Day 55:

Packed and left Penong yesterday after a very quiet evening. Did wonder what the 'whop, whop' noise was as I did my midnight wander across the compound and remembered the windmills on the other side of the road all whopping along to their own rhythm so it wasn't some demented bird species about to attack at all. Only had 71kms to go before Ceduna and the quarantine gate, he only glanced in the fridge and not inside the pillowcase where three avocadoes where nestling, well they were cryovaced (spelling?) in a package and hard as rocks still and cost a lot so we were not giving them up without a fight. After a coffee and some food shopping - had to buy veggies 2kms in from quarantine gate - at Ceduna we headed south down the west coast of the Eyre Peninsula to Streaky Bay. Luckily not a long trip as my back was really cactus and I was drugged on pain killers (my defence if we had been caught with the avos). Stopped again at Smoky Bay for a picture then into Streaky. Put in the address for our caravan park and our trusty Sam said turn right about 10 kms out of town and if we had we would have been in a paddock, no sign of a road, track or goat trail thru the said paddock. We eventually arrived and love this spot. A fellow traveller recommended this place and it is new and beautiful with fantastic amenities and the most amazing view over the ocean/bay/islands. The other caravan park in town is rather run down and we had a mice plague there on our previous visit. Not their fault I know but the memory and smell lingers in my brain. We are about 5 kms from town and around a point so cannot see any civilisation, fabulous.

Our dinner for the evening was fresh local oysters done with a bacon and Worcester sauce…very nice and then fresh salmon cooked to perfection by the chef. Dined inside as the wind was howling around our van - good to be in prime spot on the hill but does have a downside. At least no curtains obstructed our view and the time zone suits us so much better, it is darkish at 6 AM as it should be not bright daylight at five which it was in WA.

Day 56:

Three AM wander and there are no lights at this place so the sky was the most wonderous quilt of sparkles in a velvety blackness, utterly superb. Wanted to wake up the lad but did not think he would appreciate me or my timing. This morning though was dismally cloudy and we wanted to go on a coastal drive and picnic somewhere. Deleted picnic as it looked like no way we could do that and set off. We have done this drive seven years ago. W complained pics won't be great as the light was not good and I kept saying but we have great pics of this already. No, no we don't he says. As we looked towards a little fishing town I said ' they have picnic tables in a rotunda on the beach with loos nearby where we have eaten lunch before'. No, no says he never been on this drive before. Get to little town and the road where the rotundas had been was closed and picnic tables demolished so I couldn't do a 'see I told you' and he says see you are thinking of somewhere else. Went out to Point Labatt where there was a sea lion colony, seen before, nope says he. There are times one wants to rub his back gently and give an exaggerated push particularly on top of a cliff. Love him to bits but so stubbornly obtuse sometimes- must remember on our return to find the photos and read previous blog although he won't remember the entire conversation today. Apart from all that the day turned blue and sunny and not a town with a shop or anything for 70 kms, oh well, back to Streaky for a late lunch which was very enjoyable chilli seafood spaghetti with a glass of wine.

Off again tomorrow to Coffin Bay, only a week till we are in the Yarra Valley, my goodness where has the time gone. Coffin Bay - famous for oysters again and into Port Lincoln where they catch Tuna. We are having sashimi withdrawal so we better be able to get some fresh stuff.

xx