Melrose, Murray Town, Peterborough, Burra

The lizard came to visit at Port Lowly - likes lettuce.

Didn't bother stopping in Port Augusta - no shops easy to find on the main through road and had stocked up at Whyalla.

Headed slightly south then through the hills on a 'gorge' road but not as tight as the one further down near Port Pirie that I came through on last time. Stopped at  Melrose which is tucked up under the ranges, and the oldest town in the Flinders. 

I really like this part of the country. Lovely rolling hills and big gum trees - no one seems to know what sort they are.... just 'gum trees' ... but they have much thicker trunks than many others I have seen. Red River Gums maybe.

I did think about stopping at the Melrose Showgrounds but at $20 I decided the Caravan Park at $25 was nicer. Found a grass site between two big trees so had shade - much needed with this heat. I was able to wash the three weeks of salt spray and grime off the ute and the van - nice to find a CP where you are allowed to do that!

Wandered up to the old pub, had a couple of beers and a very good dinner.

From Melrose I drove the 16km to Murray Town - a big day! No-one there so very quiet which is nice sometimes. Stopped at the campground again = only $11 for power and water.

Then down through Laura, Jameson and across to Peterborough. I must stop at Laura another time - another lovely old place.

So many really old stone cottages on the farms. Still driving through pretty undulating country at the foothills of the Remarkable range. Grain country but certainly not so flat as other areas. There is a heat wave so will stay put for a few days. There was a thunderstorm in the afternoon which caused so many fires across SA including 3 along the road I took this morning. Temps in the 40s!!!!

 Yongala is a very old town on the way - seems that all the shops are shut but there were cars at the pub.

Peterborough is an interesting old town - steam trains centre. Also and old movie theatre that is now a cafe - with seriously sloping floors - that has been decorated with old posters and furniture -  fun place to visit! Went to the Meldonfield building with an amazing scale model and historical displays, saw the huge tapestry and the lovely town hall. There are several churches and pubs here as well. The place has a nice feel to it. A very large cactus garden on the way up to the lookout hill.

Drove up to Black Rock then found the Magnetic Hill - the ute ran down hill so either is is made of aluminium and plastic rather than steel - or is just too heavy for the magnet to work. Took the Gorge road coming back and was

starting to wonder where on earth I was going - finally got back on the main highway - headed south then east back to Peterborough.

Spent 3 days at the Burra showgrounds. very smoky the first night - had to shut the van and cover the vent but was ok the rest of the time. Then on to Burra Gorge for 2 nights. A lovely peaceful spot with huge old trees. I did think about a swim until I was told about the leeches in the pool - eek! I spent all one morning outside reading in the shade. so nice not to be pestered with flies and mosquitoes!
These trees are real survivors when you see the burnt out trunks and yet they keep on growing.
So many old buildings around here - need one of those restoration programs you see on TV to save them. the stonework looks fine so maybe a new roof and windows.....