Week 14: Across the Nullarbor

The week so far:  Port Lincoln – Frenchmans Beach (Coffin Bay) – Davenport Creek – Balladonia (WA) – Israelite Bay – Esperance – Cape Le Grand.

Venus Bay Heads, SA

Well there has been a lot of time in the car this week.  WA and western SA offer stunning beauty but everything is a bloody long way to everywhere else.

We have also learnt that some roads are better than others in terms of covering miles.  We spent a couple of days in the car getting places, both long ten-hour days.  The first, we travelled across the Nullarbor a total of 1,000kms.  The next, a backbreaking 180kms (yes, in 10 hours) over some pretty gnarly roads (I use this term loosely) down through Cape Arid National Park.

 

 Venus Bay, SA

The little Navara has served us well despite the very rough treatment.   WA and SA have offered some great 4WDing.   The little trooper has not skipped a beat despite the corrugation being pretty severe.  Having said that, these roads might provide us with a useful strategy down the track if we need to induce Kelly.

The travels this week have also taken a toll on the budget (going over our fuel allowance by a factor of four).  Unlike my leftie mates who just seem to incessantly complain (and even attend protests) about Australia’s current budget situation, we have taken matters into our own hands and simply become more efficient. 

Our latest innovation to get the most out of our meagre budget (as unemployed people who are not accepting welfare), is found in aquatics and leisure centres.    These wonderful places not only provide us with exercise, and some time for Kelly to get the weight off her back, we also get to shower all for $5 each!  So long overpriced caravan parks!   

Lucky Bay, Cape Le Grand

We are now off to Albany (pronounced ‘AL-bany’ not ALL-bany for those in the Eastern states) for a few days chilling around this beautiful coast line. 

See you next week.

Matt and Kel

Week 12/13 - Jaws III: for real this time...

Week 12 and 13: The gems of South Australia

The week so far...

Adelaide - Melrose - Flinders Ranges (Wilpena Pound) - Whyalla - Port Lincoln - Whalers Way

The stats:

Number of flat tyres: 1
Number of times we've worn a tea towel on our heads: 3
Number of sharks seen this week: 5!!!
Number times Kelly spewed: 3
Number of times Matt spewed: 0!


I know we've kept stringing you along with our promises of great white sharks, but this week I swear we will not disappoint. Yee haa! I know.

After two weeks of luxurious hot showers and beer in Adelaide, it was time to hit the road once again. We headed north for the magnificent Flinders Ranges and I can't recommend it enough (despite the wretched flies that necessitate the sexy headwear). You'll no doubt notice that I only included a picture of Matt with a tea towel on his head for the purposes of this blog. He complained of course. There are plenty of rippers of me too but hey, artistic license and all that.  After two nights of trespassing near Arkaba Station and the Hysen Ranges and a flat tyre later, we headed down to Port Lincoln for the adventure of a lifetime.

 Wilpena Pound, Flinders Ranges SA

We spent two days and a night in the spectacular Port Lincoln National Park where we went on a 4WD trip along the Sleaford Dunes at sunset. What a sight. Absolutely stunning and well worth the trip for anyone near enough to make the journey. We then decided to blow the budget and set out to dive with great whites off the Neptune Islands. This is something we have both wanted to do for such a long time and it was truly fantastic. These creatures really are something else, and HUGE! There were about five sharks hanging around the boat and we were so pumped about getting the chance to get in there with them... from the safety of a large, reinforced cage. Naturally. We were actually in the last group so we had to wait about 4 hours for our turn to go in and whilst we were worried they would have all gone on their merry way, we needn't' have worried. There was a bunch of kids on the trip who managed to force their way into the first group and to honest, I had to hold Burnsey back so he didn't snot the obnoxious little brats. Jokes! Well, kind of...

Whalers Way (South of Pt Lincoln) SA

Scuba diving Neptune Islands SA

I must take my hat off  to Burnsey who managed to hold his stomach in spite of the rough seas. The sailing boys would have been proud. I wish I could say the same for me.

I'll let the video do the rest and see you all next week!

Thanks again to all of our friends and family and Adelaide for your hospitality, it was so nice to catch up.

Burnsey and Kelly xx

Week 11: The great white returns

We have been enjoying some well earned rest and civilisation in and around SA this past week.  It has been great showering every day, sometime twice!  Regular trips to the pool for some (weightless) exercise has been essential to offset the much quieter lifestyle we have taken up this week.

A notable highlight for me was a short trip to Goose Island.  For those of you who are not familiar with Goose (as it's known), this is a truly magnificent gem located on the western side of the York Peninsula.  Scotch College (my old school and workplace) has been running camps and looking after this tiny spec in Spencer Gulf which also serves as a National Park and marine reserve.

At first glance, Goose is not much to look at but it holds a special place in my heart as I am sure it does for many of those who have been lucky enough to visit its shores.  Located approximately 8 miles offshore from Port Victoria and adjacent to the the larger island of Wardang, Goose offers a myriad of marine life with fantastic scenery.

Next week we are heading north, hopefully making it up to Arkaroola and the Northern Flinders Ranges.  Will keep you posted.

Matt and Kelly