Scrapbook Adventures - The Final Chapter.

Berri is where the Mighty Murray River that forms the border between Victoria and NSW turns to head to the sea. River Boats are a feature here.

It is also is the Riverland - 

Citrus Country and a lot of Orange Themed things dot the township.

At Loxton, we see the extent of River Floods since 1931 on the "Tree of Knowledge".  

1956 was particularly high - especially when you realise that the river flows behind the line of trees in the background!

Moving on to Bordertown - we saw a Mob of Rare White Kangaroos.  

Bred in Captivity, these are not Albino animals but a Genetic Strain of the Eastern Grey.

The Limestone Caves at Naracoorte were a MUST SEE on our Adventure Bucket List. 

With a "Look but Don't Touch" policy, well managed tours ensure these ancient formations will live for future Generations to marvel at.

Fossilised remains of Giant Marsupials such as the Wombat-like Diprotodon that once lived in the area were found in and near the Caves.  

I am Sure this fellow has heard a few secrets in his time!

Our time in South Australia has come to an end as we reluctantly cross the Victorian Border and head for home.

The road took us through the Wheat Country Town of Horsham 

And past the "Rather disturbing and slightly scary" Big Koala at Dadswells Bridge.

From here we were on Roads well-travelled. 

Cameras were mainly left on laps as familiar scenery flew past.

Our Epic Journey of 20 Days finished when we rolled into Home on the 12th December 2008        at 6:57 pm. 

Packing all this into One Small Magna Station Wagon.

We Went "There and Back Again" to see how far it is.

Travelling 5,091 km by Road and 72 km by Sea.  5,000 Photographs were taken, and many more memories made.

We DID 

'Put Our Hands into the Hand of God' 
And He Kept us Safe.

* * * * *

And it has only taken 12 Years and One Pandemic to complete the Scrapbook of "Our Great South Australian Adventure".

Scrapbook Adventures #3

My Post of 16th July ended with the quip that I wondered if 6 weeks of Lockdown would be enough to finish my Scrapbook Project.  - It wasn't.  

But then 'The Powers that Be' added another Two weeks to our Stage 4 Restrictions - so was 8 weeks enough?

YES!  -  JUST!

I left Our Adventure having to Phone Home from Iron Knob. 

(Birthplace of the Aust. Steel Industry.) 

With nothing more than a 'Flip Phone' on the CDMA network I was able to put minds at rest that we were "Still Out There."

Moving on - we found our way back to the Coast and the Stark Beauty of Point Lowly Lighthouse. 

[This is the Lighthouse I place on my Blog sidebar every time one of my Children are away from Home.]

Next Stop - Port Augusta.  Here the Eyre Highway starts or ends depending on which way you are travelling.  It was here we saw our first signpost to ... Darwin!

With a 2 Night stopover we had an entire day to explore as much possible.

Arid Lands Botanic Gardens in the morning and Alligator Gorge in the Afternoon - on the Hottest December day in Port Augusta for 2008. 

We learnt that HAVING water with you and TAKING water with you were two different things. 

It is no use to you left in the boot of the Car!

"Come on Sis... no one gets left behind."

Our whistle-stop tour took us 1.5 km to the end of Australia's longest wooden Jetty at Port Germein.

For our effort we got a lesson in fishing for Blue Swimmer Crabs from a Chap that was supposed to be painting the local School Hall.

(He said he would go back to it when his 6 pack of Beer ran out.)

We also learnt that they take Truancy VERY seriously at Port Pirie.

We got lost in Mazes at Mintaro

and were Amazed at the Opulence of a Bygone era at Martindale Hall. 

(Incidentally this is where the Appleyard Girls School Scenes for Picnic at Hanging Rock was filmed.)

We called in at Cellar Doors had lunch at Wineries in the Barossa Valley.

And it was here the Weather took a turn for the worst.

A Storm that made the News back home.

Black Rain Clouds darkened the Sky but not our Spirits.

Sheltering from it was not an option - We had to Out Run It.

Scrapbook Adventures - Eyre Peninsula

Our "There and Back Again" adventure has proved to be bigger than One Scrapbook Book could handle - 

We had seen so many wonderful sights as we travelled West via the Coast.

We went "Down Rabbit Holes" to discover for ourselves treasures, like the Inselberg Rock formations known as "Murphy's Haystacks"

Over 8 meters in height these rocks were weathered and sculpted into their present form over 100,000 years ago!

Flicking through all the Photographs - Some have made me smile as I remember the day - so long ago!

"Prayer For Tourists" - Priceless!  

'Grant us the Strength to Visit the Museums and the Parks, the Government Buildings and all the "MUSTS" in the Guide Books......'

And Others - made my Heart skip as I saw moments captured by others while I wasn't looking!

Exactly HOW close to the edge was he?

Remembering back to that time - He was TOO Close! 

I finished our First Album at our "Turn Around Point" of Streaky Bay.  

I wish I could say we added
"BIG SEAGULLS" to our list of "Big Things" we saw along the way - but they were just the Local Pelicans that greeted us, hoping for a feed!

