11 to 13 Feb 09

We have finally left Adelaide as of 11th February and have backtracked to the Yorke Peninsula with our first stop for two nights at the coastal town of Ardrossan. We were restricted to the two nights as the caravan park we chose only had those nights available, and the other Park was booked out for ages, probable due to the workforce from the Dolomite mine just outside the town.

Some of the overburden has been used to provide a lookout over the mine, silos and the town. There is a well kept and challenging golf course alongside the caravan park but we didn't get the opportunity to try it out.



The town is quite small but tidy with the usual wide streets plus a median strip lined with Norfolk pines.


The wall of the town hall is an interesting backdrop for the towns war memorial, and surprisingly hasn't attracted the more usual graffiti.




The eastern coastline of the peninsula consists of low cliffs with towns placed wherever there happens to be a low spot that provides access to the beach. Consequently, not many towns. When the tide is out, it is well and truly out, leaving a not too attractive beach behind, but when it is in, the views are much improved. I have been told that Port Wakefield at the top of the Gulf becomes a mud flat when the tide is out and boats are left hanging on the wharf side.

The cliffs add interest to the surroundings but they appear to be relatively soft, with a tendency to break away easily and often. They are all fenced and warning signs are abundant.

On Friday 13th Feb we moved on down the Peninsula to the inland town of Minlaton, apparently the barley capital of Australia, where we will be based for the next two weeks.