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‘Pre retirement’ trial

We are taking 6 months leave from work to see more of this beautiful country we call home.
Will we return…….. Baca lagi

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‘Pre retirement’ trial Pengembara
💙 2nd month wrap up 💙
10 Disember, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
💙 2nd month wrap up 💙
NT - SA - VIC - NSW - VIC

Can’t believe we have completed Part 1 of our trip already 😳

We have 💙loved💙 our time adventuring with MancHester
Our set up works really well for us, however for long term travel there are a couple of small changes we are planning to make.

We have had a few ‘oops’ moments but nothing too drastic 🙏🏻 and our bush fixes have worked well (includes snapped and lost antenna, cracked inner wing wheel arch, lost bolt in bash plate, charger 1 for Bluetti giving up (again😡), stolen water bottle….)

👍🏻 Highlights - too numerous to list them all (includes the places we have run, the people we have met, EVERYTHING about Coober Pedy, fossicing and finding opal, fabulous sunsets🌅, clear starry skies🌌, seeing Aurora Australis, learning about John Horrocks, cycling the Riesling Trail 🚴🏻, camping along the Murray and catching up with friends at the Wang RegFest…..)

👎🏻 Lowlights - wind 💨, bugs preventing evenings outside 🐜 🪰, fuel economy at times💰

😥 Challenges - being unable to charge the bluetti as we travel (until we get & install the warranty replacement charger 1)

🍻Pubs visited - not as many as we expected 😜 (Mulga bar at Kulgara Roadhouse, (underground) Desert Cave Hotel, the Big Winch, The Bond Store, Moonta Hotel, The Rising Sun, Magpie Stump Hotel, Mates Royal Hotel, Milawa Hotel)

💙 Hester - inverter, coffee machine, Weber, Christmas lights

💙 Manc- ease to prep lunch as we travel, inverter, induction cook top, air fryer

Next- heading home for a couple of weeks work 😢 catch up with family and friends for Christmas 🎄 and prep the car and van for part 2 of our adventure 🥰

Stats for trip:
#️⃣ 8833 km covered (6940 kms towing)
#️⃣ 648km of dirt road (582km towing)

#️⃣ 16.09l/100km average fuel economy (from FuelMap Australia)
💰 $3161.86 for 1413.5l diesel
💰 Highest fuel 2.99l (William Creek & Pink Roadhouse Oodnadatta SA) $298l (Kings Creek Station NT) $2.90l (Maree SA)
💰 Lowest Fuel $173.9l (Wunghnu VIC)

🏃🏼238.6km run (including Heysen trail, Mawson trail , Larapinta trail, Oodnadatta Track, Riesling trail and 5 parkrun)
🏃🏻‍♀️62.5km hiked (including St Mary’s Peak - Flinders, Uluru, Kata Tjuṯa, Kings Canyon Rim, Kings Creek, Kathleen Springs, Telegraph Station)
🚴🏻 172km cycled

💰$70.80 highest camping costs - Kings Canyon Resort (with discount 😳)
💰$0 lowest camping costs
🏠 Accomodation 37 caravan park, 15 free camp, 1 pub camp, 4 donation camp, 3 paid showground/RV park

💵 $2397 spent in tourist activities (incl $1540 for flight)

💰$26 spent on laundryBaca lagi
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‘Pre retirement’ trial Pengembara
Day 59
7–9 Dis, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 59
101 km Wangaratta to Numurkah Vic

The aim today was to be ready to recommence work Monday morning😳 Job done ✔️

We said goodbye to our friends at Wangaratta as we headed off in a different direction 😢 but we will get a chance to catch up with them again later this month during our short return home 😊.

Johnny is back at work tomorrow and as his first job is in Kyabram it seemed silly to travel home and then for him to travel back out, so we decided to stop somewhere nearby that we hadn’t been before for him to use as his work base

Our journey took us via the art silo at Tungamah on our way to Numurkah, which is a beautiful little town with lovely park lands, wetlands, lake and a creek running through it. There are indoor and outdoor pools and sports facilities and the shopping strip has everything you might need including grocery shops, cafe, pubs …….
There is even a self contained free RV camp spot by the creek- we will keep that in mind if we are in the area again.

