Mt Gambier

Crossed the border into SA this morning – didn’t ‘see’ it anywhere! Also NO quarantine after all the drama of getting rid of fruit and veg, bins on side of road, people walking the camp trying to give their stuff away. What a joke. Then – I guess the day we don’t do it they will open the check point. I am told they are much stricter on the border further north.

 Checked the show grounds and decided I didn’t want to stop there so went to Top tourist park. Ensuite site for 3nights - $31pn! Feel like some luxury for a change! My own loo, shower, handbasin and a mirror! Dry floor to get out of the shower on to and room to get dressed! Simple things.

Went to the Blue lake – stunning. Cute ‘rook’ built by the locals as a look-out.

Drove to Port MacDonnell, had a lovely prawn & avocado salad for late lunch,  Resisted the temptaion to have half a crayfish at $50 - or a whole one for $90 - ouch.
Feels/looks like it should rain tonight! Good tv reception – and  internet for a change.

Checked places to go next for ages – and still don’t know!   Drove to Nelson – mmm – big river mouth. Tried to find Margaret Caves but no sign at Donovan so took wrong turn and ended up back in  Mt Gambier. Tourism lacking here as well. If you send people off in one direction then how hard is it to put another sign up where the road forks in a village!
 Decided to get the right lens for the camera – big difference in photo width!

 GN who lives here came for a chat .Fun lady.  Invited me for dinner. Fabulous big  home she is trying to sell so she can get on the road. Would be perfect for homestays. Lovely chatty evening.

IT IS RAINING - well a few spits, and a cloudy cool day. Tried the new lens - can get the same scene into 2 photos where it took 4 with the other lens.
Went to Umpherston Sink hole - wow. The most sensible thing I have ever seen ivy used for - wonderful curtain effect!  Fancy having the imagination to put a garden in a tomo.

There is a very  large derelict building complex
on the hill over looking the city - shades of the hospital in Raetihi - prime location and they build a hospital then when it is no longer being used there is 'discussion' about who is responsible for removing it (and its asbestos). Maybe the same thing here.
First place I have seen many logging trucks although they are loaded with stuff that would make fence posts - and not even the strainers!

Halls Gap, Dartmoor

 Have booked my spot at the Lakeside  cp for the jazz festival in Halls Gap next February 8^th -9^th.  Just missed this year. They are looking for volunteers to make coffees etc and have a session at the park as well as at the town hall. Population about 280 people at Halls Gap so plenty of help needed I guess.

The Brambuk local abo centre is an amazing building = supposed to look like a bird with wings spread out. Interesting display and I must admit I came away feeling very sad after reading the history of the local tribes. What an arrogant ignorant lot the early colonists were – both governments and church!  But I guess there are no more ‘untouched’ tribes in the world where ‘conquerors’ could take a different approach these days and get it right for once. Had a delicious lunch at the info centre of bread fingers and dips– bush tucker ones with lemon myrtle dukka , native mint etc. Also do croc, emu, roo meals but had all those before.

The fire is now 25,000ha and has crossed the main highway from Horsham to Cavendish so won't be going that way when I leave here. Still moving west though so that is good. No smoke here at all.

Fri 22^nd  
Drove to Ararat via back road. Groceries, photos from lookout hill, fuel, then back to Grampians Winery. Bottle of port (Sheepyard) and coffee & muffin.

Got left tyres sorted at Stawell, $30. Same job in Werribee was going to be $50! Nice blokes. One wanted to know the secret to make scones. Checked tyre pressures also. Now have warped rim on spare underneath.

Fire now 35,000ha.

Lovely quiet drive down the valley to Dartmoor today via Dunkeld between these amazing peaks and in pretty bush. The small black boys are thick under the trees that have had a fire through down the southern end – maybe with in the last year. The roads into the park and camp areas seem to be blocked off - signs or red tape across them. Not sure why - the fire is no where near this area. 

Masses of smoke haze north to south from Dunkeld until almost Hamilton then it cleared. Went via back road from there to Digby and Dartmoor. Driving through large areas of gum plantations and some pine. Very much a forestry area. Quite hilly from Digby to Dartmoor but not too windy. Road is ok – just not very wide.  Nice free camp area beside the river on 2 levels, but yuk toilets – long drop with lots of spiders, flies etc.  Quite a  few here. Chatting to young Germans for a while – then they and another couple sat outside and talked until 1.30! AND kept banging their ‘whizz bang’ van doors …. So not a lot of sleep.  Very warm also.  
Amazing figures carved out of old tree stumps all along the drive down to here.

Having a quiet Sunday - eating fruit and cucumbers before I cross the border into SA tomorrow! Already been offered onions and cucumbers by others. What a pain. Almost need a charity box in Dartmoor for 'people like us' who dont want to waste food.

Halls Gap, Roses Gap

 Lovely drive today up into the Grampians. No wonder I feel at home - 2,300' at Reids Lookout. Pity about the smoke haze but stunning scenery. Glad I didn't try to take the Caravan up there  - a narrow winding road all the way  until past Zumstein (which has been washed out and is now fenced off). Lots of tourists in every car park. Some seriously dedicated walkers also.
Went to Mackenzie Falls - Kiosk was closed which was a shame as many thirsty people around. Would be better to see the falls after rain.
On up to Wartook. Delicious lunch at the Wander Inn then back to Halls Gap via Roses Gap. A good road, easy drive and sealed all the way - just no centre marking but room to move over. Quiet also - maybe the 'tourists' havent discovered it - I only saw one car.
Troopers Creek camp looks rather sad and neglected - 544 in camp 6. Has had heavy rain through there and the driveway is scoured. Supposed to have entertainment etc according to the sign but looks very deserted.
There is a big parking area further in but dont think it was a camping place.
Will check the lake again tomorrow - I am told you can see the old Halls Gap township that has been flooded by it -  if the water is low enough.
Then  -  after research  - found it was the Bellfield guest house that was flooded. The CP owners saw it 13 years ago when the lake was dry.

Lake Bolac, Grampians

Off to Lake Bolac via Heywood and Hamilton. Really hot. Much fatter gum trees around here – not the tall skinny ones but very attractive scattered over the farm land. Big fire north of Dunkeld – got out of control overnight. Not sure about visiting the Grampians now. They look amazing though – really stand out above the flat grain farms around here. Found the ‘free’ camp at East Beach. Drove to the end but really old loos there and very small area so came back to the first spot. A couple of waterless loos that need the rooms to be cleaned but ok. No one else turned up so a bit nervous for a while. Big grass area with a couple of tables and fire pits. Stinking hot so had to run the gen for a while – computer flat also. Watched TV and finally got to sleep – a very warm night and so still. Glad to have a bit of shade.

Mon 18^th

Very pleasant morning – so peaceful. Woke at 7 then back to sleep for a couple of hours. A cool breeze also but they are saying high 30s again today so drove to Stawell (pronounced stall!). Mmmm - not much of a caravan park here on the outskirts of town. Dirt, all uneven sloping sites, road needs to be graded - but only $2 to do the washing. Seniors discount so $23.75. They have 70ha of bush we can go walking in but have to wear good shoes because of the snakes - I dont think I will bother thanks! Way to hot anyway.

Now I have had time to look should have carried on to Halls gap. Top Tourist park there. Very warm but actually tried to rain about 11pm!

Tues 19^th

Off to Halls Gap – only 20km away and gorgeous! Get Top tourist discount and a singles discount!  Booked for 3 nights. Grass, new ablutions etc. What a lovely spot this villages is in tucked under massive cliffs. Roos and cockatiels around. The Dunkeld fire is still burning but no smoke here. And it is cool! Will go exploring tomorrow.