Day 1 - Monday 1st April 2013 (Travelled 330 kms)

We start out on a perfectly cool, but clear Autumn morning, met up with Bill & Sally, at Ararat, having a sandwich in the park. Travel through Halls Gap the camping grounds looked like Rosebud at Christmas. We camped at Borough Hut ($10.46 per couple - 3 caravans and cars squeezed on one site so we could get the special rate!) campground south of Halls Gap on the Dunkeld Road. Thanks to Billy with his compliment of wood and Ralph's stainless steel drum we were kept warm on a coolish night.

Day 2 - Tuesday 2nd April 2013 (Travelled 325 kms)

We slept in and didn't take off until 9.45am. A big climb over the Grampians in the mist on the Halls Gap to Horsham Road. Stopped at Horsham for car stuff…. We travelled the vast wheat fields of the Wimmera, feasting on a pie in Dimboola. Continued on to Bordertown and headed north towards Pinnaroo. Before getting to tonight's camp we stopped to gather wood but no fires are allowed until the 15th April. We stopped at Pertendi Hut Campground (Ngarkat Conservation Park). Quite a cool night and we headed to bed earlish.

Day 3 - Wednesday 3rd April 2013 (Travelled 373 kms)

Another cold, clear morning. Fuelled up at Pinnaroo, a very pretty town. Travelled another 100 kms to Loxton, to the right of the Paruna Road was the Murray Sunset National Park. We headed west and came across Banrock Station Winery, of course it is imperative that a tasting be done, a luckily for us we were able to pick up some of the local wine in soft packs (in the words boxed wine) Loxton to Morgan, a nice drive along the Murray River, lunch and fuel at Morgan (Old Wharf on the Murray, water is pumped from here to Woomera). Another small pick off the side of the road between Loxton and Waikairi at a small town called Moorook - 6 butternut pumpkins for $6. Only just down the road (but on the other side) 6 pumpkins for $5.00. So what to do with the pumpkins. From Morgan to Burra extraordinary flat plains of salt bush. We turned off a few kms out of Burra towards Redbanks Conservation Park where we are spending the night. We have prepared our pumpkin feast (the first of our 6 pumpkins). Now for further recipes, a tomorrow job!

Day 4 - Thursday 4th April 2013 (Travelled 359 kms)

A cool night was turning into a warm day as we left camp. A leisurely tour hosted by Miss Sally, the travel guide, through the township of Burra before heading for the Clare Valley.

Burra is an interesting and very historic copper mining town. Many of the buildings have been restored and are rather quaint. There was plenty of money in copper mining, as seen by the grandeur of some of the buildings, actually there is still plenty of money in copper! A drive of the sights included the Redruth Gaol (1856-1894) which then became a Girl's Reformatory (1897-1922) and the Open Cut Mine which reached a depth of 37 metres and proved to be unprofitable. Between 1845 and 1877 the mine produced 50,000 tonnes of copper metal from 700,000 tonnes of ore. The modern mine operated between 1971 and 1981 to a depth of 100 metres and produced 25,000 tonnes of copper metal from 2 million tonnes of ore. It was Australia's seventh largest town and inland centre prior to the discovery of gold in eastern Australia.

Leaving Burra we headed in Clare, seemingly a quaint town. Anne's mission was to select a couple of Wineries to visit. The first taste test was at Knappstein Winery followed by the Jimmy Barry Winery. A couple of purchases were made needless to say..

Our journey north began as we travelled the Main North Highway to Crystal Brook (a spot of lunch and a quick visit to the supermarket) and then over towards Port Pirie to meet the A1 Highway and onto Port Augusta. A short stop in Port Augusta then onto our overnight stop at Fitzgerald Bay about 25 kms out of Whyalla. Nicely navigated, we found a most beautiful spot on the beach at the Fitzgerald Bay Bush Camp to set up home for the night. Fitzgerald Bay is spawning for cuttlefish, one of the largest species in the world, 60cm long and up to 5 kg. We opened up the travelling thermal hotpot to smell the wonderful aroma of cooked corn beef, that had been cooking away as we travelled the day away. Of course we had mash with pumpkin….. We are onto another quiet evening, perhaps not a chilly as the night before.. We haven't been able to have a campfire in SA as the fire restrictions are still in force so as the nights have been chilly we have headed off the bed for a quiet read.

Day 5 - Friday 5th April 2013 (Travelled 188.1 kms)

A cool start to the morning and Ralph had us up and ready for a beach walk to watch the sun rise (not 'til 7.30 at least). Only Billy thought it too early! The water here is out a long way and the beach itself varied from conglomerated rock beds, small rock and pebbles to very shelly in places. There was a tremendous amount of kelp lining the beach and a number of mangroves well rooted into the rocky sections. A most enjoyable walk! A leisurely breakfast and pack up before heading into Whyalla. An hour or so in Whyalla before heading to Cowell for lunch. Cowell has a reputation for being one of the best fishing spots in SA. Oysters are harvested in the harbour and some of our travelling companions may enjoy some of the fresh oysters purchased. Cowell also has one of the largest jade deposits in the world.

Between Whyalla and Cowell a noteable feature was a substantial dead tree decorated with hard hats!

After lunch we have travelled a short distance to seek out some surf fishing and a likely camp spot. The boys seemed keen to give the fishing a go. Perhaps they were hoping for a few catches for dinner tonight! (Billy caught three little fish and he thinks they we yellow-tailed whiting - but too small and released into the wild! Luckily whilst we were in Cowell the back-up fish were purchased. A most pleasant camp spot for the evening on the beach just north of Port Gibbon.