Once set up with got on our bikes to explore the area and rode around the wetlands and along the creek 🚴🏻🚴🏻‍♀️, which Johnny later decided to run 🏃🏼

Then it was time to prepare everything for his first job in the morning 💻📝.
It feels weird getting ready for work and knowing we will be back at home in 2 days 🏡
But it’s only until Christmas and then we will be setting off on the second part of our trip 🥰

Our home for the night is Numurkah Caravan Park
$44 pm power and water, full amenities, dump point.
Our site banks on the creek and walking distance to the townBaca lagi
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‘Pre retirement’ trial Pengembara
Day 58
6 Disember, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 58

The aim today was to get out of bed in time for Park Run 🏃🏼 Job done ✔️

We did extremely well to get to Park Run given it was the ‘first night’ together with friends and the huge risk of being ‘Jacksoned’. But not only did we get up, we also walked the 2km from our camp along the river to the event 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 AND the Seagull came in first, but unfortunately didn’t get the sub 20 he was hoping for 🏃🏼

The rest of the day was spent listening to some great Australian country music artists and dancing the night away 🎶🎤🎸🕺🏼

A great way to end a fantastic weekend with friendsBaca lagi
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‘Pre retirement’ trial Pengembara
Day 57
5–6 Dis, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 36 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 57
18 km Milawa to Wangaratta Vic

The aim today was to set ourselves up in Wangaratta for a music festival. Job done ✔️

After waking to a beautiful sunrise in the King Valley🌅, not intentionally but curtesy of the hot air balloon setting of in the field next to us 😳, we headed for ‘Wang’

The Wangaratta Regfest, a 2 day Australia Country Music Festival, is the reason we returned to Victoria and didn’t continue our travels interstate.
We have pre booked tickets for the weekend and are going with friends 🥰

What a weird weather day today has been ☀️💨☁️⛅️, overcast but muggy with a high of 38.7, low of 27.9 at midnight, and wind gusts of 113km/hr with a spectacular sunset 🌅

We are camped up next to the Ovens River, perfect for a cooling dip.
And we can he the music playing from our site.

It’s going to be a great weekend of music and catching up with friends

Our home for the night is the Wangaratta Showgrounds
Pre booked camping tickets cost $155, our most expensive accommodation on the trip 😳Baca lagi
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‘Pre retirement’ trial Pengembara
Day 56
4–5 Dis, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 56
33 km Edi to Mlilawa Vic - our shortest journey on this trip

The aim today was to enjoy a relaxing afternoon at a winery with friends. Job done ✔️

We are extremely fortunate to have a great group of close friends who have maintained regular contact with us whilst we have been traveling and for that we are extremely grateful.

And today we met up with two of them.

Not having far to travel we had a lazy start to the day.
On leaving Edi we stopped at the Lions Park in Moyhu for the dump point and to fill up with water.
Whilst there we met Max, a local farmer who had lived in the area all his life and shared with us some of his history and that of the town.

We set up camp for the night at the RV park in Milawa, then wandered across the road to Brown Brothers Winery to enjoy a lovely relaxing afternoon with our friends 🍷🍾🍹
Great food & wine and the company of good friends- a perfect day 🥰

Our home for the night is the RV park in Milawa
Free camp, no facilitiesBaca lagi
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‘Pre retirement’ trial Pengembara
Day 55
3–4 Dis, Australia ⋅ 🌙 19 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 55
103 km Lake Mulwala NSW to Edi Vic

The aim today was cross back into VIC. Job done ✔️

Woke to a beautiful sunrise and clear blue skies 🥰

We would have liked to have stayed longer at our camp on Lake Mulwala, it was a lovely spot and we will definitely return for a longer stay, but we need to move on as it’s getting closer to our catch up with friends for the weekend 💗

So we crossed the VERY narrow bridge into VIC at Yarrawonga. And had a VERY close encounter with a large yank tank 😜
His commentary on the CB had us as a ‘wide load’, if he thought that you would have thought he would have waited for us to pass as we were already 3/4 across instead of squeezing through 😳

Our journey took us through Wangaratta, WOW we have not been used to large towns for some time and the traffic was a bit of a shock. And we need to head back there Friday 😳
God help us (Johnny) as we travel through Melbourne CBD next week 🤣

