The Water Tour 2011: July 8

Here we are - this year's adventure is underway.
Left home last Sunday at 3.50pm after much rushing around to get the new kitchen 'sorted'.   The bits we didn't sort we left to Tim to organise.
Spent the night in a roadside stop at Ravenswood, just outside Bendigo, thus fulfilling our aim of getting through the city.
Spent Monday travelling north to Mildura, then west to the Riverland, surviving the onslaught by the Fruit Fly Inspectors by having had a huge cook-up of the vegies and fruit I had brought with us on the side of the road at Hattah.  Monday night saw us camped up in a side street in Cavell, a tiny town near the Murray River, right outside the local church - figured that should afford us some measure of protection from evil.
Had kept in touch with Jill and Andrew Waters, who are off to WA, as we travelled so we met up with them in Port Germein after driving across from Burra in incredibly windy conditions - could almost hear the diesel being sucked up as we fought the head wind!  We went together the short distance up to Mt Remarkable National Park, which had been recommended as a 'must do' by Terry and Sharon Dalgleish.  They were quite right too - we set up camp and went for a beautiful walk up through Davey's Gorge and up on to the side of the Black Range, from where we had superb views across the Spencer Gulf to Whyalla and beyond.  Lots of beautiful birds, including Emus and kangaroos and Euros.  The most stunning thing though was the magnificent old River Red Gums - huge trees which had somehow managed to survive the ravages of the settlers in this rugged area.
Here are Murray, Jill and Andrew inside the trunk of one just near our camp.  Had a wonderful evening together around the camp fire - nothing beats being rugged up sitting around a fire in a beautiful bush setting.

On Wednesday Jill and Andrew took off for Woomera (not literally, however appropriate!) and we headed into Port Augusta.  The original plan had been to go down to Whyalla for Murray to dive to see the Giant Cuttlefish, which gather at this time of year to breed, but unfortunately the southerly winds meant that they would have headed to deeper water for protection.  Hopefully he can dive on Saturday.
Settled in to the caravan park, then went for a wander around the town.  Had a great surprise at about 8.30 when Gordon suddenly appeared at the door - they had decided to come through from Peterborough rather than set up camp there.
Thursday was spent relaxing, checking out the local gallery which is in the old railway station and doing a bit of 'housekeeping'.  Sue and Ian arrived early afternoon, so the group was gathered.  The absolutely necessary pre-dinner drinks were organised and once we were rugged up against the cold it was just fine sitting outside the van.  As you can see, Pat has been well kitted out by Rhoda to ward off all cold winds!