FRIDAY 31/05/13 - VICTOR HARBOUR TO GLENELG

Awoke to a grey overcast day and opened the supplies for breakast.

On the road before 9:00 down to the City Centre tourist waterfront area, where there is a horse drawn trolley car that runs out to Granite Island across a causeway some 600m+ in length.

Too early for a ride, so we walked out to the island and then walked around the island [45 minutes].   Huge granite rocks, spectacular views and dolphins cruising off the island.   The island's up and down terrain seems to be used by the locals as their fitness facility... a number of groups with personal trainers pushing them.

When we arrived back on the mainland, two Clydesdales had arrived and were tucking into their feed before a days work.

Just got back as the weather start to threaten, so off to find a good coffee.  Walked around the precinct taking in the sites and taking photos ......eg "Schnitzel Encounter"

We finally took off to Glenelg, as the weather broke and had heavy rain all the way to the marina where our motel is opposite.  At one stage we took a wrong turn and was heading back south, much to our GPS lady's disgust. We stopped and sorted this out.   She got us back later that night as we went to old friends place.  The traffic was horrendous, pouring with rain, night visibility difficult, and GPS lady sending us to freeways to do right hand turns acrooss 4 lanes, but with a central barrier between the other direction.   so turn left to go to the nearby lights for a u turn, only to be told to turn left...impossible stress levels rising...Michael swearing!!!

Had a really nice visit with Rodger and Cathy catching up on our news.

THURSDAY 30/05/13 - Robe to Victor Harbour

Packed up early and left our B&B overlooking Lake Fellmongery - a freshwater lake that was named after the industrial use of the freshwater to wash wool bales retrieved from a shipwreck in the Bay in the 1800s.

Got to approximately 17 klm on the way to Kingston SE when Dot realised we had not collected a couple of containers of cheese and meats/bacon from the fridge.   U turn and arrived back at B&B as owner arrived to finalise our visit.

The trip to Kingston SE was very overcast with showers at regular intervals.  Took the obligatory photo of

Larry the Lobster....apparently 3 times the original projected size ....the builder misread  "feet for metres".

We continued on through the Coorong and onto Lake Albert's Meningie & towards Tailem Bend, before turning off to the Fleurieu Peninsular route through a range of wineries.  Stopped at a recommended winery that has diversified into a range of condiments especially horseradish processed products.  The old sandstone buildings looked great in the countryside

The skies had now cleared and the temperature rising, especially in the car as we headed through a number of small villages onm the way to Goolwa.  Goolwa with its old buildings immaculately cared for was impressive and worth a couple of days stay.  Onto Victor Harbour to find accommodation.

Nearly opposite our motel is a series of walks around the coast and the Hindmarsh River.  We took the Lagoon boardwalk which is a loop around a lagoon complex, adjacent to the river attempting to flow over a
sandbar into the sea.

Tomorrow morning to look around Victor Harbour and then catch up with old friends in Adelaide.

For those interested we have been informed our son Paul will  feature on the ABC2 Landline program on Sunday [02/06/13] 12 o'clock midday [ repeated on Monday 03/06/13 evening at 11pm] in a segment relating to a new product from Phosphagenics

Robe - 29-05-13

Got up  early this morning to another fantastic sunrise.  I don't see this at home so it's quite incredible to watch it from the balcony here.

The weather was a bit dull today, quite a bit of wind early on.

We had a relaxing day today, walked to our lake (only about 100 metres), then drove to the 10 mile beach and walked along it for a bit.  This beach can be driven on, no need for a 4wd.  There are notices at the beginning informing drivers that standard road rules apply.  Drove back to  the obelisk (walked there yesterday) and took a different path across the cliff tops.  This one was bitumen and nice to walk on.  This brings to mind a chat on the SA radio.  There is a strong push by interested groups to have the Tanami track paved, this is a serious push and may well happen.  I can see their point of view, but there are many 4wders who will be very sad to see this iconic remote track become civilised.

Went to Mahalia's for coffee.  Mahalia has a roasting house and is well known in this part of Aus, apparently she can't break into the Vic market as yet, but her coffee is excellent.

Had a quiet afternoon reading, then drove to West Beach to watch the sunset.  While this was impressive,

the dawn is far more so.

Went to Sails for tea - very nice food and wine.