And then into the King Valley wine country to Edi to return to a previous bush camp by the King River. It’s been a while since we have been here, in fact we were in the cub camper on our last visit, but it is still as beautiful as we remember. The river is clear and flowing and it will be lovely to hear as it lulls us to sleep tonight 😴

We have secured a great spot in a corner, with river access and a fire pit, and have wood cut and ready for a small fire 🪵, our first of this trip

The seagull enjoyed his first elevated trail run in a while, he’s missed the hills

Our home for the night is Edi Cutting Camping Ground
Free camp with drop toiletBaca lagi
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‘Pre retirement’ trial Pengembara
Day 54
2–3 Dis, Australia ⋅ 🌙 16 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 54
220 km Koondrook VIC to Lake Mulwala NSW

The aim today was to drive into another state. Job done ✔️

Can we say we have done another state on this trip if we have only stayed for one night?

Our journey today took us across the border from VIC into NSW.

We crossed the Murray at Barham , stopping to see the water tower art before continuing on through Deniliquin with a lunch stop at Finley.

We stayed north of the Murray in NSW traveling through the Riverina region to Lake Mulwala, a man made reservoir created in 1939 when the Murray was dammed as part of the Murray-Darling Irrigation Scheme.
The lake is spotted with ghostly dead trees and stumps, a reminder of the forest that was lost when the lake was created.

We found an awesome camp on the edge of the lake, and as a bonus it’s warm and sunny☀️
Great place for an afternoon run 🏃🏼
And beautiful sunset 🌅

Our home for the night is Kyffins Reserve on the edge of Lake Mulwala.
Free camp with no facilitiesBaca lagi
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‘Pre retirement’ trial Pengembara
Day 53
1 Disember, Australia ⋅ 🌙 14 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 53

The aim today was to cycle into another state. Job done ✔️

The seagull hit the trails this morning for a 14km trail run 🏃🏼

We then got on our bikes to ride the trails together 🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻, covering 16km.

And that’s when Justine had a close encounter of the slithery kind 🐍
Her second this trip 😳
She noticed the meter long snake just as it traversed the track in front of her and had to make a snap decision to either try to safely stop or ride over it and hope it didn’t bite.
She went for it.
It didn’t get her but she’s still recovering from the shock 🤣

Our ride took us to Gumbower Island, surrounded by the Murray River and Gumbower Creek it is the largest permanent inland island in the southern hemisphere and within it the Gumbower State Forest is full of trails and camping opportunities.
We initially went in search of new campsites but criss crossed the many tracks until the terrifying snake incident 🐍 sent us back into civilisation.
From there we headed across the Murray into NSW on the Barham - Koondrook Bridge, built in 1904. Unfortunately there were no paddle steamers 🛳️ on the river so we didn’t get to see it lift.

We tried our hand at fishing again 🎣, but no luck.

We had more success making our cosy home feel a little Christmassy 🎄Baca lagi
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‘Pre retirement’ trial Pengembara
Day 52
30 Nov–2 Dis, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 52
122 km Charlton to Koondrook Vic

The aim today was to settle ourselves back on the mighty Murray for a few days. Job done ✔️

As we were leaving our camp at Charlton we had an unexpected visit from the Overland train, we didn’t realise the track next to the site was active but now we know it is 🚂

With the weather over the next couple of days looking the same across the state (18-20 and overcast/windy) ☁️💨☁️ we decided to head somewhere we could run 🏃🏼 cycle 🚴🏻 and fish 🎣 (or at least try to 😜)

So we headed NE to the border with NSW and settled ourselves on the banks of the Murray River in Koondrook.

Once we had set up camp we jumped on our bikes 🚴🏻🚴🏻‍♀️ and headed onto the trails of the Gumbower Forest. We found the start of the Koondrook Red Gum Forest Walks so set off to complete the eagle loop- was not expecting the trail to be flooded and having to cycle through the water whilst trying to find and keep to the path 😳

After the ride we popped into the Mates Royal Hotel for a quick drink and what a lovely place it is with its vine covered outdoor area.Baca lagi
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‘Pre retirement’ trial Pengembara
Day 51
29–30 Nov, Australia ⋅ 🌙 13 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 51
212km Walpeup to Charlton Vic

The aim today was to experience a night at the Rex. Job done ✔️

Thankfully we survived the overnight rain without floating away or getting bogged 🌧️🌧️🌧️

Now planning our few days in VIC before we meet up with friends next week.

