From the Forest to the Sea - Southern Flinders Ranges to the start of the Eyre Peninsula

 What a difference a day makes!

We left Port Pirie after an interesting night.  (Two trains, Police Sirens, Dog Fight, Attempted Break-in at the Caravan Park) (neither of our vans, thank goodness)....all the time Mark slept through! We made our way the next morning to the Southern Flinders Ranges a drive of 60km, stopping en route at Port Germaine, which at its heyday had the longest pier in the Southern Hemisphere and a population of 364.  It's been downhill ever since!  In the Remarkables National Park  we stayed at Mambray Creek Campground.  It was a very picturesque area, however we only stayed one day.  The heat and flies drove us away.  We had a few visitors however,  Gordon the goanna gave Donna a huge fright when she came out of the caravan to find him comfortably seated in her chair.  This  goanna was at least one metre long and very well fed, but it would not leave us alone until Mark spoke to him quite sternly and told him to move on.  John was fascinated by the way Gordon was able to freeze to catch his prey.  Mark also attracted the attention of an emu, who left his brood to investigate this interloper in his domain.  We all did one of the walks, a ‘short’ walk around a gully, and up the hillside, but the heat was pretty unbearable.  We decided we’d head for the beach at the Eyre Peninsula as Kathie & Donna were ready for a swim,  so left Thursday morning for the 100km drive via Port Augusta to Port Lowly which is 8kms east of Whyalla.  It is a very interesting place, in one area you find the Santos Oil & Gas Refinery, which processes crude oil and gas for shipment all around the world.  On the other side of the bay is a pristine area of the Spencer Gulf.  Once again we are going to try fishing, hopefully with more success this time.

 This brood of emus came right past our campsite.  Daddy Emu investigated Mark very closely.

 Gordon the Goanna was fine until he wanted to take over Donna's orange chair.

 We're all getting lots of use from our bikes.  John & Kathie are enjoying using their bikes to get around & see different places.

 Mambray Creek had lots of giant red river gums, many of which had caverns at their base. 

 This was our campsite at Mambray Creek.  A dry creek at present.  Wonderful spot, would recommend for winter visits.

 The view from our caravan was enhanced by a mass of beautiful purple flowers.

 This is our campsite at present at Port Lowly.  Clear blue water....BUT NO FISH YET!

 Kathie has the pose perfect, Donna needs to work on hers.

 Port Lowly Lighthouse and view of Spencer Gulf.