ACROSS TWO BORDERS

We left The Great Ocean Road & spent the next few nights in a

little town just near Portland, about 90kms from the Victorian/ South Australian border.

Here we spent time doing much needed chores, like....
Washing, cleaning & drying out everything, as it was all so damp & wet
from the last few days rain!!!

The not so glamorous side of travelling!

This is a lovely little spot right on the mouth of the ocean!

Mark found time to throw a line in.

 It amazes me, all the books tell of these great fishing spots.....Can someone please explain,

why when we arrive they run & hide???

One day hopefully Husband will return with a big catch!?!

Back on the road & today we are headed for Adelaide!

We left @ the usual 9.30, we had a good run even though the roads are atrocious!!

We crossed the border & are now in

South Oz!

We did plan on taking the scenic route through robe, as people we had previously

spoken to recommended a stop there.

 Oh yeah & there are plenty of fish they all added!

Hahahaha!!

Well we will never find out, not this trip anyway!

We stuck to the Princess Hwy

Mark just added..."It is the worst highway i have ever been on, so far"

Here Here...I agree!!!!!!

Through Mt Gambier & there we had a quick stop off to view the

Blue Lake

      This lake supplies the town with its drinking water & is the result of a volcanic eruption, which apparently happened

28 thousand years ago!

During the summer months the lake turns a

brilliant cobalt blue!

Now, the cause of this was far too much for my poor brain to read & absorb!!  

So

Mark put it in Simple Sharon terms......It is due to a mixture of sunlight & calcium!

Back on the Hwy & there is not much to look at it,

as this is one long straight stretch of nothing for as far as our eyes could see!!!!

 

Then all of a sudden @ the end of the road, smack bang here we were

 @ the beach & the township of

Kingston.....Home of the big lobster!

Yummmo....If only it were real!!

After filling the truck & ourselves, it was back on the road.

 We did plan on stopping @ a free camp for the night,

as the trip from Portland to Adelaide was about 550kms, & that is way more

than we ever do in one day!

There were heaps in the camps 5 book to choose from along this route, but somehow we missed the first couple, we both then decided to go straight through to Adelaide!

I rang a caravan park along the way, which is in the Adelaide hills,

 they had a couple of vacancies, so it was there we went!

The winding drive down to there was just beautiful, as the sun was setting over the hills & towns

Next day it was up bright & early, not to sight see

 but to get the tyre, fridge, t.v & water hoses fixed.......Which we did!

After all that we took a little drive along the beaches, as today was just glorious!

We came upon this pretty little spot

Christies Beach

We stopped in this little lonely cafe along the esplanade,

ate lunch & sipped on local wines.....

This is good!!!!

We decided to move caravan parks & chose the one here in

Christies Beach to spend our last few days in Adelaide!

Wow this park is fantastic, our back yard the ocean!

Today, we also visited the picturesque little

German township of.....Hahndorf

This place is full of the most beautiful old German architectural buildings,

with the stunning autumn colours of the maple trees & the

many pubs, cafes & shops along the main street,

makes for a very pretty little town indeed

 full of atmosphere & charm!

First shop we strolled into was the lolly shop!    

Here we are.... The big kids in the lolly shop!

Next day we hit a few wineries in Mclaren Vale

How beautiful the vineyards look at this time of year,

with their autumn leaves dropping from the vines & Olive trees everywhere.... Yummo!!!

This region is mainly noted for it's reds, so my favorite Sav B was hard to come by here!

Never mind the reds made up for it!

Chocolate & red wine together has always been a favorite of mine.....

 but 

after tasting their olives & red together,

Wow!

 A burst of heaven to my taste buds!!!

Just De vine!

We then drove around the city of Adelaide for a bit of sight seeing!!

The architecture of the buildings & homes here amaze me,

 i just love them, so full of character!!!

There is none of these modern designer homes here,

it is all old world charm!

Even the new ones are old world!

Just Beautiful!

We left Adelaide today & are now heading for the

Northern Territory Border.

 Once out of the city & the scenery for miles & miles is nothing but

 flat dry & very boring!

We stopped off at

Port Pirie, to stretch our legs.

 A mixture here of an outback town with warm seaside charm!

As we drove further on, i glanced out my window & could see across

The Spenser Gulf to The Eyre Peninsula

 this was the last of water, we would see for sometime now!

Oh No....Husband was about to cry when i informed him of this!

Well, we cant catch fish anyway so what is the point.... I say?

The best fish we bought this whole trip happened to come from Mt Isa, strange but true!

Caught out of Townsville, snap frozen & shipped to the Isa.....So good it was!!!

We stopped @ Port Augusta for diesel & it is getting very dear now!

Port Augusta is known as the

Crossroads of the north @ the top of

The Spenser Gulf

Roads from Adelaide, The Flinders Rangers, Alice Springs & Perth all cross here!

