Gallipoli Beach

We moved on to Coffin Bay & in the afternoon went out to have a look at Farm Beach. 

While we were there we did the 4 km. cliff top drive to Gallipoli Beach.

This was the site used in the film Gallipoli with Mel Gibson.

If this is what the real thing is like no wonder we lost so many....

They would have been sitting ducks...

Like most of this coast line, beautiful in it's own right!

Port Lincoln Races

Port Lincoln's Fisherman's Memorial depicts the anguish of families 

and friends who have lost loved ones at sea.

Port Lincoln 's Mariner is home to Australia's largest fishing fleet.

Well the weather was ordinary, so for something altogether different 

we decided that on our last day we would go to the races..... 

it was the start of the "Cup Week" at Port Lincoln.

CUB sponsors many events around Australia & they bring the Carlton Clydesdales to these events.

More Furry Feet I was in my element.... far more interesting than the gallopers!

Alison started to get into the swing of things....

Around the final corner they come...

And the winner is ????

AXEL STENROSS MARITIME MUSEUM

The "other museum" we wanted to see was the Axel Stenross Maritime Museum.

This is a fantastic collection of maritime history from the Port Lincoln area.

Axel & his mate from Finland set up a boat building business in the 1920's 

They lived together on site with Axel & his "wife" whom he courted for 30 years 

(and Alison thinks she's got problems !) ((He means I know I have problems!))

This is a prototype shark cage they made, all future shark cages were based on these.

 "If you think I'm going down in one of these you've got another thing coming!!!!"

Rio Rita was his own personal boat used in the area.

Another of the boats in the outside display, looking back to the grain loading terminal.

The old slip way.

This is a Variable Pitch Propeller from a prawn trawler, 

I always wondered how these worked.

Somehow I think this was beyond salvation...

Arno Bay

From the lovely free camp at Fitzgerald Bay we headed on 

to Arno Bay where we caught a nice feed of Calamari, however........... 

We had heard about Arno Bay being the Snapper Capital of Australia.....

the above was inspiration !!

The above is the result.......

The two biggies on the right are ours as was the "little-fellow " at the front.

Regulations state 1 per person then you must cease targeting the fish.

Joe the skipper said the big fish would come on about 1 o'clock...

The first fish was at 12.50 the last 1.30 now there is a bloke who knows his stuff!

30 odd serves of Snapper from these fish.

Then we were told that they were about 30 years old.

hmmm...

These are our 2.

Arno Bay is also home to one of the best Boardwalks that we have ever done.

The walk was done at low tide and the bird life was just incredible..

even managed to find a pair of Hooded Plovers and I had been looking for those forever!!

All the labour was done by local volunteers a few of which we met on our walk.

Well Done Arno Bay

Koppio Smithy Museum

We had seen this Museum on one of the Caravan and Motorhome Magazine DVD's.

And for reasons that you will see shortly it became a must do!

We have to say that this is one of the best Settlers Museums that we have come across.

The smallest Post Office and Bank..

don't think there would have been much security!!!

This would you believe is a photo copier!!!!!

There was a room designated to the fires of 2005 which devastated this region..

They were so lucky that they had minimal damage..

the house across the road was completely destroyed..

as they say fire has no rhyme or reason.

Yes you got it , this is the reason Alison wanted to come here.

The largest collection of Barbed Wire in Australia.

Now she has a lot of examples for her Finches on the Wire series.

Early School room.

Read this and it will explain the photo below.

Another version of Furry Feet, in the Saddlery area.

Some of these trees have to be seen to be believed!

We found another saying that was well worth taking a picture of.

The Old House in which the pearl of wisdom was situated.

 

The Black Stump...this is were the fire got to within the Museum grounds.

The Blacksmiths was run by farther and then one of the sons and

 catered for the surrounding area for decades.

One of the few thatched cottages left....

...now this I am surprised at...

you would have thought this would have gone up in smoke..

apparently not!

Fitzgerald Bay

We moved from Victor Harbour and went back to Spear Creek...

then we decided to check out a few free camps...

and landed at Fitzgerald Bay.

Just one other occupant...

....another  bloody sunset...

...then these Mulga Parrots just sitting on John's car!!!

Not a bad shot of them taking off!!!!