Step 36 Gladstone - Cowell, Eyre Peninsula (319 km's)

Sunday 6^th February

Very cool this morning – 12 degrees. But at least it's fine and after about an hour on the Internet we are pretty sure that the roads are open and the weather is ok to head on through Ports Pirie & Augusta. Mind you a hundred kilometres to the north they are about to cop the tail end of Cyclone Yosi. In another example of our charmed life, there was a fork in the road yesterday and we went left, if we had gone right we would have hit the storms. The town of Quorn was completely isolated.

Di took the wheel this morning, so I let her drive.

I think it was just the way I was holding the camera but it does look like we were on two wheels in this photo

Port Pirie was a pleasant surprise quite a pretty, decent sized town. Not pretty enough and decent enough to stay though, so we continued on.

The roads leading into Port Augusta show the signs of the rain over the last couple of days. They also show the smells – bit pongy with the stale water. Luckily down by the marina it was much more pleasant and we managed to have lunch and a coffee in MM.

Driver swap after lunch and back on the road heading for Whyalla.

First stop in Whyalla the information Centre for our weekly fix of brochures and a photo opportunity at HMAS Whyalla. Described as the largest ship docked on dry land (2 kilometres from the water) they are clearly discounting the world famous submarine at Holbrook in NSW. Is there an obudsman for tourist attraction propoganda?

I think the Captain said Full ASTERN Midshipman

Second stop Hummock Hill lookout. Whyalla as you all know is famous for iron ore, steel mills and shipbuilding and the town shows the signs of this. Everything is coated in red dust. I wouldn't be surprised if the Prime Minister gets her hair colouring from visiting this place. 

Now speaking of visits, according to the plaque at the top of the hill, Betty  (known to some of you as Queen Elizabeth the Second) has visited Whyalla twice. To be honest, once shocks me, twice is beyond comprehension. I can only imagine the first was an accident and the second was the result of a conversation with Phil the Greek that went something like:

“Phil, we have an invitation to Whyalla, I think it was that place in Orrstralia that we visited that was all covered in red dust”

“Covered in red dust Bet? You must be joking, why would we go somewhere like that?”

“I'm sure we did Phil, remember, the Corgis had asthma for months afterwards”

“Oh, I remember, surely it wasn't that bad, Bet”

“ You're right Phil, it can't have been, let's accept that invitation then and go and unveil the new plaque for the colonials. You know how they love a good plaque. Just don't mention the cricket this time”.

I wouldn't lie to you - Betty was here!

Anyway, despite the royal connection and the alleged possibility of seeing dolphins frolicking in the harbour we decided to move on.

Ended up checking in to the Cowell Foreshore Caravan Park on the recommendation of Vicki & Herb. Checked in for two nights. Site is not bad, all gravel, but it's a nice park right on the foreshore. Scrubby tidal flats, but only a short walk to town and out to the jetty. Weather has warmed up and cleared up so it's all very pleasant.

Sunset was magnificent – as you can see in the photo below.

After the sunset we watched a DVD about crossing the Nullabor from one of the Caravan magazines. It had some magnificent scenery but the production and storyline was hardly up to the Charlie & Ewan, Long Way Round series so we turned it off and went back to NCIS.

After watching the DVD the van was really rocking tonight – but I think that's only because the wind got up outside.

Monday 7^th February

Had a pleasant breakfast outside in the sunshine this morning. Also got much more information than we were really looking for, thanks to overhearing a conversation across the way. Now honestly we didn't want to hear the conversation but we just couldn't get away without the potential of ending up IN the conversation. Anyway we now know the effects of clogged arteries, hospital recovery times (standard and infection affected) , the sad and death ridden history of the Black family of Queensland, the economic health of rural Australia and most importantly the need to get packed up and moved on without making eye contact with your neighbours on a caravan park. 

Before lunch it was time for a walk out to the end of the jetty and through town and after lunch it was time for Steve to catch up on blogging and Di to catch up on her Financial Planning studies.

Mark the Commercial Hotel in your gastronomic atlas!

Big finish to the day with dinner at the pub. Vicki and Herb had recommended the seafood platter and it did not disappoint. All local seafood including oysters, King George Whiting, prawns, crab spring rolls and mussels and Steve had the Singapore Chili prawns. All washed down with an Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc – definitely going to have to get a job when we get back, to afford the lifestyle to which I would like to become re-accustomed.

Albatross!