COCKATOO LAKE RESERVE SA

Drove in to find a beautiful campground by the lake. This was to be a seven day stop over to catch up on washing and just to slow down.

It was quite windy but nothing out of the ordinary ..... until 1.30am

Woken up by the wind and flapping of the awning, I opened the door and quickly closed it again.  No way I was going out in cyclonic winds just to rescue the awning. Wasn't sure what I would find in the daylight but it wasn't as bad as expected.

One of the arms on the awning was bent and broken however the rest was still intact.

We stayed here one more night to try getting the washing dry then moved on.

 Fast moving trip through Naracoorte and the likes until we reached TINTINARA

Found a nice campground with toilets but no showers that were advertised in the book. Spent one night there making plans regarding the quarantine between states and planned to head off in the morning closer to the NSW border on the way to Broken Hill.

I decided here that I had to turn around and head back to Melbourne. My thoughts as I drive along have been "You are getting further away from the football" when they should have had me excited about getting closer to Coober Pedy. That was enough to make up my mind on the future  of the trip so I told my travel buddies I would be turning back in the morning.

I have to say it felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders so lets just enjoy what the season brings.

Cheers Barb

PENOLA. SA. St Mary McKillop

More tree carvings as we passed through.

The sports ground had the following paintings on the wall. Note the population is 360.

Carvings outside PENOLA

Not much more from here it was just a drive through.

Next stop Cockatoo Lake Reserve.

Cheers Barb

THIS IS FOR YOU JACOB.

Hello to you Jacob. {German backpacker}

We have found your green stone necklace!!!!!!! At the lake.

Give me a call or send an email to let me know where to send it to you. 

Cheers and travel safe.

Barb.

MT GAMBIER SA

Finally out of Victoria!  No that is not me it is Tracy, one of the crew.

Took a drive to some wayout place one of our campers was told about at Pelican Point, must say the only people who would appreciate this spot is the fishermen.  Not a camp at all just a carpark. 
Off we go again in search of the spot we originally planned on stopping. Little Blue Lake was just beautiful as is the BIG one in Mt Gambier. We met some great back packers here.

 I just had to add this series of photos, the kids were having so much fun even though jumping is prohibited. My heart would have stopped half way down.

Mt Gambier is the home of a magnificent sunken garden made in what was initially a sinkhole.

Why didn't some one remind me the keys were tucked in lol.

From this .....

To this. Beautiful "when you get lemons, make lemonade"

Met a mad driver here, We were pulling out and he was coming at a rate of Knotts. Result ; he missed me but got the front of Gary and Kerrys bus with the back panel as he pulled in front of them.

That could have ended much worse if the damage was greater.

Time to leave this beautiful camp and move on to Penola, Home of St Mary Mc Killop

Cheers

PORTLAND VIC.

Nice little town full of history and beauty. WELL!!!!!! It seems I took all the photos on my phone, which I find hard to believe so I will have to look further.

This little fellow was waiting for us at the end of the tram trip along the foreshore. He was only tiny and was ust a baby. Not sure where he came from because there was not a GUM tree in sight. 

Found them.

Almost didn't go on this, I would have missed the Koala if I hadn't spent the $15 :)

Just so you don't get lost in the park hehe

Next stop was Dartmoor where there were some more amazing tree carvings

 

Cheers Barb