Turning Our backs on the Ocean we we headed Inland.  Across the Eyre Peninsula.

The first thing that greeted us when we rolled into KIMBA - Was an 8 meter tall Galah.

Built in 1993 it marks "The Halfway Point across Australia" between Sydney and Perth. (Only it ... isn't. But lets just keep that between us and Google Maps shall we?)

The second thing was the big sign saying
 "Last Fuel until Port Augusta"  

In the Outback you do not ignore signs like this.
We had enough Fuel and made sure we stocked up on Water for the next leg of our journey. 

We had learned very early in the trip that Coffee Shops were a lot further apart than Petrol Stations! 

What we were NOT aware of at the time was the actual reason we had no one calling us....

No Mobile Phone reception!  
We don't know when we went 'off the grid' but the minute we passed this sign, ALL our phones started ringing with missed calls and text messages!

ALL from my Mother.....  Time to "Phone Home!"

Lockdown - Stage 4

Six Weeks of Stage 4 Restrictions came in place on the 2nd August at 6:00 pm.

We got an 8:00 pm to 5:00 am Curfew and a few other fun things too - like face masks and no sitting in a Cafe for Coffee. These things we can work with.

Not being able to Travel or even "Go for a Drive" is a bit disappointing as I have a new car and time to go places - But they too will still be there when this is over.

Holidays may be cancelled but we can revisit those we have already enjoyed!

I am currently Scrap-booking my way thorough South Australia.  

It has taken me TWO WEEKS of solid work to get just TWO DAYS into the Album!

There are Folk who when they think of South Australia only think of It's Capitol City Adelaide and the surrounding Hills and Wine Regions. 

We spent 3 days in Adelaide before moving on to explore as much of the State as we could in 20 days!

Picking up the Project - We had just taken a Shortcut across Spencer Gulf and landed on The Eyre Peninsula.

A mere 161 km of very straight highway away from our next overnight Stop at Port Lincoln. 

With Three in the Backseat all with recently acquired Learner Permits...

It was the perfect opportunity to get in the required 120 hours of tuition. 

We even added a couple extra rows to the "Required Experience" in their Logs!

From Port Lincoln we travelled 170 km West to Elliston - The Map says it takes 1:45 hrs.  

It actually took us NINE! 

After all Getting from Point A to Point B in the quickest possible time was not the purpose of the Adventure!

According to our records we actually travelled 253 km that day and stopped at no less that 7 different "Points of Interest" all requiring a Page of their Own from the many photographs taken on 4 different Cameras - Of which NONE were set on the Correct Time Zone!

I am Going to need a Bigger Scrapbook!

"Equal Parts Prayer and Science"

And Speaking of Miracles...

I have waited all Year to Share This Bit of News.

Our DD's Announcement Read:

After Years of Heartache,        we are beyond Thrilled to Announce the Safe arrival of little Ada Ashlyn.

Equal Parts Prayer and Science.

Born at Dinnertime 07/08/2020





And from me - "Grandma and Grumpy" are Thrilled Too!

*It's been a VERY Big week.*

Happy Birthday

Or should it be 

Happy (.....Socially Distant.....) Birthday

It was definitely NOT the Cake I would have made

It was not the Celebration we would have had

And it hardly feels like anytime since I was posting their 21st Birthday Photos.

A Shop bought Cake and Homemade Honeycomb for Decoration - Not my usual Style.

But we could all gather together (without anyone having to travel).

We brought our offerings to the Table, 

Said Grace as a Family

And enjoyed Time Together - But Apart.

And the Cake?

It was brought to the Table

and They Blew

And the Candles went out

I can still work Birthday Miracles!

Bridge Out No More

DH and I  have not been down to the Creek Walk since Covid-19 infiltrated into our small corner of the Planet. 

With shutdowns, Working from home and other restrictions it seemed that "Every Man and His Dog" all want to walk it's Paths at Once - and Let's just say it got a bit crowded down there!

Yesterday we ventured out to see what has changed if anything in the Last few Months.

The Formal Bike Paths and worn foot trails are still there and a beautiful Ford which of course you can't cross when it is flooded.

There are signs that there Used to be a Bridge, or perhaps it was just wishful thinking by whoever designed the bike path.  

Which led up to and away from the Creek but not OVER it.

The Last time we ventured this far we were met with activity of the Building Variety.

A new path was being installed. 

Maybe some lighting too?

We are currently restricted to "Exercise Outside for One Hour" and I was keen to fill my Lungs with Fresh Air that only Trees can Give.

But what do we Spy across the trail?

We had hoped that one day they would build a Crossing.

A small Wooden Bridge to get us from one side to the other without getting wet.

This was WAY MORE Engineering than I ever imagined!

This Bridge will handle everything that Foot Traffic and Nature can throw at it.

I recon that it will withstand the most ferocious Floods and determined arsonist*.

*[Ref: Post 6:00 am Walk]

I can't wait for them to finish it - And when it is finally open I will dust of my Bicycle and Pump up it's Tyres and Go for a Ride!

And by then I sincerely Hope and Pray that I can spend more than an Hour doing it!