Heading West Again. (Can someone turn the wind off?)

Feb 11th - 14th Mt Gambier

When we left home, it was quite hot. By the time we got to Hamilton It had cooled off and started to rain. We drove through the rain all the way to Mt Gambier and pitched camp in the rain at the Mt Gambier Showgrounds.

When it stopped raining, we walked into Mt Gambier, as the showgrounds are not too far from the centre of town. We shouted ourselves a slap up meal at one of the local Vietnamese Restaurants.

Cave Garden.

In the centre of town.

Feb 12th.

Today we rode the rail trail which runs through the centre of town and out into the farm land.

Rail Trail

Bugs

Old Town Hall

Feb 13th

We picked up spare parts that had broken on the way (the window winder snapped off just after Ballarat) before heading back to camp, to collect the bikes and ride around Blue Lake and Valley Lake. It was a nice warm day.

Blue Lake. (It really is that blue.)

Valley Lake. (Just next door.)

Feb 14th

A lazy stat today. Picked up the last few things we forgot to bring with us, then rode to the Umperston Sink Hole and enjoyed the gardens.

Umperston Sink Hole

There are multiple beehives in the roof.

Umperston Sink Hole

Umperston Sink Hole. Curtain wall of vines.

Feb 15th - 17th Robe

On the way to Robe we stopped off at Southend and Beachport. There are heaps of roadworks between Beachport and Robe. The signs advised us to detour, but a local said don't worry about it you will get through. (you cant beat local knowledge.)

On a ride around Robe, we ran into some English tourists on their way to Victoria and gave them plenty of tips for their stay in Melbourne.

Robe is blessed with heaps of well preserved stone buildings.

Pixie hollow on the walk to town.

The Obelisk (It's days are numbered.)

Holiday home built in the 1850's

Feb 16th

There was a big storm this morning so we bummed around Robe until it cleared up.

Feb 17th

Today we rode the bikes to Beacon Hill and admired the views of Robe, then headed into the Little Dip Conservation Park where we saw our first tiger snake of the trip. It wasn't very fat but at least 3 meters long.

Feb 18th Coorong

We moved onto the Coorong and are camped at 42 Mile Crossing. We arrived before lunch and walked the track to the beach and spent the afternoon walking along the waters edge. We saw a few people camping in the Dunes on the Beach but we pretty much had the place to ourselves.

Bush camp on the Coorong.

Walk to the Southern Ocean.

The Roo's are far more chill than at home.

Feb 19th

On Thursday, we drove down the old Coorong road to the Granites (a bit of a fizzer). Just 3 medium-sized rocks in the surf. There was an entrance to the beach at the lookout, so we drove 17km along the beach to Kingston. A lovely little seaside town.

The Granites. (Not what we were expecting.)

Beach Road

The Big Lobster.

Kingston Pier remains.

Mosaic.

The old Bank

Cool Lighthouse. Moved inshore.

Feb 20th.

After leaving 42 mile crossing on our way to Meningie we stopped at Chinamens Well. Which is part of the gold route that Chinese Miners took on their way to the Victorian Goldfields in the 1850's. They walked more than 800 kilometres across the desert and wetlands to their destination. There are number of these wells in the Coorong along their route, they were made from the limestone and sandstone.

We are camping overnight at Narrung in a free camp on Lake Alexandrina, where Murray meets the sea.

There is a local aboriginal community here at Rakkuan which used to be a misson. David Unapon's who is on the $50 note came from Rakkuan.