Thursday, December 4, 2008

Port Gibbon to the Yorke Peninsula

Wednesday, the 3rd

I tore myself away from Port Gibbon after lunch & moved on up through Whyalla, Port Augusta & down the coast to Port Germein for the night stop. I had thought of catching the ferry from Lucky Bay, just north of Cowell, to Wallaroo on the other side of Spencer Gulf but at nearly $350 I gave it a miss.

Half way between Cowell & Whyalla the country side changed from primary produce to mineral products. There were the mountain ranges & names like Iron Baron & Iron Knob spelt out the reason behind the new landscape. Whyalla was industrial & obvious signs of shipping export & past ship building feats were on display. Unleaded petrol here was $1.179/litre.

On to Port Augusta & past an army training facility. Coming in to town you pass the turn off for Coober Pedy & Alice Springs, do I turn left here? No, better not, but gee it was tempting. Petrol has dropped to $1.129 (5cents in 75km). Port Augusta is at the very top of Spencer Gulf & now to proceed down the west coast of this sea mass. South of here is the turn off to Broken Hill & Sydney & it sinks in a little more that this adventure is quickly coming to a close.

I look at the western side of the South Flinders Range & remember my trip up the other side in 2004. Places like Orroroo, Wilmington, Quorn & Hawker readily spring to mind.

Port Germein beckons & I make it there around 6.00pm, just in time to feed & walk the desperates & over to the pub for dinner with the park manager & another couple who were staying in the park. We traded tales of our travels & experiences & a very pleasant evening was had. Port Germein is renowned for the longest wooden jetty in Australia (1.5km long). Another old town with plenty of character. Good fishing, particularly Flathead & crabs are in abundance, so I'm told. Directly to the west of here is Whyalla but separated by "just a little bit" of water.

Thursday, the 4th

Today I head for Moonta Bay, about 160km to the south & nearly opposite Port Gibbon, a bit further to the south to be precise, but on the other side of Spencer Gulf.

Port Perie was an interesting place with obvious old style buildings in the town centre & fringes & the new housing on the outskirts of the town. Further down the coast at Port Broughton I was amazed at the size of the local caravan park. Also many caravans were stored there & possibly to be used by their owners when they were on holidays here? I must try to find out how many caravan sites they have here, just for my own curiosity. The park is right on the water, close to town & I'm told there is good fishing here.

Grain fields & sheep return to the landscape & the harvesting of grain is in full swing.

After checking in to the caravan park I made my way to the local Vietnam Veterans club & meet some of the locals. They have a Memorial to the Vietnam Tracker Dogs & it was dedicated on Anzac Day this year in Memory of their past President who had been a member of 9 RAR & although not a member of a Tracker Team marvelled at the skill of the dogs. A plaque to each of the dogs is mounted on rock from the local Moonta Mine & a centre piece is a Cross, a kennel & a short story on the Dogs. It is very simplistic but very thoughtful & a great remembrance of our "mates". One of the Veterans gives a talk to groups on the life of those Dogs & they have an involvement with the local school. A top effort from these people who had no direct involvement with the Tracker Dogs.

I've contacted the fellow who took on my job once I left Vietnam & will visit him tomorrow.

Moonta is part of the Copper Coast & it gets its name because of the Copper mines that were prevelant here in days gone by. There is still a Copper mine on the outskirts of Moonta.

This arvo the showers came & the WIND returned but there appeared to be a change for the better around dusk so we'll see what tomorrow brings. Unleaded here is $1.089.

Friday, the 5th

Well, well in the early hours of the morning it decided to BLOW. What's new! Everything shook, rattled & rolled.

Went to Port Wakefield & had a look at a satellite tv system, then some shopping in Kadina & onto Wallaroo to visit a fellow who was also in Trackers with us in SVN. Chatted about those who have left us & about what we have been up to for the past 40 years. I really enjoyed our conversation.

Unleaded fuel in Port Wakefield was $0.993/litre while diesel was 40cents/litre dearer. A bit unbalanced!

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