Wed, 9th Mar, 2016 Antechamber Bay West Campground, Kangaroo Island, SA (exploring Dudley Peninsula)

23 degrees and overcast. Rick was up early and went down to the river to fish – caught 3 little bream. Walked out to the front and spotted Margaret & Gary’s boat near the ‘should be’ mouth of the Chapman River. I rang Margaret and they are fishing for King George Whiting there as Gary had got some there once before.

They will head back around to American River etc so we said bye as we were heading off to explore Dudley Peninsula.

Piled into Leanne & Rick’s car and headed down the hill past the river access road. Stopped to check out a rock cairn by the road. About the Thomas daughter who was the first person born on Kangaroo Island.

Past the Chapman River Cellar Door but it was closed today – open Thurs to Sun. Cape Willoughby Lighthouse and houses came into view.

Info about another ship wrecked nearby – sign needs redoing.

Even though it is overcast it is still a spectacular view. There is another lighthouse on the next cape – Cape St Albans which is between here and where we are camped.

Walked around the lighthouse compound.

Some old whale bones near the weather station.

The boys climbed over the fence and noticed it was loose so got to work with rocks to fix the wobbly bit so we could get over easily – aren’t they wonderful. Just have to be fiddling with something!!

Great views – this is the most easterly point of Kangaroo Island.

Well Steve got to be the most easterly!! Peering into the Southern Ocean.

Looking the other way towards Cape Hart.

Some info about Cape Willoughby Lighthouse.

The original lightkeeper’s cottages were located some distance downhill from the lighthouse near the beach and jetty. The small settlement consisted of a boat ramp, boat shed, stores building, butchery, a blacksmith shop and two assistant keeper’s cottages. The head keeper’s cottage was further up the hill, closer to the lighthouse. In 1882 a report was filed suggesting that the keepers had difficulty walking up the half-mile hill to the light from the cottages, particularly in strong head winds and rain. As a result the existing lightkeeper’s cottages were built.

Lots of ships were wrecked around Kangaroo Island.

The original lighthouse at Cape Jervis.

The old Hog Bay Jetty where we arrived at Penneshaw.

Not a nice fellow to come across!!

Back to the car and along the road till we turned left near Lashmar Lagoon.

Crossed over Wilson River which was just a little creek at the moment then down a hill looking at American River (township) across the bay called Eastern Cove. It was named after a group of American sealers who landed there in 1803 and camped alongside a narrow inlet from the sea – at the time mistaking it for a river.

Turned onto the main bitumen road and then down another dirt one out to the point. Got to the end of the road where a private property sign of Sapphiretown stopped us going down that road. We went around the property to Strawbridge Point. Got out our lunches and enjoyed the sunshine. The tide was out but the black swans liked it. Looking first at American River then into Eastern Cove.

Back out the road then we turned off to Island Beach – known as Millionaires Row. Passed a ‘shell tree’.

Lovely beach.

Back to the main road then turned off to Browns Beach – one of the Council camp areas.

Next stop was Baudin Beach where there was an interesting bit of art. The top part swung with the wind. It was made to commemorate all the women who were taken by sailors etc as wives in the early days. Mary Beck was a convict who partnered Nicolas Baudin on his voyage back to France. She was probably the first European woman to set foot on South Australian soil.

Across the carpark was a memorial to Baudin.

Walked down to the rocky jetty.

Mr Percival, Mr Ponder and I will have to google who the third one was.

Stopped at the lookout above Penneshaw.  P&O Pacific Eden cruise liner was in.

A chap had heaps of teddies on his motorbike. He is travelling around seeing the country and also raising awareness and money for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Down the road near Kangaroo Head was the cemetery.

Into Penneshaw and we parked and walked around town. A Lions directional cairn.

One of Fireball Bates info boards that are around town.

Across the road was the Pub.

Cool bicycle.

Yummy peaches.

Around the corner was the shops and post office. Needed to post our postal votes so they get home before the 16^th. Another info board.

Outside the post office was a charging place for electric cars that can be hired at the airport – how cool is that. There are 5 stations around the island which are part of a $500,000 Visible Solar project.

Beside that was a nice park with a bench called ‘The Chat Seat’. It was in memory of a local Mike Hobbs who passed away in 2006 and he liked to chat.

A plaque about the Thomas family.

Down beside the jetty were some more info boards to read.

The site of the Hog Bay Brickworks was just up from the jetty.

Another ferry headed out of Hog Bay.

Little penguins nest here so this section of the beach is closed off at night unless you are on a tour. Penguin info along the boardwalk.

Couldn’t find any hiding in burrows.

Had a cuppa in the shelter overlooking the beach, watching some tourists have a dip in the cold water!! Back to the Info Centre. The beginning of the Fireball Bates signs.

Inside was the original rock carved in 1803 by a member of Nicolas Baudin’s expedition at the site of a freshwater spring in Hog Bay – known as Frenchman’s Rock. In 1906 the rock was enclosed in brick dome as they were worried about it deteriorating. But it continued to deteriorate and by 1917it was brought to Adelaide for safekeeping. In 1986 it was returned to Penneshaw to the Information Centre.

Chatted with the lady about places to go etc. I passed on that the self-register campsite forms should also have a credit card option as not everyone has the correct money. We were also trying to find out how Antechamber Bay got its name. Couldn’t find out anything other that it is a French name so probably named by Baudin. She also said Chapman River Winery has been taken over by a bigger company and isn’t open at the moment at all!! You think they would put up a sign.

Outside was a path with lots of great tiles depicting the history etc of the area.

Back through town and around the beach to the dome we saw across the bay. It is over the original site of the Frenchman’s Rock – they now have a replica under it. Matthew Flinders first found the water and then told Nicolas Baudin about it. Baudin came in 1803 and left chooks and pigs for later use. The pigs survived and flourished. The ‘Baudin Pig’ species is genetically unique and survives to this day at the Rare Breeds Farm, Stokes Bay.

Obviously someone else has decided to leave their markings on the shelter.

Beside it is the freshwater spring with plaques showing Flinders and Baudin’s diary entries.

Looking back across the Bay.

Walked up the hill above the Rock to a seat. The plant hit me in the head as I went up. Lovely pines line the road.

The Contemplation Seat.

Steve noticed a windmill back along the road which was the site of the Town Well.

The boys had to fix the bucket as the handle had come off.

There are three levels of houses along the hillside overlooking Hog Bay.

Back on the road heading for our vans when we passed Dudley Cellar Door where we stopped to try some of the wines made from the local grapes. Brodie Howard is a 5^th generation Islander so Leanne & I sipped wines in the ‘Wine & Wood Baaa’.

The boys checked out the view from the deck. A couple of dolphins were leaping about. Great views across Backstairs Passage to Cape Jervis and the Windfarm.

They also have a golf drive – don’t know who collects the balls as they roll down the hillside.

The fence is made of old barrels.

Very nice setting on the deck. Only looks like a shed from the front.

Back to Antechamber Bay. Stopped to check out the two graves near the camp area. Jane Lashmar 1847-1865 (so young) and Thomas Clark (1894). The Lashmars were an old family as this Conservation Area is named after them and also the lagoon nearby.

The boys went down to the river to try and catch some bream. I got onto my blog – so far behind!! Been having too much fun.

Misty rain came in late afternoon while we were having drinks so we headed into the vans to warm up. Rang Mum and Dad for a chat – Greg was there fixing the TV for them, so had a chat with him too. Tim has just got his licence – look out Edmonton!!

Light rain coming down as we went to bed.

Googled Storm Boy and the other pelican's name was Mr Proud.