Day 43 - Thursday 9 February - Heading North

DAY 43

THURSDAY

9 February 2017

Marion Bay – Yorketown – Edithburgh – Coobowie – Stansbury – Port Vincent – Black Point – Ardrossan –Clare

Well when we started out today we weren’t intending on heading to Clare, but here we are, relaxing in the van with the air con cranked, cause it is hot again. Wine in hand, as it only seems right when you are in prime wine making country to be drinking the stuff, in my case a glass of Gossips Pinot Griggio.

Rewinding to the start. We were up at 8am after a night that started out HOT, though the AC did take the edge off. It did cool down as the wind picked up and Paul had to head out to bring in the awning before it disappeared, not long after we were up, packed away and on the road.

We weren’t really sure as to where we would stop for the night. We figured we would wind our way up the east coast of the Yorke Peninsula, stop in at towns we were reading about in the info guides and stop when it felt right. 

Our first stop was Yorketown for grocery supplies. There wasn’t really a lot here, even though it seemed like one of the larger inland centres. After buying what we needed we were heading on to Edithburgh on the coast. Their windmill farm, a striking entrance as we wound our way in. We were expecting this to be a little more hustle and bustle, but it was quiet and dead. We parked up and did a short walk down the main drag and on to the foreshore, checking out the anchor of the ill-fated ship “Clan Ranald’ and an impressive stately home along the way.

Next was Coobowie, 5min further along Salt Creek Bay, again this was quiet and as we drove through we made the decision not to get out, but to pass through.

We took the coast road passing through Port Giles, still used to export from the grain silos that we could see on our way up here, looking like an ominous castles overlooking its farmed lands.

Wool Bay, another sleepy seaside town followed before we arrived at Stansbury. We thought this might be a place to hang out, but the drive through town did nothing to impress. Stopped briefly on the waterfront so I could go to the loo, admire the awesome murals on the walls and then it was off again, this time, Port Vincent about 20km north.

Parking along the foreshore, we made lunch then ate at the picnic tables before walking the foreshore strip, Paul upsetting a bloke riding an Indian Motorcycle, when he told him he didn’t know what he was talking about.

Once back in the van, we consulted the Camps 8 book and located a camp further north at Black Point, so we drove on a further 20min to check it out. Unfortunately it was only small and quite busy and as it wasn’t easy to just pull in, we opted to continue our journey to Ardrossan a larger centre with two caravan parks.

Ardrossan was a significantly larger centre, which we drove through to get to the first park, it reminded me of Cowell. We enquired at the park about a space, only to be told they didn’t have anything. Never mind, on to the next one, but no luck there either. Striking out on both and consulting our maps, we decided we should head in the direction of Clare.  Stopping briefly to take a call from Jaden, giving us the updates of home and how wet and cold it is. Brr 18C.

By now the van’s temp gauge was showing 30C, so I began looking at the free camps near by. With a couple of possibilities we pushed on skirting past Price and Port Clinton before leaving the Yorke Peninsula and on to hotter weather. The van’s temp was continuing to climb as we reached our first possible camp site at Lochiel, we opted to keep moving admiring the very pink lakes that skirt around the town, the temp now at 37C. 

Our next possible stop was Blythe Oval, just 13km from Clare, but with the temp showing 41C and knowing there was a pool at the Clare caravan park, the decision was easy. We made our way into the town, reminiscing about what we remember of it when we were here 13 years ago. Shortly after we were all booked into the caravan park and beginning to settle in. It was hot and sweaty work, more so for Paul than me. He was surprised to find a strap had broken securing the bike and it was now leaning against the bonnet of the car. We were lucky it stayed there and didn’t bounce right off. Phew.

Once everything was sorted and cold drinks were downed, including the last of Paul’s home brew stash, we were off to enjoy the pool. The park has a lovely shaded pool that many residents were enjoying. We chatted with many from WA, regaling travel stories and noting places of interest. Handy hints from other travellers always useful.

When we finally cooled down the core and our fingers were like prunes, we hopped out, talking to four Italian tourists who come from places near Como and Forli.  Once back at the van I organised dinner and relaxed with wine, while Paul went into town to pick up some cider.

The evening soon disappeared. With dinner done, I continued to do what I could with the slow Internet, but better than nothing.  We kept an eye on the Cairns v Adelaide game and I tried to call home to no avail.  We went for a wander of the park, it was still really warm out. There were lots of young tourists readying themselves for their tents, urgh that will be hot.

We returned to the van, cranked the air con and crawled into bed.