Tuesday 18th April, 2017

On our way to Wudinna, SA , which was to be next overnight stop, (377 km) we had lunch at Kimba, a great little town which is half way across Australia on the Eyre Highway from east to west. The giant billboard is a great photo opportunity for all travellers on the Eyre Highway. It is also well known as the gateway to the Gawler Ranges, which are located north-west of the town.

Kimba is also famous for the Big Galah, which stands 8 metres high. Another photo opportunity for all travellers, and is a very busy little location. And we found a loaf of fresh grain bread! Wonders will never cease.

We took a drive up to White's k*** Lookout, on the northern outskirts of the town where there are stunning metal structures erected as a tribute to John Eyre and the indigenous men whose bush skills he relied on very heavily. Also a 360 degree view of the town and surrounds.

Kimba was first settled in 1872 when pastoral leases were granted and it has a reputation as one of South Australia's major grain areas.

WUDINNA

Next stop was Wudinna, Gawler Ranges Caravan Park, SA.

It was hot, dry and very, very dusty. The camp kitchen was covered in dust, and we now feel like we have reached the isolated areas we will encounter for the next 10 days or so.

Despite the dry conditions, we all enjoyed a delicious dinner in the restaurant as it was just impossible to think about cooking in the camp kitchen.

The amenities were ensuite type, so a nice welcome hot shower at the end of the day is wonderful. It was a very hot night here.

On our drive out of Wudinna, we stopped to admire a granite sculpture of the famous Australian Farmer, which stands 8 metres high. It took 17 years of work and was finally unveiled in 2009.

The sculpture represents the early settlers in the area, and there are amazing carved symbols of wheat and sheep on it.

Such an amazing edifice, and I cannot imagine how many dollars it cost. It does amaze us where these little towns "get the money for that"!

I do somtimes ponder if the locals would have preferred to have had the money spent on local school or health facilities, or infrastructure. But I will continue to ponder on these matters the older I get.

Our friend Kevin, who has a very dry sense of humour thinks grants are given to these small towns to "keep them quiet"!