yuck)!!! 

Endurance - My own challenge for the month 
of January was to abstain from alcohol.

Our travels continue, stay tuned!! 

Comments

Gill
2019-01-18

Well done Derek love the blogs keep them coming xx

Thrush
2019-01-18

My new year resolution was to do a strenuous yoga workout every day in 2019. I went without alcohol once for a whole year, and it was just stupid. I took it back up again and have never looked back.

Dot
2019-01-18

The Bunda Cliffs is a lovely spot to spend a night, the sound of the sea is great. BTW Parcel has arrived

Maxine & Rob
2019-01-19

Traversing!!! He’s using big words these days ...,Seems like Horrors brain cells are repairing while he’s abstaining from the ‘evils of drink’

Boner
2019-01-19

Bloody pommie poofter!

Bill & Lesley
2019-01-20

Don't fret Horror, I gave up beer many years ago .... The wine'still good.

Week 513 - Eucla, Western Australia

We continue our trek across Australia.  Our journey is planned to military precision.  Heat, wind, miles and distance have to be calculated and put in the mixer for a favourable outcome.  We don't need heat, we don't like to travel too far in one day and preferably with a tail wind.

Almost derelict - The town of Salmon Gums 
is almost dead. The pub is up for sale, 
but nobody is going to buy a pub with no clientele.

Straight Roads - 1200 kms across the Nullabor

As we write this blog we are two thirds of the way across the Nullabor, with just 480 clicks to go.  We have a heat wave in front of us and a heat wave behind us, so the weather dominates our progress.

Hot Straight Rails - Everything is straight 
out here on the Nullabor

We've been to all the Aussie 
destinations - Not bad for a pom from
 London

(Comment from One Stick - Ceduna (Bat had his car smash near there) - haven't been to Jakarta, Tokyo, Aukland

Rusti is coping quite well with the travelling.  The heat gets her a little bit but if you throw the ball 200 yards, she will chase it like a rat up a drain pipe.

$2.08 a litre - Must need the money to 
pay for the huge tarmac

Mr Blue Sky - 90 miles or 146.6 kms, 
whichever is the shortest across the Nullabor

This is our third trip across the Nullabor and we are still finding places of beauty and places of interest.

I can see you - A timid roo until it 
comes to chasing trucks and cars.

On a different note, Horror unexpectedly on New Year's Eve decided to go teetotal for the month of January.  He is now on his twelfth day and doing it quite comfortably.  Three cans of cold beer have sat in our fridge for 12 days, I never thought I would see it - Wang

Safe travels everyone.

Comments

L&F
2019-01-12

Off the piss well done you fat bastard Crikey Wang you must have some tolerance and patience and a good heart Travel safe.

Maxine
2019-01-12

Love your blog as usual & the photos are fabulous. Thanks again for going down to the telegraph station it means so much to be able to see that the memorial to my Dad is still there. We told him we were going to add another Nullabor Link & name it the Len Standley tee in his honour the day before he passed away....so glad we were able to keep our word. We originally left a golf club & ball there but they have been taken ....someone has added shoes haha

one stck
2019-01-12

Horror I made a decision to have one alcohol free day a week, keep forgetting which day it is.

Ballarat Bill
2019-01-12

YOU'RE A GOOD BOY, BUT I DUNNO HOW jO IS HANDLING IT!

Helen
2019-01-13

Pleased you are all coping with the heat including Rusti, a cold beer after those hot days must be a huge temptation, Horror but well done! Lonely, barren scenery across the Nullarbor but magnificent - enjoyed your photos as I have never done that trip.

Wendy
2019-01-13

Bloody hell Derek; I’m impressed!

Pam & John
2019-01-14

We are impressed too, particularly because of where you are must be bloody hot & dry.. safe travels

Week 512 - Esperance, Western Australia

An eventful week to say the least and it seems like more than seven days ago that we witnessed Donald Campbell breaking the speed record on Lake Dumbleyung.  If you look at the photograph closely, you will see the Bluebird roaring across the lake!  (Circa 1964)

Lake Dumbleyung - The scene of Donald 
Campbell's speed record

Bluebird -This is the craft that Donald Campbell 
used to break the speed record in the bush, 
New Years' Eve 1964

The weather and its soaring temperatures has dominated our travelling mode.  With temperatures in the 40's, we need power to run our air conditioners.  A side effect of the blistering heat makes the locals take cover and the towns seem to be deserted.

Newdegate Silos - Painted silos used to be 
a bit of a novelty but now they are everywhere, 
but they do brighten up the landscape.

A stunning PWF - On the foreshore at 
Hopetoun, the flowers are in abundance.

We revisted Hopetoun on the Fitzgerald Coast, cooled by the Southern Ocean and a stiff sea breeze.  Perfect weather, rugged scenery and a 1907 pub thrown in as a bonus.

Port Hotel, Hopetoun - Rusti the dog's 
favourite walk.

Road Train - 58 wheels carrying 
50 000 litres, weighing 70 tonnes

An essential ingredient - The price of fuel 
has skyrocketed but it is the first time for 
months that we have seen diesel cheaper 
than unleaded.

We have hitched up with a travelling companion, a Harriette that has only just begun travelling around Australia.  Terri and her dog FOI, will accompany us across the Nullabor before we head our separate way.

Eleven Mile Beach - An almost 
deserted bay west of Esperance.

Twilight Bay - The beaches on the South Coast 
around Esperance are magnificent.

That brings us to Esperance.  A remote settlement 702 kms south east of Perth.  This is a revisit for us.  The beaches are spectacular and the bays are numerous.  In a few days time we head north to Norseman to start our Nullabor crossing.

Comments

Thrush
2019-01-06

The nicest thing about your travels is the fact that you have each other to enjoy it with. That is the thing I envy most! It is gold.

Russ Daniels
2019-01-07

Once again, lovely photo's guys, lovely scenery, beautiful places, our bucket list is getting bigger all the time

dot
2019-01-10

Fantastic pics as usual. How is Rusti coping with the heat?