Day 23 - Friday 20 January - Laura Bay & Smoky Bay

DAY 23

FRIDAY

20 January 2017 –  Wildcats  84 v Cairns  78– Phew! Close win in OT

Ceduna – Laura Bay – Smoky Bay

This Big 4 park in Ceduna is lovely. It is quiet, peaceful and mostly kid free, which means limited noise J. I slept well, but Paul struggled most of the night. We didn’t get up until 9am.

The weather was grey and cool; apparently it has been like that for the year. At least the wind had died down during the night.  Once organised, we walked into town and made our way to the tourist information. When we were here in 2003, Paul won the Melbourne Cup sweep being run by the local radio station. By the time he was contacted, we were already in Eucla, so he was told on his return to come in and collect his dozen oysters and bottle of wine. Well he wanted to collect. Unfortunately the radio station is no more, so the prize will go forever unclaimed.

We did the rounds of the shop fronts before coming back to the van, making up lunch, gathering our things and getting out in the car. Our first stop was Theverand and the Pinky Point lookout. We stopped for a walk along the front and checked out the port, before making our way to the fish-processing factory to pick up some King George Whiting fillets for dinner. With that sorted it was on to Laura Bay about 20km down the Hwy.

Laura Bay is a conservation area. There is Fox Creek leading into the bay and mangroves line the creek. The bay was a bit of a walk as the tide was out, but once on the sand, it was great to just take in the view and the terns and pelican sailing by. At least now the blue sky was out and it was starting to warm up.

We returned to the car and continued our journey a further 30km to Smoky Bay. I think this will be like many little bays we visit along the Eyre Peninsula, a small fishing town with a jetty jutting into the bay. 

We had our lunch in the car park overlooking the jetty, before wandering along its length. The pelicans were a plenty along with the Pacific Gulls. I enjoyed just watching them battle the wind, trying to land on the railings, many just appearing to stay still in the air, just hanging by an invisible string. 

There were plenty fishing here, but the breeze was so great, no one was catching anything. We did see a good school of whiting closer to shore. They were all plate size.  Paul just needed his gear with him.

With photos taken, it was back to the Getz and on to the caravan park so Paul could have a rest and try to recover some of his lost sleep.  I spent most of the afternoon sorting photos, before we decided to head to the Oyster Hut for a feed. Unfortunately we left it too late and it was already closed, so we returned to the car to get our shoes and did a walk into the centre instead.

We walked the main street, then along the jetty.  Two buys were trying their luck fishing and crabbing. When asked by Paul how they had got on, they eagerly told us they had 22 blue swimmer crabs and then showed us their stash. Paul was super impressed with the haul, many of a very good size. They will eat well tonight.

Once we made it to the end of the jetty, we walked back into town, stopping for groceries and then returning to the van where we continued to do nothing. Something we will have to get use to. Glad we have plenty of time for it.

Time slips away. The light deceives us, telling us it is earlier than it is and when I check the clock it is already 7.30pm. Dinnertime. I cooked up the King George whiting fillets we bought; they were sweet to taste, but a pain when finding little bones.

After getting on top of my photo catalogue finally, I was happy to continue reading my book, counting down the time until the Wildcats match.  We were able to watch a few quarters, but had to read in between as different devices used their quota. At least we had it when in mattered, during the OT. With the game done by 11.15pm and heart thumping, it was off to bed to try and sleep.