6 May

The Zoo
Monarto Zoo, some 50km east of Adelaide this 150hectare zoo is outstanding. Hop on the buses for a Grassland tour and the Africa Safari. Very very cool.

Distance from home at the Biggest Rockinghorse.

5 May

Leaving Mannum, a little town on the Murray

This is a real River


The drive down to Victor Harbor along the spine.



Victor Harbor, the horse drawn tram, along the beach aswell.




Cape Jarvis across to Kangaroo Island

4 May

Off Touring
Hired a little Getz. A tiny green Getz, and headed out of the city up to the Clare Valley for the Riesling Tour.



Then over to The Barossa Valley, then down to Mannum stayed there the night.


The countryside.


Where I finally called it a night Mannum.

1 May

Down to Glenelg,
Caught the bus into the City then the tram down to Glenelg.
Walked out on the jetty, had a coffee, the girl in the post office that had passed out.
Back into the city. Checked out the markets on the way home.

30 April

The Adelaide Zoo

The Adelaide Zoo, is 1/4 of the size of Perth Zoo. Little tiny entrance. Reptile House was good, as was the Nocturnal House. The zoo was ok, but then I keep comparing it to Perth's.
They have Hippoes and and a Flamingoes and their apes and monkeys exibit was lacking some monkeys.

29 April

Great Day - Day Trip with Em and Skye,(not brother Skye)

Headed out to McLarenvale today with Em and Skye. Great morning of driving and laughing, wondered the streets of McLarenvale, checking out wineries, The Almond Train, The Menz chocolate Company, lunch at The Red Poles and then out to St Joseph winery - the 2006 Shiraz and all the whites. Great Day

28 April

South Australia - The Maritime Museum & Port Adelaide
Caught the bus into the city then back out to Port Adelaide.
A bit like Freo before the America's Cup, turned it into a happening place.
The Maritime Museum was great especially the lower floor, which has been converted into a ship bunkheads.




Then I found the BEST thing ever by accident. A Seahorse Farm, Very very cool, where I brought a very cool gilded seahorse for my necklace. (Yes, I will get a pic soon)

Eygpt -The Valley of the Kings

Egypt -The Pyramids and the Sphinx

24-26th Feb

Trip over from Walpole was good, stopped in at a roadside stall, got some veggies and more fruit.. Thank god for Pemberton, at least the place has nice fruit and veg.

Have been lazing about, reading, relaxing and today 26th a little bit of touring. Drove up to the Boranrup and Conti camp sites to check them out as possible camping areas. Beautiful drive through the karri trees.



Have a perfect view out over the Blackwood River see...



And the waters still as today, coin bouncing time..



Well its the long weekend tomorrow and i'll be catching up with the Spencers. Yippie.

20th Feb

Walked into town only took about 20 mins, headed down to the jetty and onto the WOW river cruise. It was excellent went out to the river mouth, got a history lesson and learnt a few things on the way.
Ever down here its a must.

Brought lunch and set out on the way home, stopped at creepy creek for lunch, got attacked by march flies.
Then headed out to the Tingle tree and Circular Pool, finishing back in Walpole for afternoon tea.

Had a shower relaxed and decided to have chicken and corn soup for tea. Upon opening the food store I realised that the 2L vinegar bottle had leaked through all my tinned and dry goods.... Ohhh crap.....
So after taking all of them out, throwing away the spoiled ones, removing the labels and washing the corrosion off the tins I relabeled the tins and sorted it out so I think that now takes the trip from Esperance to Walpole up to Hiccup 4, lets hope there is no more.

19th Feb

I love how the days blur when you're on holiday your not sure if its Thursday or Friday. Well that’s how today began, up early with travel makers discussing heading to the Nullarbor and others off to Augusta.

Today I'm heading over to Denmark and wind my way back home.
Being a total science geek, the fact that Denmark visitors centre has the world's biggest barometer was a total surprise to me… its not as big as you might think, but it has a impressive display... mmm that sounds way too dodgy.

Wondered the streets of Denmark looking for a bargain and an Atm. An Atm was found but no bargains, especially in the newsagents, where a father and I will quote him picked up a Dolly magazine and said, "I want her to look up to these women, want to be like them…" I kid you not, my head shakes in disgusted. Where is New Scientist or The Times when you need them a nice picture of Fiona Wood or anyone with a brain…..

Headed back out of Denmark before I grew another head. Out to the Puzzle Park…. Closed on the front gate… would have been nice to know 18kms ago….. stupidheads… nice drive though…..stupidheads..




Green Pool will be lovely I said through grit teeth and it was…



Then Mead glorious Mead, now talking about misconceptions, I always thought mead was beer and was so looking forward to drinking… Yippie, but as the day would have it NO, it’s a wine, a wine made with honey. Tried a lot, liked a few, have them stashed in the van…. Oh and Honey vanilla Icecream.. mmmmm... work bees...work.

The Toffee Factory next and Wade and Bec are lucky, this toffee factory makes chilli stuff….
Got some chilli chocolate toffee, some Chilli Peanut brittle and some Chilli and Passionfruit jam I think it was, and some mint toffee for me.
My Bounty

Boat Harbour was closed….
Moombaki Winery was closed….

Found something open some pottery studio,

Peaceful Bay a bit windy but beautiful.

Then home for an arvo of relaxing and soaking in the sun.
Home Sweet Home



Going on the Wilderness of Walpole EcoCruise tomorrow, might if I'm feeling up to it even cycle into town. The guy at the front desk reckons it's not far.

