Fri, 26th Feb, 2016 Barker Rocks, Yorke Peninsula, SA to Port Parham foreshore, SA

20 degrees this morning with lovely clear sky and no wind at the van though still choppy on the water. Spotted the dolphins cruising past from the van as the sunlight caught their fins.

Chatted with the others for a while then packed up and headed off back through Minlaton. Across the ‘leg’ to Ardrossan – the Gulf St Vincent was brilliant blue as we came down off the hill. Should have taken a photo!!  Looking forward to coming back to Yorke Peninsula to spend a lot more time exploring and just relaxing.

Around the top of the Gulf and down to Port Parham. Found a spot on the other side of the camp area this time, next to fellow Queenslanders, David and Jenny from Buderim. They had a Nissan with a camper on its back – very neat. Similar to what Clive and Rebecca just bought but they can drop theirs off if they want to set up for a while.

Someone had a feed on shellfish called razor fish and left all the shells in the bushes behind our van.

Made some lunch and then chatted the afternoon away. They are a lovely couple – such fun. Jenny is going into Adelaide with friends for a ‘girls’ weekend of shopping while David is heading north for a motorbike speed trial thing on a salt lake. Then they are going to do the Anne Beadell Highway.

Went for a walk to check out the other campers. A lot of the people we met the first time are still here. They have been busy catching crabs and teaching the backpackers about crabbing too. Beautiful clear blue sky but the wind has made the water very choppy.

The wind has picked up so all the awnings are flapping madly. We put ours down so we didn’t have to hear it flap all night. Rang Leanne & Rick to see where they got too. Will see them on Sunday at Mt Lofty.

After tea I went down to the beach for sunset – WOW – beautiful big ball quickly descended into the water.

The wind dropped off as we went to bed but the locals had a ‘good’ party over the back. We had closed the windows from the cold wind so didn’t bother us too much.

Thurs, 25th Feb, 2016 Barker Rocks, Yorke Peninsula, SA (Bluff Beach walk)

23 degrees at 8.30am with the sun shining but still a few clouds hanging around.

Ordered our postal vote form online for the March Cairns elections. Purchased some airbag things for the truck.

Steve went down to try for another squid but the wind has come up and has churned up the water so no takers.

Our new neighbour gave us some fresh cherry tomatoes and grapes she just got from her sister’s farm nearby – delicious. Had lunch then went for a walk along the beach to Bluff Beach. A lot more houses here than we realised.

We are following the Walk the Yorke signs along the beach.

Climbed up the stairs to the houses and checked out the history signs. Great old photos.

Learnt about ‘Davits’ – that is the name of the street too. The only land-based boat storage system in the Southern Hemisphere.

More info about the storm of 1954.

Rested on the chair installed on the point as part of the Yorke Walk. Looking south.

Walked back around to the boat ramp to get a better photo of what’s left of the Davits.

The caves the ladies rested in back in the old days.

The Hooded Plover that breeds in the dunes – there are signs everywhere about them.

Walked back through the first camp area and found three vans parked there. One from Mackay, another Melbourne and the other chap was from Port Lincoln way – we chatted to him on Marion Bay wharf the other day.

Back to the van for a cuppa and the wind is flapping everything around so started to pack up to head off tomorrow morning. Wind has blown all the clouds away too.

Relaxing afternoon reading a new book. Our neighbour brought over ‘Nuts and Bolts’ for us to try – Nutragrain and peanuts coated with curry and mustard – very nice. Got the recipe so I can make some. Chatted with her and the Dutch lady for a while.

Tried to reach Dan again – wish he would get his phone fixed!! Rang Jon for a chat too. Rang Wendy too. So nice to be able to ring and chat with everyone so easily.

Wind settled down as we watched a movie.

Wed, 24th Feb, 2016 Barker Rocks, Yorke Peninsula, SA

Woke to the pitter patter of rain on the van – only light so far. Sent a text to David to wish him a happy birthday – will try and ring tonight.

Lyn gave my hair a trim. Now I just need a colour again!!

Chatted with Bruce and Lyn then they finished their pack-up and headed off.

Sea is calm as the rain showers passed over us.

The dolphins are back.

Made it a lot cooler 26 degrees but the breeze feels a lot cooler. Got up to date with my blog while Steve watched a couple of movies. Rain has stopped but still overcast and cool.

Climbed up to the top of the sandhill beside us to check out the view.

Went down for a fish with the squid tentacles and Steve tried with the squid jig again. The dolphins did their lap down the coastline. No takers on our lines but it was lovely sitting by the water.

Played a few games of Sequence. If it was a Ladies Tennis match – then Steve won, 2 games to 1 but then we continued on with a Mens match and I came back to level and take the win with 3 games to 2!!