We have frequently driven through Charlton and would have loved to visit the old cinema 🎥. Well now we can, there is a movie showing today and we have nowhere else to be.

And we were very excited that our journey to Charlton would take us through Birchip, so we could treat ourselves to their awesome vanilla slice. What we didn’t factor in was the Saturday early closing hours so no treat for us 🙄 and no fresh muffins for dinner either 🤷🏼‍♀️
We did get to see the big mallee bull though 🐂

There was nothing much happening in Charlton on a Saturday arvo so we enjoyed an afternoon running 🏃🏼, reading 📖 and generally chilling until our evening movie at the Rex Theatre.
The Rex has been community owned since 2007 and is run wholly by volunteers and is an amazing place to watch a movie 🎞️🍿🍦🥤

We have missed going to the pictures and have lots of movies we want to catch up on

What we have NOT missed is the weather or the roads in VIC, both are rubbish and the worse we have experienced during our trip so far🥺

Our home for the night is the Travellers Rest Caravan Park- the RV (self contained) section
$10pn
No facilities (public toilets nearby)Baca lagi
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‘Pre retirement’ trial Pengembara
Day 50
28–29 Nov, Australia ⋅ 🌧 15 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 50
281 km Holder Bend SA to Walpeup VIC

We had a number of aims today
1. Visit the Loxton Historical Village. Job done ✔️
2. Cross back into VIC. Job done ✔️
3. Set up for the night before the rain arrives (expecting over 20mm). Job done ✔️

It was sad to leave the tranquility of the river, but with a heavy rain band coming through it was good timing to be moving on

Our first stop was Loxton.
We have passed through the town previously but only stopped for fuel and groceries- we had no idea what the town had to offer, and it’s a lot!
Our visit to The Loxton Historical Village took much longer than we expected, the displays have either been relocated or built to replicate the original constructions and tell stories of the region's early settlers. It was extremely informative and well worth the $15 entry fee.
We drive down to the river to see the BIG pelican and the Tree of Knowledge that records the flood levels of previous years
We had an awesome lunch with a great view at the cafe (The Fruit Packer’s Daughters) onboard the Murray River Queen. Built in 1974, it’s been lovingly restored and is now permanently moored and one of the largest Paddle Boats on the Murray River.

We then began retracing our original journey from Loxton back across the border into VIC, time traveling forward, and trying to out drive the heavy rains that were traveling slowly across the state.

Our aim was to travel as far as we could, but also set up for the night before the rains hit, and find somewhere that hopefully would not turn into a mud bath with the rain.

An hour before the rains were due we pulled into Walpeup, in the Mallee region of north west Victoria. 'Walpeup' is derived from an Indigenous word meaning 'big smoke', which is a little ironic given the town is so small you could miss it if not for the silo art in the highway 😜
The RV park has a shower/toilet, power and water available, and requests just a $10 donation, and we were more than happy to stop, stay and pay.

All set up and ready for the predicted 24mm rain over the next 9 hours 🌧️ lets hope we don’t float away 🚣Baca lagi
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‘Pre retirement’ trial Pengembara
Day 49
27 November, Australia ⋅ 🌙 20 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 49

The aim today was to go nowhere at all. Job done ✔️

We couldn’t resist, we woke to a beautiful still morning and decided to stay.

We had no plans, nothing to do but to relax and enjoy a day by the river

We read 📖, painted🎨, played games 🃏, fished 🎣(yes both of us 😳)
We got the Webber out and had roast pumpkin, sw poato and steak for dinner
We enjoyed a glass of Mount Horrocks wine
We watched the world float by, well a few pelicans, fishermen and a houseboat

A perfect nothing day 🥰Baca lagi
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‘Pre retirement’ trial Pengembara
Day 48
26–28 Nov, Australia ⋅ 🌙 19 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 48
147 km Auburn to Holder Bend Reserve (nr Waikerie) SA

The aim today was to cross the Murray River on a ferry. Job done ✔️

We started our journey today by turning off the Horrocks Hwy and passing through the town of Saddleworth.