Off to Victor Harbour tomorrow.

TUESDAY - 28/05/2013 - ROBE SA

Dot as usual awoke early and was up and about on the deck taking photos of the magnificient sunrise over
the lake below our B&B.  She came and woke me to come and see, which I did but then returned to the warm bed.

We went out just after 9.00 and visited a recommended seafood supplier.   He had a series of tanks with crayfish ranging from the small ones of 1 -1.5 kilo, to very large ones.   They like company as most were on top of one another as a large mass. I e-mailed a picture to Ian Darvell [crayfish diver of old] and I had a return phone call within 30 seconds \, wanting to know where his was.  Off course Dot wanted a small one for our tea.

When we came back to our cottage to put the crayfish in the refrigerator we drove to the end of our street to  turn around (only a couple of houses) and there was a hairy wombat grazing on the naturestrip.  Sigh, lovely.

The morning was spent wandering around the cliff tracks at the top end of the spit.  Erosion has taken its toll on the cliff face resulting in a large blow-hole 30+ metres from the cliff edge.   A 40' high navigational obelisk is under severe threat over the coming years.  We met some people from Croydon on our walk.

A lunch off Fish & Chips with some calamari rings and scallops was enjoyed on the beach out of the wind....it did not take long to have some seagulls on hand to finish the excessive quantity of chips.

Then a casual drive around the coast visiting little bays - did not opt to let the tires down and drive on the beaches.  We finally arrived at Beachport, where we had camped some 30 years ago.  .  We walked out the full length of the current pier - 770metres [original length was 1220 metres].  The cray factory has been closed down and now operates as a coffee shop and clothes/gift shop.

We had some coffee which was good, but not as good as the coffee we had in Robe yestersay afternoon.  Mahalia's roast a range of special blends and has taken off prizes at the recent Royal Easter Show.

On the return trip, we stopped off at Woakwine Cutting - refer pictures of cutting and plaque.  All put in
place with minimum resources to drain a very large swamp - now pasture for beef cattle.

The balance of the trip was driving "blind" directly into the setting sun, which we aimed to see at West Beach as it dropped below the sea horizon.......we arrived approximately 5 - 10 minutes late, so it will be on the Agenda tomorrow night.

Off to the B&B to set up the Blog and then drink some nice white wine and the Crayfish!!!!!  Our tea!!  Yum

There is a photo album too - link on right side of blog.

We've Finally Got Away

At last! Only 5 weeks later than scheduled.  We picked the car up on Thursday afternoon (it doesn't quiet look as good as new, but far better than it did).  It has taken 5 weeks to fix, hence the shortened trip. Michael then had a mad scramble to remove seats and pack everything ready to leave on Monday.

 The lovely Tara and David invited us up to tea on Sunday night so that I didn't have to cook and clean up afterwards.  Great idea, we were very tired at the end of the day.

Got away at 5:10 am Monday morning and hadn't gone very far when we had to turn back for my ipad, just as well I mentioned it to Michael, I would have missed it very much.  We stopped at a maccas (outside Geelong) for breakfast, really always a bad idea, I have no idea why we did it!  I ordered raisin toast.  Now it's supposed to be cafe style (very thick), ha! not so at this maccas, they put it in  a sandwhich toaster (I think) and squashed it flat and hence very chewy and a little unpleasant.  Michael said the coffee he had was dreadful.  He had one of their chorizo and egg breakfast muffins and had indigestion for 5 hours afterwards - Oh dear.

We stopped at Warnambool for a leg break around the breakwater.  The waves were crashing in and fine spray coming over the wall, we decided not to  walk to  the end since we would come back quite wet.
We had stopped at Mt Gambier for lunch (this was very nice - soup and bread.  Fantastic bread, the nicest I have had for a while.) We were sad to  see so many of the shops empty, a whole block in one part.

We passed through kms of pine and eucalypt plantations either side of Mt Gambier and all the way to  Millicent.

When we got to Robe, we called into the information centre to ask  about accommodation.  She put us onto Cricklewood B and B, which has a winter special - stay 2 nights get the third one free.  It is terrific, overlooks a lake, has a fabulous balcony facing the east for great sunrises.  She has provided enough breakfast for a week, wine, chocolates, sweet and savoury biscuits.  They seem to  be really nice people as well.