A couple from Holland had arrived in their little bongo van. Chatted to them for a while then another couple from Minlaton arrived with their van, so helped them move into the spot opposite us.

Closed up a few windows as the breeze is getting quite chilly. Rang David to wish him a Happy Birthday.

After cooking and eating the last of our King George whiting I went down to see how the sunset was going at 7.30pm.

I thought I had missed it but it was only early so I went back at 7.50pm and it was still up high.

Left it 10 mins and nearly missed it – just got the top of the sun slipping over the horizon.

Managed to get a TV signal and watched Big Bang which really love now – makes us laugh, then watched The Blind Side which was based on a real person who became a famous American footballer. Missed a few bits when planes flew over and interrupted the TV signal but we got most of it.

Cooler night – just perfect for sleeping.

Tues, 23rd Feb, 2016 Barker Rocks, Yorke Peninsula, SA

Lovely night temperature – so nice to sleep with all the windows open and hear the waves lapping the rocks.  25 degrees at 8am. Light cloud cover. Col and June left at 8.30 – early risers.

I worked on my blog. Steve and the others went down to try for squid but no takers.

The clouds are getting heavier and the breeze is cool. Glad we had our swim yesterday.

Gave Steve a hair cut.

Bit brighter after lunch. Steve put in the new fridge vent – now we know how it is all put together!!

Drinks in the ‘bar’, shade shelter with Bruce and Lyn.

8pm decided we had better cook some dinner – some more King George Whiting for us. No sunset as a big band of cloud is on the horizon.

Rang Mum and Dad. Mum was happy as the rain had started and it has cooled things down.

Rang Erica and Terry. Erica happy too as she got back all the stuff she thought she had wiped off her laptop. Told Terry all about our fishing trip and the fun we had catching the whiting as they are so much bigger than our Woodgate whiting.

Lovely night for sleeping with a perfect temperature and no wind.

Mon, 22nd Feb, 2016 Margaret & Gary’s, Marion Bay to Barker Rocks, Yorke Peninsula, SA (exploring Minlaton)

Warm still night. 28 degrees at 8am. Overcast morning with a light pitter patter of rain on the roof of the van. Headed off towards Warooka then turned off to Point Turton where the Peninsula’s leg meets the foot.

The tide is out in this wide bay. Made a cuppa and enjoyed the sunshine.

Into Minlaton to get our permit for the Council free camps. More of the metal sculptures we saw at Federation Park.

Minlaton, originally called ‘Gum Flat’, was declared at town in 1876. Walked down the main street past a mural depicting the life of Captain Harry Butler (1889-1924) and was created by the Minlaton District School students in 2001.

Further down was the Captain Butler Memorial which houses the famous ‘Red Devil’, a 1916 British monoplane. Very interesting and sad to read how he passed away.

This little replica was built in 1919.

This sculpture was only erected in October last year.

Grabbed a few groceries then headed out to Barker Rocks. Parked in the first area and I made lunch while Steve went off to check out the camp sites. He came back and said there were a couple of vans around the corner in a nicer spot, so covered over the lunch and moved.

The sun is out and it is a beautiful place.

After lunch some dolphins swam by – looks like they have a babies.

The other couple were Bruce and Lyn from near Adelaide and Col and June from Sunshine Coast. Col told how and where to try for squid so will give it a go later. We all chatted under the Walk the Yorke shelter. Quite hot today, 35 degrees in the van but a nice breeze by the water.

Went down for a swim after smoko. Bit of a rocky walk to get there to the clear sandy area but the water is so clear and cool it is worth it.

Looking back to the camp area. Another couple from Germany have arrived too in their little camper.

Steve headed in first – only shallow but enough to get wet and cool off.

I went in and it was so refreshing. Then we saw the dolphins so I went back to the towel and got my camera then walked back into the water to get some photos. They stayed in the sea grass area flapping their fins to round up the fish.

Pose photo to prove we were in the water. The water isn’t too salty so don’t feel all sticky after we got out.

Later in the afternoon we all headed down to try and get some squid. Col set up his squid jigs hanging under a float and waits for the squid to come to him.

Gary had given us a squid jig so Steve cast his line out and after a while he got one, only a small one but good enough for us.

 Just as he lifted it out of the water it sprayed its ink all over him – Gary had warned him to watch out for the ink!!

Steve washed the rest of the ink out and cleaned it ready to eat tonight. Messy business. Didn’t get a photo of the cleaned version.

Guess who is waiting for free feed.

I found some salt in the rock hollows.

Across the rocks to houses at the end of the bay at Bluff Beach.

Cooked up the flat head and the squid for dinner. Delicious.

Col was still out there as the sun started to set.

No need for the hot water tonight as it is still quite warm, just perfect for us.