17th Feb

Departure: Esperance

Stops: Ravensthorpe, Pallinup rest point (worth a stop), Denmark, Kent River

Arrival: Walpole

Adventures:
Going to break my blog into two tonight, the trip and the hiccups.

One:
After a rocky start and having fixed my trailer coup link... NO lights as I pull out of Esperance... WTF... it's ok, I just have to plug it in properly... lucky.... (Hiccup 1)

Set out dead on 8.00am good work Tam. Said goodbye to a nice little caravan park, awesome views ($140/wk, $2/washing, hot showers, windy, short ride to town, a rubbish truck that comes through twice every week too early and cleaning staff that also start too early, I'm not up every day by 8.15am come on...)

Filled up at Ravensthorpe, Yabbie, needed to stretch her legs and wanted to come sit with me, then filled up again at Denmark, thought we might get a snack from Kent river NOPE zip, only wine and live marron, Yabbie was scared... and finally reached Coalmine Beach about 4.15pm, hungry and tired and probably a little grumpy.... (not really)


Now part TWO
My name should be breaker brother number one... Three things went wrong today... but I shouldn't say anything one, fixed, and two things I still have to get fixed but I can live without them for the moment,
Hiccup 1 the lights tick fixed
Hiccup 2 again before leaving the caravan park, my new reversing link is busted... god damn it, must of knocked it when I was reversing into the bay when I arrived bloody hell... Well reversing hitch is useless til i get it fixed....
Hiccup 3 and lucky I went to Uni for 4 years so i could temp. fix this for the moment. The jockey wheel that lowers and rises the caravan on and off the hitch is spinning and not locking into place, Shit, shit, shit, so lifted it up with the stays, fuck I'm strong and will sort it out later...... much later......


Trivia for the Day Phantoms b'day today created in 1936, 73... - yes I was listening to Radio National.

Feb 12th-16th

Feb 12th - 16th
Last Days here in sleepy yet beautiful Esperance.

Been relaxing and not doing a great deal over the past few days. By not doing a lot I mean swimming, reading, sleeping, going to the markets, a little bit of shopping and lots of checking out eye candy…. Mmmm something about country lads … mmmm… those sexy legs and broad shoulders mmmmm….

Cycled down to Tanker Jetty and took a relaxing walk out to the end, I took my hat off, to be sure not to lose another one…


Sammy the seal was at the jetty and was disappointed I didn’t have fish for him today.


Sat back up on the shoreline and had a coffee and watched the day slipping by, hard life I tell ya..


Decided I better tidy up and get ready for my early departure tomorrow. Filled the car, checked water and oil..(yes mum), oh this has been my little oasis for the last couple of weeks.


Then I had to do some repairs, apart from breaking my broom handle…. I had to fix the caravan coup link. After taking the whole thing apart the wire holes where a fraction of a mill to small… shit, shit, shit, I love pliers.. had to squash each one a fraction but rewired the lot. I done good, hey Wayne. (touch wood - it doesn’t burn out like the last one)


Leaving tomorrow morning hopefully b4 9.00am, heading back around to Walpole for a week, should be a long drive about 650kms I think. Staying at Coalmine's Beach Caravan Park. Hope, cross your fingers it has internet capabilities. If not I need some more books.

This travelling is a hard life….

Feb 11th

A few different things today


Out to Kepwari Trails, The Lake Warden Wetland System, not really what I expected but a casual walk. Oh yer stepped on a snake, we both scared the shit out of each other and both bolted the opposite direction, actually think it might of been a little leggless lizard, brown with strips going all the way down his body.

Headed out to the wind farm next, not a soul around, great view from the lookout.

Then to Blue Haven beach, where I walked down the beach to a little spot and had a swim and a relax. Those bloody stairs... 10 zillion of them to get back up at Blue Haven beach, lucky its so beautiful and isolated.

Feb 10th

Mermaid Leather
I was amazed and surprised by this. I had no idea you could turn fish skin into leather.
Well you can and it is an expensive product to own.

The fish skin just like all hides under goes the tanning process and at the end is a beautiful soft leather.

Gorgeous bracelets, shoes and handbags.

Feb 9th

Home sweet Home,

Figured I should show you my huge, spacious home, given that I have spent all day tidying it. There's not pegs out or clothes hanging or towels drying... speck and span.... cough, well almost none.

Two pics the kitchen, lounge, meals and family room AND the master bedroom, the guest room and my walk in robes.

Well spacious isnt it... oh I almost forgot the patio and deck are outstanding as well but i'll save those images for later.

Feb 8th

Woody Island - Mackenzie's Island Cruises
The day started off a little on the cool side, overcast skies and a sea that looked like it could get rough.

We headed out of the harbour with the skipper of Seabreeze IV filling us in with all the stats on the port and local info.
Over to Charlie Island, Cull Island, where we saw, sealions, fur seals, cape barren geese, White-breasted sea eagles, a gull i cant remember. Over to Thomas island and the Sea eagle put on a bit of a show for us, then Gunton Island. A short trip to Seal Rocks where three New Zealand fur seals were playing (little buggers wld keep still long enough for me to get a good pic).

Upon arrival to Woody Island we had morning tea and ventured off to complete the summit trek, 76 steps later.... and 6 rest stops we finally made it to the top stopping along the way to be informed of local events and history of the island. The little skinks had a feast on carrots and we began the decent back to base camp.
The smell of a bbq and fresh salads awaited us on our return. Brilliant food and even better scenery to eat it infront of.
On to the glass bottom boat and out for a quick look at the local marine life. Nice big Blue Groper and a few herring too. Warm enough to go for a swim, just, some of the mob took to the water for a rapid 15min snorkel.
Then boarded the Seabreeze IV and headed home.