As it is now 3pm, it is time to find a spot for the night & we did we found the most beautiful place

about 130 kms Nth of Port Augusta.

Island Lagoon, was the name of the side of the road free camp site.

 Just a magical spot & how lucky are we, to have this as our backyard for the evening!!!

I am in awe of this magnificent sight!!

Just then Mark turned & stared @ me gave me a kiss & with a grin on his face added.....
 Look @ you!

You are like a kid with a new present!!

With a smile i thought, what a fantastic idea of mine,

when i suggested to him all those years ago

 Let's buy a caravan & travel oz!

 This is special!!

This is what travelling around

Australia

 is all about & it is free for all to see!!!

Back on the road bright & early & today we are headed for

 Coober Pedy!

We could tell we were nearly there, as the mines were in view everywhere!

All full of Opals!!!

 Wow Coober Pedy was not what i expected, this is very much

Outback Australia if i have ever seen it!!!

 My first impressions......Mixed?

We went for a walk had a look @ some beautiful Opals, checked

out the underground pub, & read about the dug outs & how most people live in underground houses, as the temps are unbearable throughout the hotter months!

We bought some bread & milk

Oh get this......$5.30 for 2 litres of milk!!!
I suppose it is to be expected out here but, i still couldn't believe it!!

We filled the truck with diesel & it was goodbye 
Unique

Coober Pedy!!

Oh boy, that was an eye opener, a very interesting town indeed!

 So glad we came through here!

We spent the night in another free camp up the road, not as good

as last nights spot, but pretty nice just the same!
Next day & once again up bright & early, today we are headed for

The Northern Territory Border & tomorrow on to
Uluru!

We are excited!

It is good to get back into the out back!

From here it is straight up the centre of

Australia to Darwin!!!!

You know you are in the out back when......

You see a car stopped on the side of the road, & it's occupants are out

 in full view relieving themselves!

We crossed the border & it is like all of a sudden,
 after nearly a thousand kilometres of nothing, but treeless desserts
which stretch back to Port Augusta!
Now only rocky mountains

 very similar looking to Mt Isa.
How quickly our landscape changes!
Well....I spose that was not that quick this time!!!!

Over the border & the speed limit sign reads 130......Wow that is fast!

 We don't even do that on our express ways back home!

If something came out in front of you,

you would not have a hope!!!

As we drove, along the side of the road were all these melons growing wild,
we pulled over & i picked some, we don't think they will be edible, but we had to do it!

Wow the bush flies up here stick to you like glue!!!

Not even Bushman's works here!

Up the road a bit & we pulled into
Mt Connor
for the night, it is about 100 odd kms from

Ayers Rock

This Mountain i call.....
The Fake Rock!

Apparently, many tourists mistake it for the real thing!

I only know all this info from reading one of our many caravan books whilst driving here!
I am not really that clever!!!!
Husband is....For he already knew this!
Being the research king that he is!

Anyway most Aussies, would know it was not the real thing after looking at it for a few minutes.....
It has a flat top!!!!

We were second in here & had a good spot for the night!
After a quick set up & a look around we started chatting to our neighbours,
they invited us over for a happy hour drink
Here it became more interesting!!!
Firstly while we were sitting chatting
i saw this thing
 run across the road @ first sight, i thought it was a little bird?
Oh no, next minute another!.......Mice, tiny little field mice!
Well.... That is when i screamed like a girl & jumped up & down!

After i calmed down & put my feet up on my chair, we continued chatting with our friends,
Tony the guy kept going on about this beautiful spot here!
 I agreed, but the whole time i am thinking it is good but,
it is not that good!!!
 Next minute his wife said (as she gazed @ the fake).....So can you climb it?
Mark & i looked at each other bewildered,  then the penny dropped & with that we both said
You do know that is not
Ayers Rock?
It's not?......Both exclaimed with shock & laughter!
They went on to say how silly we must think of them!
No!...I said & apologised for bursting their bubble!
I also admitted that i only knew about it because i had just read it!

Many tourists stopped here for the
 money photo shot.

We both wondered how many knew the truth??

By sunset the mice were now running around everywhere in full force!
Today is my B'day & for dinner i requested,
Marks yummy
 marinated chicken shish-kebabs on the barbie!
Poor honey bun had them running all over his feet, while he tried to cook!
 On went his ugg boots quick smart!
Sorry Mark, i quickly decided i can not be out there with you!!
So inside i sat on the step, happily chatting to my brave husband through the caravan door!
What a man!!!!

I asked Mark if he thinks they will get in the van....No pretty sure not, his reply?
Lets hope not i say!!!

Wow!!
 What a fantastic 11 days we have just experienced!

I can't wait for my birthday present tomorrow
Cheers till then!
ENJOY!