Tues, 8th Mar, 2016 Rapid Bay Campground, Rapid Bay, SA to Antechamber Bay West Campground, Kangaroo Island, SA

Cloudy and muggy morning as the high temperatures continue though it should be cooler here by the coast. Steve noticed the HWS was leaking so pulled everything out from under the bed and fixed the leak on an ‘o’ ring. Glad he is so handy.

Margaret texted that she and Gary are cruising in their catamaran towards Kangaroo Island. I said we were boarding at 4pm so she said to keep an eye for them.

I rang Gary’s friend, Stephen Childs (Jodie, that I worked with, her husband was Stephen Childs too) who has a potato farm near Flinders National Park on the Island to see if we can park the vans there. He and his wife Karen were happy to have us.

31 degrees at lunch time. Headed to Cape Jervis to have a look around before we boarded. Steep climb back up the hill from Rapid Bay.

I created a V8 cooling devise as we drive with the windows down but the footwell gets hot so I thought I could shoot the outside air in to cool our feet – works well.

Spotted the wind farm in the distance at Starfish Hill.

Looking over Backstairs Passage to Kangaroo Island as we descend the steep road down to Cape Jervis.

Great views even though we have heavy cloud cover. Hopefully we might get clear sky for the return trip.

Stopped at the lookout above the lighthouse and the Ferry Terminal.

Looking back to the Windfarm.

Drove down to the lighthouse to make a cuppa. Leanne had to throw the rest of her honey and we had bought washed potatoes so they were ok to take over. I decided I should tip out my herb garden as the quarantine book said no soil. Left it near the bushes – maybe I will be able to collect it on the way back.

Walked up to the lighthouse for a closer look. An unusual triangular design stands near the site of the original one.

Lined up for the ferry. The Sealion 2000 was just leaving.

Then our ferry, the Spirit of KI, arrived – came in forward then turned around to left the vehicles off.

Got a text from Margaret as they came around the Cape. I zoomed in on them.

Nearly time to board – just waiting for a semi to collect this last trailer.

Up the boardwalk for Leanne and I as the boys back the vans on board.

Walked to the other side to get a higher view of Margaret & Gary’s boat getting closer.

The boys were chilling out waiting for to board.

Looking back to the lighthouse – not sure what was on my lens or was that a bird flying by.

The cars are backed into the small spaces.

Steve backed in nice and straight. Need to clean the top of the van and truck.

Rick’s turn next.

The boys came up to join us. They parked a semi between our trucks.

Headed out the front ready for the long trip across Backstairs Passage!! Most expensive ferry crossing for the distance – cost us $678 return – got $80 discount using Margaret’s Entertainment voucher and for our National Seniors card.

Off we go. Matthew Flinders named the island in March 1802, Kangaroo Island, because there were so many kangaroos that they were able to kill and have fresh meat. Interesting note about the aborigines here had left the island before European explorers arrived but they don’t know why or how they left. The mainland aborigines called the island “Karta’ or ‘Land of the Dead’. The settlers here were then sealers, escaped convicts and runaway sailors, who should refuge here in the early 1800s. They lived a lawless but self-sufficient existence. The South Australian Company was established by an Act of Parliament in England in 1834, with its charter to establish the first colony somewhere along the coast between the Great Australian Bight and Port Phillip Bay. By 1836, the company had acquired a fleet of ships and chose Kangaroo Island to start Australia’s first free European settled colony. On 27 July 1836 the barque ‘Duke of York’ anchored in Nepean Bay and began the first formal settlement in South Australia, at the place no known as Reeves Point. Several other ships soon joined the ‘Duke of York’. Passengers were “Capitalists” (as defined in the Company Prospectus) or carefully selected workers, many with families. Challenged by a shortage of water and building timber, the formal settlement was to last less than four years. At its peak, some 300 people lived there, and 42 dwellings and other buildings were constructed. Some persistent individuals stayed on and formed the basis of a community that prided itself on its strong sense of independence.

A couple of big ships passed us.

Gary and Margaret are ahead of us heading for Antechamber Bay.

A dolphin leapt from the water in front of us so we rushed out the front for a look but he had disappeared. The sun looks lovely shining on the water.

Spotted a bird and just got it in the frame.

The captain is doing a good job.

The Sealion is returning with another lot of passengers and cars and freight like sheep and wool. This area is called Dudley Peninsula. Glad we have these great maps in the information brochures.

We are heading into Hog Bay and the town of Penneshaw.

The water is so clear.

The boys headed down to the cars and we went up the top to get a photo of the loaded ferry.

Off comes Rick then the semi and cars then Steve at last.

Through the little town of Penneshaw where I saw diesel was 130.9 c/l. Climbed up the steep hill – great view back – can just make out Fleurieu Peninsula.

Decided to head to Antechamber Bay too in case we can see Margaret & Gary. Nice tree-lined road with grazing pastures on either side.

Then onto the good dirt road into Lashmar Conservation Park then we crested the hill – great view.

Turned off and descended down to the campground in Antechamber Bay, beside Chapman River. Spotted Margaret and Gary.

Though the camp area is set well back from the beach and the river but we found a flat area and parked the vans.  Standing we had a view of the sea!!

Had a drink then walked down to the beach. Very nice though a bit cool now as it was 7pm.

Margaret & Gary moored on the other side of the bay out of the wind.

Continued along the beach then over a sand dune to where the end of the Chapman River was – probably only gets sea water at very high tides.

Walked up alongside the river following the roo tracks but we didn’t see any roos, just their footprints.

Back to the van for dinner and then we all watched the first half of Sunday’s V8 race till it got too cool to be sitting outside (about 9pm).