Our first stop was to see the silo at Eudunda.
From there we had such a strong tailwind 💨 that we were being pushed along the Thiele Hwy toward the riverside town of Morgan on the Murray River (great wind assisted fuel economy of 13.8l/100km)
Here we crossed the river using the public ferry ⛴️ (operates 24/7 as an extension of the road).

Quick lunch stop at Cadell, then onto Waikerie to check out their silo, this town is DEFINITELY feeling the Christmas spirit 🎄
Here we did the cliff top walk, and as we did a venomous Eastern Brown Snake 🐍 slithered across the path directly in front of us 😳

Our final stop for the day was Holder Bend Reserve on the Murray River.
A great spot by the water, perfect to get the rod out and try a little fishing 🎣 but unfortunately when we arrived it was blowing a gale. We might need to stay an extra night just to give it a go 😜
Rewarded with a beautiful sunset 🌅

Our home for the night (or 2) is the Holder Bend Camping Reserve
Bush camping with no facilities.
Boat ramp accessBaca lagi
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‘Pre retirement’ trial Pengembara
Day 47
25 November, Australia ⋅ 🌙 18 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 47

The aim today was to cycle the Resiling Trail. Job done ✔️

After a relaxing start to the morning we got on our bikes for a ‘grains and grape’ Riesling Trail tour, and covered a total of 23 km 🚴🏻🚴🏻‍♀️

We started up hill, with a horrendous head wind, to O’Leary Walker Wines. Arriving to find amazing 360 views of the surrounding rolling hills and great wines which we had with an awesome pate.

We retuned along the trail to Auburn, this time down hill with a tail wind which meant that we hit 30km/hr without even peddling 😜

Next stop was the Rising Sun Hotel where we shared a great French dip baguette for lunch

Back on the bikes we headed to Taylors wines for the final stop on our tour.

What a fabulous way to end our time in the Clare Valley 🍷🥂🍻Baca lagi
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‘Pre retirement’ trial Pengembara
Day 46
24 November, Australia ⋅ 🌬 32 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 46

The aim today was to visit Penwortham, home and final resting place of John Horrocks. Job done ✔️ and so much more 🥰

It’s been a busy day today, but we did fit in a visit to the historic town of Mintaro and it’s beautiful pub, the Magpie Stump Hotel, and ended the day with a glass at Wines by KT to celebrate a successful day 🍷

One of the reasons that brought us to explore the Clare Valley was its link to Horrocks.
Those that know the area will know of Mount Horrocks, Horrocks highway…….well the town of Penwortham was founded by John Horrocks

We knew this and was in search of his cottage and final resting place, and a chance conversation with a lady in the tourist information office led us to the president of the Mount Horrocks Historical Society - Wendy.
Which then led to a chance visit to their Watervale Institute and an opportunity to look through boxes of archived information including Horrocks family trees and diaries.
And an offer to open up the cottage for an escorted tour.
We feel so lucky and privileged to have met Wendy, David and Meredith and thankful for the time they took and the information they provided us to further investigate any links we might have with the Preston Horrocks’s.

A little history of John Ainsworth Horrocks

On this trip that we first learnt of John Ainsworth Horrocks, pastoralist, pioneer and explorer, who was allegedly shot by his own camel and which ultimately resulted in his death.

We were keen to learn more about John and establish if there was any family connection given he was born 22nd March 1818 at Penwortham Lodge, near Preston, Lancashire, England.

He was one of 13 children of Peter (and Clara) Horrocks, whose father was a member of parliament for Preston, cotton mill owner and manufacturer, having established Horrocks, Miller & co.

John was sent to South Australia with his brother Eustace in 1839 aged 21
He was the first white man to settle in Ngadjuri country, and he established the township Penwortham after his home.
He is said to have built the first stone cottage for his brother (whilst he lived in a tree!) and established the first vineyard in the district. He later built himself a manor house - Hope Farm and raised money to build the first church-St Mark’s.

