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!

On The Road Again

This trip is from Perth to Adelaide, Melbourne, Tasmania and Home.Morning of the 5th of December and just about ready to leave on our next adventure.
Back to one of our favourite haunts..Karalee Rock...we had the place to ourselves for the first time ever ....not even Quiqui the duck...Stephen was sooooooo disappointed.
The new toy had to be displayed in an unusual spot.....5 seconds later it was blown off by a road train. This is the New Folda Solar Panel. We believe this is the first one in private hands..will show you more later.
Second night at the Car park at Eyre Bird Observatory. This view shot was taken by Stephen first thing in the morning...we were hoping for sun....not!!!!! This was an indication of things to come.
Another night on our own...ahh the serenity!