I’m feeling anxious … I’m too far from the coast …

After a sultry weekend, the sun is beaming with vivid blue skies as we go towards the Flinders Ranges.  Great little towns bursting with Easter getawayers, tents, caravans.  Lovely little towns offering walking and bike trails along gorges, through forests and up mountains. Something for everyone out for a bit of adventure. A wonderful painted silo at Wirrabar. Too early for the brewery, but a Brewery Tree red gum tree approx 300yo at Melrose. Kate from Rustikate’s Feedlot in Wilmington trying to perfect her pumpkin and feta triangles … I tell her she has nailed it as I take a bite. The outstanding art by Jeff Morgan in Hawker.

A show stopper as we approach Woodshed Flats, cars parked on the roadside. Just when I thought the world stopped to watch dolphins in the river or ocean, or ducks crossing the road.  But no!!! Today it is the Pichi Richi Steam train, we stop along with many others to watch the engine change on its way back to Quorn with a hiss and a puff.

Parachilna was closed so onwards towards Blinman at Parachilna Gorge (dry) … wild camping at its best … no phone coverage, the hiking tent and no electricity … bliss. Walks and hills to climb. We are surrounded by very old river gums.

Next set … John and Sue Urb… ??? … the WA couple …

We were welcomed by the Jamestown folk at the tennis.  The majority of players were from Adelaide clubs.  We won a couple and lost a couple which meant we had an opportunity to see some local sights. 

Interesting meal at the pub the owner called us over as he sat on his throne by the cashier … ‘always live where your money is’, was his words of wisdom. He lives there and hangs out on his throne … I call that micro management!!! He is aided by a walking stick and told us he was 71yrs … he looked an unhealthy 91yrs.  My observation  …  don’t own a pub, don’t have too much money and quit the alcohol.

A very different landscape as we head north. The coast is mangroves and mud flats as we pass through Price.

A few scattered mountains in the distance as we leave the penninsula behind.  Storms are brewing around us. 

A stop to Crystal Brook for yet another infamous Bakery.

Jamestown is home now for 4 nights, we are in an Easter Tennis Tournament for a bit of fun. 

‘Tiddy Widdy Beach’ … really!!!! I couldn’t live there just because of the name …

A lovely drive north to Ardrossan calling into all the seaside towns. All the towns are as neat as a pin; a lot of work by the communities to keep the heritage flavour of the local businesses.

Two big grain silos in Port Giles and Ardrossan with long jetties to load ships.

Local jetties are among the attractions today, the water glistens with a clear sky this morning. The painted water tower trail continues as we find them at Stansbury and Port Vincent.

Wandering into shops and eavesdropping … ‘Are you ready for the unslaught?’ shopowners are at the ready for the Easter trade, probably the last opportunity before these towns slow down with the approach of winter.

The red cliffs near the Ardrossan jetty makes a great pic.

A poor man buys twice … I‘m liking that phrase more and more …

A brilliant sunrise, proving to be a top day.

The wind has gone after last night and we’re off to Coobowie (5km) to play tennis with the local tennis group.

A nice morning, only 8 players so 2 courts for 1½ hours.  A nice bunch followed by a coffee at the only shop in this small town.

John had a restless night … his cheap air mattress was flatened.  He was feeling rather ‘deflated’. In the meantime, a patch from the car tyre shop in Yorketown $10 (it didn’t work); a vinyl patch kit $10, needs 24 hours to use mattress … I wasn’t confident $10.  A wander passed our local service station who sells fishing/camping/hardware.  An air mattress $27.50 … sold!!!

A relaxing afternoon ride to Point Sultana along the Walk The Yorke Trail , we swim others fish.  What a great day, how things change when its not windy.

I’m on constant alert at the weather app as there was threatening rain during the whole of the Easter break. Day by day it’s looking less likely that our tennis tournament will be a washout. Fingers crossed.

The sun sets and the sky looks on fire as we bbq at the camp kitchen, chatting to other campers also cooking. The fish weren’t biting today we learn, how there is a few mullet being caught

From our tent I gaze over the sea, the moon will be full in 2 days, its reflection on the sea before me. Not a breath of wind, it’s 19°C no clouds eerily still. What a lovely evening.

‘Oh! I waved to them’, he said. ‘I thought they were real!’  Specsavers alert!!!

I feel at home … sunrise is around 6 30am … that is more like it in my language.  A quick 3min walk to the beach to see a vibrant red glow over the ocean and soon the sunrise. 