On 29th July 1846 he left on an expedition near to Lake Torrens with his camel but an accident on the shores of Lake Dutton on 1st September resulted in him being shot and loosing the middle fingers of his right hand and a row of teeth. He was taken back to Penwortham, arriving on 19th September and dying from his wounds on 23rd September. He He was buried in land that had been planned for the church.Baca lagi
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‘Pre retirement’ trial Pengembara
Day 45
23–26 Nov, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 45
124 km Moonta to Auburn SA

The aim today was head into the Claire Valley. Job done ✔️

Think we lucked out last evening being unable to travel and move on as planned as the area just to the north of us was smashed by a massive storm with heavy rain, large hailstones and strong winds - fate works in mysterious ways 🙏🏻

So today we head off to explore more new areas.
Stopping first at Lochiel to see Lake Bumbunga, a salt lake which has been mined since 1881, and its infamous Loch Eel Monster 🐍

We travelled through country side filled with grape and grain to Auburn, a small town in the Clare Valley wine region which will be our base to explore.

Being a Sunday we knew some of the cellar doors would be closed mid week so we walked over to Mount Horrocks Wines, which is located at the old railway station.
It was a great introduction to wines from the local region, and Kirsten was extremely welcoming and knowledgeable providing a wine tasting experience 🥂🍷

Next was Ulster Park Wines where we met Lucky, and learnt that he had been in Coober Pedy supporting the filming whilst we had been there - small world.
He introduced us to their wonderful wines and a fabulous frozen rose, and we enjoyed a glass with a great wood fired pizza 🍕

On our way back we heard music coming from the Rising Sun Hotel and caught the last of a blues night 🎶

Our home for the next few days in Auburn Community Caravan Park.
$35 pn power and water, showers and toilets, laundry, camp kitchen, dump point
Easy walk into town and to the local cellar doorsBaca lagi
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‘Pre retirement’ trial Pengembara
Day 44
22 November, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 44

The aim today was to complete another park run 🏃🏼. Job done ✔️

Batteries down to 82% this morning 🪫 and they may struggle today as it’s a bit of a dull and dreary day, overcast and raining 🌧️

This morning we drove out to the Copper Trail Park Run just out of Kadina, which was celebrating its 3rd birthday 🎂 . Not the most animated group that we have come across on our travels - that award is currently held by Whyalla 🏆. Seagull ran good with a 21.21 recorded time 🏃🏼

Whilst in Kadina we explored the art trail 🎨, very impressed with the wall art and little fairy doors 🧚

And on the recommendation of locals we headed back to a much calmer Port Hughes for lunch at the general store to have their awesome garfish burger 🍔 - was definitely worth it 😋

We had planned to catch an afternoon movie at the Moonta Cinema 🎥, but on arrival found it was closed and the advertised sessions were for a nearby town 😥
Luckily for us the rain had cleared and was now warm and sunny so we could relax and chill the afternoon away instead

We were moving on today but a persistent nose bleed has inadvertently extended our stay, so it will be adventuring tomorrow…..Baca lagi
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‘Pre retirement’ trial Pengembara
Day 43
21 November, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 43

The aim today was to get the Seagull a much needed haircut (isn’t that right Kalebh 😜). Job done ✔️

First stop of the day- Sam’s Barbershop 💈
Coffee whilst waiting and great a cut- thanks Sam it was definitely needed

Today’s drive took us to Walloroo.
Copper was first discovered in the area by shepherd James Boor with a little help from wombats. And the town of was SA’s second busiest port due to the mining and smelting industries, the shipping terminal now supports international grain exports.
On the historical walk around the town you can see many of the buildings from its past and the coastline and beaches are stunning.

We were advised to pop to The Catch Tub for some locally caught seafood, which we took away to eat on the foreshore - and we can confirm the calamari and fish was just delish 🥰

Next stop The Bond Store, a microbrewery and distillery, and sampled their Copper Miners Ale 🍺 at a whopping 6.1%😳

On our way home we detoured past The Coffee Barn Gelateria, another local recommendation, for some yummy ice cream and sorbet 🍦

And finally an itsy bitsy pub crawl around Moonta 🍺 🍾

Today has been a day of indulgences 😍Baca lagi
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‘Pre retirement’ trial Pengembara
Day 42
20 November, Australia ⋅ 🌬 14 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 42

The aim today was to get on our bikes to explore. Job done ✔️

It was a little chilly overnight with a low of 10 and we def didn’t want to get out of bed this morning - not sure how we are going to cope back in VIC 😳

We eventually jumped on the bikes and headed off to explore the Moonta Mines Museum, which is housed in the former mines school built in 1871 to educate the children of the Cornish miners.
Copper was discovered in Moonta in May 1861 and mining started later that year and it became one of the most profitable copper mines in the world. The mine closed in 1923, and the school closed in 1967.

