What a great night, chatting with Paula and the girls. We met Paula's youngest daughter Aster, who is seven, and full of beans. They are all really lovely. Sunday was a nice slow morning, with lots of cuppa's and more chatting, some washing, before one of Paula's friends came and collected us all. Sue took us over to Warnertown, to the Flinders Rest pub, for Pizza and live music. We also met Rachel, Jacko and Fraser(Jacko's son, about 12yrs), more friends of Paula's, and enjoyed a very fun afternoon listening to some strange guy (Billy February) playing guitar and singing. He wasn't too bad, until he started talking in between songs and trying to guess our names. Good for a laugh though.
First time in a car for a couple of months, it's actually pretty scary....
The Frasers Rest pub. Great pizza, lovely publicans, and great company.
This is great hey Will? A few flies, but we're used to them now.
The foreshore, port and smelter in Port Pirie.
The marina, full of old "plankies". There was and is a very large Italian contingent here.
That was pretty much it for Sunday, except for getting to meet Paula's parents, who are retired, and spend six months each year travelling in their caravan. They were really happy and chilled out, and didn't think we were mad at all. Another quiet night at home, and another lazy morning on Monday. Will did some cleaning and maintenance on the bikes, while I finished the washing and sorted out our food panniers. We need to go shopping. Paula took the day off from her shop (New Wave Surf & Street), and took us for a tour of the top of York Peninsula. From Port Pirie to Port Broughton, then to Wallaroo, Moonta and Kadina, then back again. Wallaroo, Moonta and Kadina, form the Copper Triangle, as copper was mined from this area in the late 19th century. Now it is reliant on agriculture, mostly wheat and barley, and is one of the better growing regions of South Australia.
Thank you Will, for taking care of Bettie. She is looking good.
It was weird driving around, we seemed to be going so fast, and we only managed a few photos. But it gave us a taste of a very interesting area, and we had a lovely lunch in Wallaroo, at the Cooper's Alehouse, after driving onto North Beach, in Paula's commodore sedan. It was rock hard. No beach volleyball on this one, unless you want to take some skin off. Better for cricket.
Paula said they usually play cricket and putt putt during summer along this beach.
Long drive, we need a driver reviver. Nice new hotel on a new canal development.
It's very tidal, so huge banks and floating jetties.
From here we checked out Moonta, which has a rich Cornish history, along with Kadina, and has a gorgeous old church (no photo from the car), and lots of lovely old buildings. This was my favourite today, and the beach and jetties, yes, there are two, are really beautiful. Kadina is very similar to Moonta, but is the shopping Mecca in this region.
Moonta bay main beach. This is one of my favourite spots so far. So nice.
One of two jetties, really good fishing in this area, Paula has told us.
Once home, we were all exhausted, and just relaxed and got sorted for departure the next day. It has been such a pleasure staying with Paula, and having a look at her home area. Worth more time here, for sure.
So, this morning we are away again. We said good bye to Aster and Paula, as they were ready and off before us. No surprise there, and we were loaded and heading out towards Warnertown by 9:30. Only six kays down the road we stopped to record our 3000th kilometre in 60 days, so far this trip. Way cool.
3000 big ones, woo hoo!
It wasn't long before we found the Frasers Rest again, and carried on along the Eyre highway for about 16kms before turning in to Crystal Brook. The highway had a bloody good shoulder, but lots of traffic. The road to Crystal Brook had no shoulder, and very little traffic. It was a very pretty town, so we had our lunch, and made a few phone calls, having a nice hour break before carrying on towards Spalding and Burra.
The harvest in full swing.
Coming into Crystal Brook, we were passed by three big army vehicles.
The first pub in town.
Foodland for a cheap drink before lunch.
The other pub, monitored by a "Monitor". Well, a goanna!
The weather was heating up, and so were the hills. We are at the southern end of The Flinders Ranges, and this is the least hilly area, they are not super steep, just long and slow, and just going up more and more. Our highest point so far was 305mtrs, lowest 4mtrs. Bit of climbing. But it was quite scenic, with the farming going on forever, and very little traffic.
On the left is a field of Fava (broad) beans. So different than the usual wheat.
As we rode passed, a lone kangaroo went leaping into the field. Can you spot him?
At 305mtrs, what a great view behind us.
I look at that sign, and just ask "Why?". 1km! Not necessary.
By the time we got to Gulnare, and looked at the next hill, we decided to have a break in the only shop in town, the pub, and then decided to just stay put here tonight. It was hot, we were having a nice chat to Richard (the publican), and the hills can wait till tomorrow. There will be heaps more tomorrow, and we'll go all the way to Burra, with lunch in Spalding. For $10 a night, we get a nice little shaded grass patch, a toilet and hot shower. Awesome, we can afford to have dinner in the pub too.
What a cute pub in this tiny town of 31.
Our little home for tonight, with a view of the silos.
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