Xmas 2011

Boxing day was with the twins. Mario was cooking dinner for us but he couldn't find his Tahini....I think this sign was Kitty's motto.
Next stop was my brother's place in Gippsland. He had arranged a family get together with his side of the family & Mum. Layla (the littlest one) is the first female Dewsnap in over 63 years.

Brisbane

We'd had a phone call for help from Brisbane whilst in Adelaide.

So our 4 extra days in Adelaide were gone, then we had two days in the Grampians followed by a rush to Melbourne.

Next morning Alison rode the Tigers' back to Brisbane. (No thats not her getting out of the SAAB !!!)
Meanwhile back in Warrandyte of I went for my walk along the Mullum Mullum Creek & found this little bit of early motoring history.

I had lived in Warrandyte when I left home at 20 & never new this was so close.
I eventually got to the confluence of the Yarra & Mullum Creek. The rain had them both flowing rapidly.
Next morning I went upstream from the park & was taken by this little number.
This little fellow turned right as I pushed the shutter. I should have had the Nikon !!! At least it wasn't a picture of a "birds bum" as Alison calls them.
I had most of my nights with A&A while Alison was in Brisbane.

Alan has been feeding 2 Kookaburras for ages, I suggested that she was so tame he could probably get her onto his arm, next thing......
She didn't mind me with the camera either....

Seppelts

Another one on the "Bucket List" was to see the tunnels at Seppelts Great Western.

So off we chuffed early enough to get there for 10 am. opening.

Guess what happened to our heros?
"Sorry but we don't do tours on Sunday!"

But a quick look down the original shaft was the best we could manage.
Beaut display though.

Alison was very quick with "well we've come this far we better have a taste!"

Good Girl, it's never too early for some bubbles!

No wonder I love her!!!
The original homestead. No how can we get back here during the week????

The Grampians

We stopped at MacKenzie Falls these little beauties were in abundance.There was a lookout from above, but the thought of a shot like this was too much temptation, so down I went.
Now the problem with going down is that you've got to come back up !!!
My knackered old knees ain't what they used to be !!! But the pain will soon be forgotten!!!

The view from Booroka Lookout was superb, but the wind & weather was a coming.

Looking out over Halls Gap from Reed Lookout with Lake Bellfield in the background.
The Balconies also offered magnificent views, shame about the weather.
A long lens & a bit of cropping & hey presto, I just love this sort of photo.
Just as well there wasn't a sign like this at the other side of the road to cross the Grampians, or Miss Worry Wort would have had more kittens!!!!!!!!

Heading East

Just after Tailem Bend, we stopped for coffee.

And on the side of the road, every town should have a Tank ! Was this for the Grey Nomads they didn't like??
We had planned to camp at Rocklands Reservoir, at the western side of the Grampians but didn't like the spot & went back to Cherrypool reserve on the Glenelg river.
We were lucky enough to stop by a tree with a pair of Sacred Kingfishers.
A chance to try out the newish Nikon, hmm not bad!! but a really long lens would be better!!
Up bright & early next morning & off to the Grampians, I couldn't resist this old farm house with the mountains as a back drop.

Adelaide

Up for a quick visit to Ingrid & Eberhard'sNow has this chook had a "bad hair day" or what??

She & her pals roost up by the dining room window, for protection from the local fox.
Ingrid & Eberhard discussed the fact that we have known each other for 38 years ! Mine Got!!!

Ingrid's Christmas decorations for this year.
I don't THINK Jess has anything to worry about !! ??

Bassie the Birthday Boy

The reason for the rush was to be with Bassie on his Birthday. Jessie had volunteered to be Skipper & off to McLaren Vale for some wine tasting & lunch...Now if you've been following the blog you'll know I love windmills, this little fellow tickled my fancy.

In the winery we started talking to the lass at the cellar door & she said she worked at Howard Park in Margaret River. She was there when we sent Robert down for work experience when he was 13 !!!!!!!

"I remember Bert, I was one of the ones who helped corrupt him !"

Hmm I wonder what she meant??????
Some lovely views from here but they were not doing lunch today...
We eventually found lunch. Jessie showing off here beautiful engagement ring with Birthday Boy.
One to many wines or is this because I'd taken off my glasses????
Proud Father, Birthday Boy, Muttie & the Gorgeous Chauffeur !!!
It's hard to get him smiling in a photo.
Primo Estate's Primo tasting.
The phantom photographer strikes again. "Life in a bubble"

In Adelaide Levi Park

Up for my early morning walk,out the gate & along the River (creek) Torrens. It is a great dual use path that is well used.

Cyclists,walkers, & the Obahn.
These buses go from Tee Tree Plaza on a "rail" line along the river reserve. They are in a track & rollers in front of the steering wheels guide it along. Very nifti ! & it doesn't hold up the road traffic!!!!!
The other users of the River Torrens

Clare and the Riesling Trail.

One of our favourite places..in South Australia it is the area that I would like to move to...who knows in the future!!!!!! I'll agree with that.(SD)"The Riesling Trail" was something that I had wanted to do every time we came here. It is the old rail line from Auburn through Clare & beyond.

So Dull & Early, off I went on the bike.

I had to have a reason for them other than a stone guard!!

Looking up to Tim Adams' winery you can see why it's the Riesling Trail.
Magnificent River Gums abound.
History as well. They were made of sturdy stuff in those days....
A lovely spot to start the village of Penwortham.....
Somewhere before Watervale @ the 12 km. mark it went from just foggy to foggy & rain!!! So I listened to my crying legs & turned around. Now the problem with this was it's just as far back...
The rain eased up as I went past the church @ Penwortham so a quick snap & off I went

I must be a glutton for punishment 'cos the next day I rode 20 kms. north of Clare to the end of the track...

Lake Gilles ( 17 clicks East of Kimba)

Having driven nearly all day in rain we did not stop at our pre-trip destination and decided to keep going....drove through Kimba..did not like the free camps on offer so continued. Found this little gem Lake Gilles, salt lake and isolation...on our own again...must have BO or something.
This one I may try and paint...watch out Joma (my Mother for those who do not know) this could be a sign of another thing to come!!!!
Or maybe this one...beautiful photography Stephen, even in the rain.

Fowlers Bay Revisited

We searched as normal for a free camp from the South Australia Border onwards and still found nothing we liked...so back to our old haunt of Fowlers Bay. This interesting spot produced another interesting item...our nieghbours for the night (from WA) were a family of five in an old Viscount of '72 vintage. Some external updates but the inside was the retro you would expect. With three boys the little tent you can see was essential. Still raining so pushed on.....

Eucla

We had been through Eucla twice before, & I had wanted to revisit The Old Telegraph Station, that I had stopped at in 1986 when I drove over moving to Perth with the Lotus in tow.It is a remarkable sight to see this historic building being engulfed in fine white sand.
A view back up to the Eucla Pass. We had a picture of T & T coming down here on the way home 2 years ago.
A flash back !!
The Old Jetty down at Eucla.

As I walked over the hill this lady was filming on her video camera saying "here we are on our own in total solitude" & I walked into frame!!!! whoops!