We are on the move to Edithburgh.  We pass through Yorketown, a lovely quaint hub at the crossroads to the east and west sides of the penninsula.  A feast for the photographer of the old stone buildings and houses.  They are not all original, some with a facelift but still they’re strutting their stuff and looking proud.

We are now at the start of the Water Tower Mural Trail and the Salt Lake Trail, reminders of a thriving community here in yesteryear.

Edithburgh has yet another jetty to add to the collection … more old stone buildings and houses. Both towns are squeaky clean as of all through the Penninsula.

A lovely coastal ride to Coobowie passing the Tidal Pool … maybe it deserves a swim tomorrow, not before continuing a coastal ride to Sultana Point.

When 6am means 6am … daylight saving has finished, yay!. Still trying to work out if its a 23 or 25hr day.

A cold wind here on the east this morning as the park empties from the weekenders.

Solution is to go west.  Back to the National Park to Royston Head Hike.  Lots of WOW moments here this morning.  For once I am quiet, I’m on the look out for some local animals … David Attenborough style.  Sign language as we see some emus trotting through the bush.  The track is so pretty through sandhills covered with low bushes of all shades of green.  It would be great when it is all in flower.  In the distance, the cliffs, bays and beaches setting off some wonderful scenery.  Two ears poking up followed by the little face of a kangaroo (I picture in my mind a donkey orchid) maybe we should rename it. There are 2 roos only a couple of metres away and not bothered by us as I take a pic. 

Over the sandhills and ‘voila!’; a sight to behold, this is Wow, stunning, amazing … all the positive adjectives you can imagine.  We are sooo lucky.  We scramble down the trail on the edges of the cliff.  It is stunning, the contrast in colours, the little island, coves and beach below … such an amazing walk.

We thought we had stayed 1 day too long, however today we have slowed down and sapped in the beauty of this National Park.

Back to West End Beach … now that is a beach!!! The stairs down are never ending.  The beach walk goes on and on.  Waves crashing before us as we trudge through the soft sand, we have the whole beach to ourselves, nobody dare, they just look from the top and take a pic, probably on a day park entry and seeing the sights quickly.  We bought a 2 month SA National Park Pass and we are getting our monies worth.

‘Did you bring your book?’ she says,  ‘No, I forgot, maybe I’ll just watch the dolphins’, he says … we both laugh …

Oh, the weather has started to turn, a little cooler and quite a strong wind this morning. I’m busy looking at google maps and willyweather, trying to fathom out the best wind protected place to go. Dolphin Beach came up trumps. Firstly the opposite direction to see the Kangaroo Island lookout, very rugged coast, clambering up rocks and cliffs, windy but we were rewarded with the scenery.

The plan was to take our book to Dolphin Beach and sit on the rocks. I suppose you want to walk to the end of the beach? Another rhetorical question, off we go, it’s remarkably different without the wind. Within minutes a pair of dorsel fins break the water. Look dolphins!!! We walked the length of the beach following the dolphins as they were hunting. John clapping his thongs together and whistled … I’m not sure what he was thinking, Flipper or calling a dog 🤔??

Back at the start of the beach 5 emus heading towards our bags, ‘I’m glad I zipped my bag up!’

For a day that could have been uneventful, it turned out well.

Up to see the sunrise over the water today … 1 other couple on the beach waiting for the right moment to get snapping.

We spent the day looking at coves, lighthouses, beaches and on walking trails in the Innes National Park.

The rugged coastline mixed with the sandy beaches and tranquil waters gave us the most stunningly breathtaking scenery today.

Reminders of the thriving community of Inneston in the early 1900’s when gypsum was mined and loaded onto ships.

A refreshing swim at Dolphin Bay (minus the dolphins), but we did see some fauna … emus, kangaroos and a bobtail lizard.

We thank our lucky stars that the weather was sunny and it wasn’t windy, with the exception of brief 5 minute shower.

The rest is in my pics.

‘You’ll like that … you can go for your morning beach walk while I lay in bed’, he said, … ‘You bet I will!!! ‘

More wows today as we set up camp in Marion Bay and the beach of about 100m … the tide was out, exposing a lovely sandy beach.

I bbq’d my squid for lunch … I just have to refine the cooking process … that means more fishing.

What a great day … nothing stressful, beach walks a short ride, dinner at the tavern … for some strange reason the jetty is lacking fishers, I ‘threw a line’ earlier for about 30 mins … nothing happening.

The tavern lived up to reviews excellent meals. I was expecting a lot of wind today, however it’s 8.30pm and no wind at all … an early morning beach walk swim is on the cards for me tomorrow.

What a nice place!!