For those who are experiencing some more traditional Christmas time weather, I thought I would share some of our sunshine!
Christmas and New Year have fallen well this year, with a couple of extra long weekends, plenty of good eating, drinking and watching All 4 Adventure has been done. However it’s been bloody hot on many days and all the popular spots are full of other people enjoying the holidays. Before cabin fever set in, we thought we would saddle up the Cruiser and do some exploring.
The Adelaide plains lies to the north of Adelaide, South Australia. It is intersected by the main road north, Port Wakefield Road, which in turn becomes the Stuart Highway. Don’t turn off this road and eventually you will arrive in Darwin, Northern Territory.
It is an area I regularly drive through on this road, heading out for an Outback adventure, so I never stop as I am always keen to get where I am going, or to get home. However today, the plan was just to wander, explore some side roads, and just nose around this area that is a bit overlooked as having anything worth seeing. This is how I like to explore.
First stop was Port Gawler conservation park, but not before driving past many of the salt pan flats that make up much of this coastal region, all owned by one company it would seem.
Note, mug on sign..?
Big sky today.
Port Gawler conservation park is a coastal mangrove estuary, nice enough spot. Just us and a father teaching his son to fish (I wish someone would teach me!), however I’m always on the lookout for somewhere new to drop the kayak in, this isn’t too far from home. I’ll be back here with the boat.
Now we were just meandering around the dirt roads. It’s a weird mix here. Houses a few and far apart, most quite run down with various car wrecks scattered around, others brand new, substantial and expensive. A few attempts at agriculture, but the area has that desolate, slightly surreal feeling. I still have a bit of fascination for areas like this, where I grew up in the UK, you just don’t get these empty, barren environments. Or roads like this.
Dry weather? I got this.
I strange shape appeared on the horizon. Now we definitely felt like we were in an episode of the X-Files...
A weather radar, as it turns out. Not aliens. Worthy I’m sure, but aliens would have been better...
Non-ionizing radiation? I’ve done some bad stuff to my body over the years. I think it’ll survive this.
Next we stumbled into Middle Beach, a cluster of ramshackle holiday houses, although some looked like permanent residences. The beach part of it was a liberal interpretation too, just mangroves from what I could see. The mosquitoes must be fierce... There was a camping/caravan site here, I suggested to N that I wasn’t quite sure what the appeal was, she replied it would have plenty of appeal if you were on the run from the law. Good point.
You think these guys are Ford fans?
More cruising around the dirt roads, then another weird shape on the horizon. What is this? Some sort of bunker? Aliens for sure this time.
Oh, ok. I know what this is. I spent plenty of time on these things when I worked for the government. I might have reason to visit one again over the next few years, at least I know where to come.
Next we rolled through the cool little town of Dublin, this is one of those towns that actively encourages passing travelers trade, there is a great butcher here with locally killed meat and a good fruit and veg shop. I regularly stock the fridge up here on my way out to the Flinders Ranges or wherever, you have to support these communities in my opinion.
This house is typical of the historic architecture in this area.
Some old girls slowly returning to the earth.
From here we headed to Thompson Beach, another holiday ‘shack’ community. Although this one much more established, with well kept houses and a busier feel. Still not my scene but I can see the appeal if you have a big family.
New Hilux, being put to use.
The beaches here are wide and shallow, it’s a long walk to go fishing.
We found this gentle track that wound it’s way through the dunes, eventually popping us out on the beach. Final walk for the hounds, then time to head home. Cabin fever abated, for now...