From the museum a trail leads around the area to view what remains of the mining sites. On this trail we also visited the Moonta Mines post office which is now an old fashioned sweet shop🍭🍬- and yes we had to 😜

And on a by-note we have just learnt a good friends late aunt and uncle set up the mine museum and ran the post office and sweet shop 😳

Whilst having a ‘Cornish’ day it was only right that we head into town for ‘the Proper Oggie’ from Taste the Yorke. A 2/3 meat and veg and 1/3 apple pastry served with tomato sauce and cream- you just have to give it a go 😜

Later we headed to Moonta Bay to meander down the pier, only it was so windy that we were nearly blown off the end.
Made us very happy with our decision to stay at the free RV park in Moonta and not the caravan park on the water front 💨💨💨Baca lagi
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‘Pre retirement’ trial Pengembara
Day 41
19–23 Nov, Australia ⋅ 🌙 15 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 41
109 km Crystal Brook to Moonta SA

The aim today was to start to explore the Yorke Peninsula. Job done ✔️
Another new area for us to explore 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

After saying goodbye to Bowman Park and the big lizard our first stop was Port Broughton, winner of the Tiny Tourism Town award, and we can see why. It’s a beautiful seafront town, with an historic jetty and fun water feature. We walked the historical trail through town and couldn’t resist popping into the fabulous bakery for morning tea treats.
Oh and Christmas is definitely coming to this town 🎄

Our journey took us through Kadina, the largest town on the peninsula and otherwise known as ‘Australia’s Little Cornwall’.
Whilst there a guy noticed one of the phrases we have written in odd places around the Ute, he loved it and felt it resonated. He’s been considering stopping work to do more of what he loves- great to think we might have helped that thought process along 💙

We arrived in Moonta, a town whose origins are based in copper mining. It’s a beautiful area with its historic buildings and the stunning beaches and jetty’s of Moonta Bay and Port Hughes close by.
There’s so much to see and do here we think it deserves a few days, so we’ve decided to make it our base.

Our home for the next few nights is the Moonta RV Overnight Stop Area- self contained RV area with bins, dump point and water available. No toilets.
Max night stayBaca lagi
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‘Pre retirement’ trial Pengembara
Day 40
18 November, Australia ⋅ 🌙 18 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 40
204 km Whyalla to Crystal Brook SA

The aim today was to continue to explore new areas. Job done ✔️

On leaving Whyalla we stopped at the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden in Port Augusta to walk around the amazing gardens with their spectacular views of the Flinders Ranges.

Back on the road we had intended on heading to Melrose, for a few days exploring and hiking the Mount Remarkable National Park, but discovered the trails were closed when we planned to be there 😳, so onto plan B

Plan B- pub stay in Port Pirie. But discovered the Federal Hotel was closed on a Tuesday, as were the museums we would like to have visited 😳, so onto plan C

Plan C- head to Crystal Brook to stay at Bowman Park ✅

Bowman Park was a sheep and cattle farm and the remnants of the homestead and garden are still visible, and a great natural play area for children has been developed in the grounds

There are lots of paths to wander through the gardens and the Heysen trail also comes through the area.
There is a lookout which we climbed with fantastic views over the rolling hills, a perfect place to watch the beautiful sunset 🌅

Other than the resident peacock 🦚, goanna 🦎 and a trillion fllies 🪰, it’s quiet with just us here

Our home for the night is Bowman Park, self contained RV area with toilets and bbq’s. Donations requested.Baca lagi
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‘Pre retirement’ trial Pengembara
Day 39
17 November, Australia ⋅ 🌙 18 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 39

The aim today was all the “householdy’ tasks. Job done ✔️

It’s not all fun and adventuring, house keeping jobs still need doing 🧹🧽🧺🛒

Washing and drying ✔️
Cleaning ✔️
Grocery shopping✔️

#️⃣We pre prep veg to make it easier to store
#️⃣We prep and freeze capsicum so it can cross borders
#️⃣We remove packaging and cryovac to save space and prelong use by dates

Once the jobs were done there was still time for a cycle ride 🚴🏻🚴🏻‍♀️ to and around the wetlands and back via the foreshore (10km), unfortunately no dolphins this time 🐬

So now we’ve cleaned, restocked and explored it’s time to move on…..

