Had a bit of a change to plan last night. On the way to the pub got chatting to the local Copper – real nice bloke and by the time I got back on me way, well it was getting dark. Busy night in the pub, so dinner was a bit later and then well the Block came on the telly. Yep, you guessed it. Stayed there and watched it, in the warmth while chatting to an old bloke that was there for the fishin’ competition and then the Michael the van park owner came over for a bit of a chat……who said life was boring. Anyhoos, after the block it was back to camp Kimmie for the night.
Another good nights sleep in the little tent and awake to a bit of a windy morning. Loving the 7:30am sleep ins. Not too bad and the sun is coming out. Breaky in the camp kitchen this morning as I need to get packed up and head out bound for The Gutter (Port Augusta). Look it probably took me an hour to pack up and then add the Kimmie ready time and was on the road by 9:00am (not bad by my reckoning).
After speaking with some of the Nomads I’ve had a change of plan and will take the coast road today. The plan, no plan in place we take our first turn off onto the Birdseye Highway heading for Lock. Birdseye….had a little chuckle and still chuckling when I think about the name…I get the Captain Birdseye song in my head…LOL
Heading towards Lock and the wind has started to pick up and thankfully I have my heated gear on again just on low to take that chill off. The sky show is ever changing once more however the show seems to turn a dark and gloomy colour. Look there’s still some blue but it’s not looking great. They are moving so fast enough though that it might just blow over the top of us.
Half an hour later and the wind has picked up unbelievably!! The clouds are moving and swirling around above us and I wonder whether we are going to get caught up in it too. A Dorothy in Oz moment ponders around in my head….
Even the trees are struggling at the moment. Certainly was a test to the upper body strength.
Through Lock and onto Cleve for a quick pic of the Post Office – 5640
At least the sun is out but the wind is blowing a gale. Having to be extra cautious where I stop at the moment. Pushing onto Cowell where I stop for a coffee, fuel for Dudley and of course a picture of the Jetty for Smurfette. On the way to get fuel there is a little museum on the left just before the servo so a pic. At the servo, I get chatting to this old bloke that used to ride bikes eons ago and mentions that he’s read all about these FarRiders and IBA Riders but never met one. Well I guess I made his day, cos I’m both. I told him to check out the FarRiders forum and if he joins mention that he met Kimmie in Cowell. I wonder if he will.
Why is it when you order a coffee with sugar they put the sugar in the cup first and then never stir the bloody thing. This coffee was awful, why, cos all the bloody sugar was lumped into the bottom of the cup just like it was put there in the first place.
Cowell Jetty
Cowell Machinery Museum
You have to make a left at Cowell to head up to Whyalla and long here the wind gusts have really picked up the pace and Dudley and I are doing are darnedest to stay on the correct side of the road. We are battered from all sides at some points and I will be grateful to be off him this afternoon. The grey clouds are still looming and the clouds are continuing to do their dance is the whirlwinds that are happening up there. I believe this range is Mount Whyalla as we creep closer to the bay.
Really found it tough to get the pics today cos of the wind. If you slowed down you were almost pushed off the road and if you stopped you were almost blown over. But the scenery is pretty awesome.
Finally, we reach Whyalla and I went in search of the touristy sign and the big anchor. But as you know I can get lost even with a GPS and today was no exception. It had me going all round town and eventually I found a battleship which I though was pretty cool.
As it turns out the touristy pic that I wanted was on the wrong side of the road at a set of traffic lights that I had no chance of doubling back for as there are islands down the middle. Guess that pics will have to wait for another time. Heading outta town and now I am counting down the time and distance to The Gutter. The wind is so bad that it’s fatiguing me and you start to tense up when that happens.
Despite the winds, the sun is still out though and well the views……see for yourself.
I chat to myself and Dudley and Smurfette give me words of encouragement along the way, but still watching the mile markers for PA go by…it really is a countdown. Anyway, we do finally reach Port Augusta.
Find my room at the Motel Poinsettia and unpack. Today I feel like I’ve been sailing the high seas and when I got off Dudley my legs were all wobbly. Friends Lynne & Fatman mentioned the other day after their ride that they felt liked they’d been in a washing machine….well today I well and truly feel like I’ve been through the tumble drier.
Now it’s off to the Wadlata Information and Tourist Centre. I saw an ad for this earlier in my travels and after speaking with Gags at Border Village decided to check it out for myself.
The tour takes hours (which I wasn’t aware of) but I paid admission and did the Kimmie abridged version, which still took about 1-1/2 hours. The entrance is the mouth of a giant snake which is quite relevant to the story telling of the tour as you wonder around.
Once inside the mouth you follow the twists of what can only be described as the body of the snake taking in the sights and the commentary of the exhibit.
Afterwards I retreat back to the motel and tuck Dudley in for the night then once again wonder over to the local pub for a feed.