Initially we weren’t sure about Whyalla. It’s the only place on our travels that we’ve had something stolen 😳 only a water bottle off a bike as we popped into the tourist information, but still it wasn’t a great start 🤷🏼‍♀️

And we don’t often spend time on the coast, we are probably more desert & dirt than coast & sand 🏖️

But we have enjoyed our stay where the outback meets the sea, where we’ve been wind swept and salty rather than wind swept and dusty

So where to next ….Baca lagi
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‘Pre retirement’ trial Pengembara
Day 38
16 November, Australia ⋅ 🌬 19 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 38

The aim today was to tour the HMAS Whyalla. Job done ✔️

We returned to the Maritime Museum to view Mathew Finders 1814 journals and for the guided tour to learn all about the history of HMAS Whyalla, the first corvette built at the Whyalla shipyards and launched in 1941 undertaking patrol, escort and minesweeping. Post war she was sold, renamed The RIP and used for blasting at the entrance of Port Phillip Bay VIC.
Facing scrapping in 1984 Whyalla council purchased her for $5000 and she was sailed back to her home port.
The task of moving to her current position (2km inland) was epic and can be viewed via the link in the pic (persevere with the YouTube clip it is actually worth it and v interesting)

The Seagull went out to explore the trails 🏃🏼 and on advice from locals embarked on what would be the Howling Dog trail run set amongst the foot hills of Mt Laura, an after dark fun trail run in July of you fancy itBaca lagi
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‘Pre retirement’ trial Pengembara
Day 37
15 November, Australia ⋅ 🌙 18 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 37

The aim today was to get up for Whyalla Park Run. Job done ✔️

It’s just a short walk along the foreshore to Park Run, so how could we not do it. And there were quite a few more people than our last one 😜

After that we got on our bikes to explore the area. First we headed to the marina and pier, which doesn’t look as impressive from the ground as it does from above.

Next we headed up Hummock Hill, an important aboriginal site and the site of the first European settlement. During WW2 it serviced as a gun battery and observation post.

From the lookout at the top we had amazing views over the town and steel mill below, and the Spencer gulf, pier and marina where we saw dolphins playing 🐬

Our final destination was the Maritime Museum, which was fantastic and provides info on naval, BHP shipbuilding, maritime and natural history of the upper Spencer Gulf. It also contains the HO gauge Model Railway is one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere

We were a little late in the day to see everything so they gave us a free pass to return tomorrow for a tour of HMAS Whyalla, the first modern warship built in 1941 in SA which stands on dry land 2km from the sea.

In total we covered about 10km 🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻Baca lagi
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‘Pre retirement’ trial Pengembara
Day 36
14–18 Nov, Australia ⋅ 🌙 18 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 36
358 km Andamooka to Whyalla SA

The aim today was to visit Woomera with the plan to stay to view the night sky at the observatory Job not quite done ❌

We did visit Woomera, and was a little underwhelmed- it was like a ghost town.
We visited the heritage centre and missile park and learnt a little about the area - now an RAAF base and the largest land-based missile and rocket range in the western world
But the caravan park has closed and there are very clear NO CAMPING signs everywhere. So def not welcome to stay the night for the Woomera Observatory

So with no plan we looked at the map and worked out our next stop based on distance, general direction and the weather 😜

Our initial plan was going to be a little chilly (for us) until mid next week so we thought we would postpone there for a few days.

Instead we headed to the Eyre Peninsula, somewhere new to us, and Whyalla, our base for the next few days

From the dusty opal fields to waterfront views, and a little civilisation for a few days- yay there’s a Coles and our washing can get dry without getting dusty 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Small things 🥰

Beautiful sunset but fish it’s chilly in the wind

Our home for the night- beachfront Whyalla Discovery Park.
How could we resist with their current offer of just $25 pnBaca lagi
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