Day 70 Morgan to Adelaide

A woman in the Info Centre told the Prado Pilot that there was an interesting road to take which followed the river so the views were much better than the direct road to Mannum.

I think that GPS Gladys excelled herself when we were sitting on the Ferry at Morgan, and she told us “In 120 metres leave the Ferry” as if we had any control over that! She also harped on about us taking “Poineer Road” but we stayed on River Road and there were quite startling views of the cliffs.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

We by-passed Swan Reach and continued on to the little town of Nildottie which has a great view over Big Bend.

• 

• 

It seems that every time we drive back from our Winter Migration it rains on our way home and I thought it was going to happen again today but luckily after a few sprinkles it stopped.

We crossed back over the river at Walker Flat and we could see the high water mark on house walls as we passed through the town.

• 

• 

• 

• 

At Mannum we stopped for food but there was nothing for me. We’ve been in some very isolated places that have had GF baked goods, it seems they’re prepared to do whatever is necessary to meet customers’ needs but the busier places don’t need to bother.

Cleaning up and repairs are still going on months after the river flooded.

• 

• 

After 10 weeks away we were ready for home so we bypassed Murray Bridge and took the freeway, it was very misty in places. Seeing the three towers on Mt Lofty was a sure sign we were nearly there.

Coming home from a south easterly direction is much quicker for us, we don’t have to drive across town through numerous suburbs. Our driveway reminded us of some narrow tracks we’ve been on but this time we knew there was not going to be anything coming towards us. No way could we have a bigger Camper or caravan and store it at home.

• 

• 

• 

• 

Before the Prado Pilot started playing with his toy tractor Fergus had a race around FREE and we enjoyed a nice hot drink. Our jaunt is over for another year, I hope you’ve enjoyed traveling some of the 11500 kms with us.

• 

• 

• 

Day 69 Peterborough to Morgan

GPS Gladys took us all around Peterborough before The Prado Pilot over-ruled her and found our way to the road to Morgan. Another rig we’d seen in the Caravan Park seemed to be following the same route so I think their GPS was a close relation of Gladys!

We did a bit of bypassing towns today and Terowie was the first of them. We were now in the Goyder Region which I found interesting. Goyder was responsible for the “Goyder Line” which marks areas with less than 10 inches or 25.4 cms of rain annually. That’s the amount considered necessary for successfully growing grains. There are a lot of ruins in the area because people established their farms in exceptionally good rainfall years but then their crops failed when the rainfall returned to normal.

• 

• 

• 

Whyte Yarcowie was a small community we passed through, the Pub is for sale which isn’t a good sign.

Flourishing farms were keeping sheep and we saw a couple of Merino Sheep Studs. Some farmers have also found an income from Wind Farms, they get a regular income from companies by allowing them to construct their turbines on the land.

We passed through Hallett and Mt Bryan. Not far out of Mt Bryan was a place with masses of Hay, maybe the owner bought it from other farmers and onsold it.

• 

• 

• 

• 

Burra was another town we bypassed, it’s a really interesting place but we’ve been there several times before. We did stop at a memorial plaque honouring the person who discovered copper, the mineral which brought wealth to Burra.

About 40kms East of Burra we were obviously beyond the Goyder Line and in Saltbush country, which is good for sheep farming.

• 

• 

• 

• 

By 11:00 we’d reached Morgan and that’s where we intended to stay tonight. The Caravan Park is beside the river but fortunately was protected from this years floods by a levee. There are photos in the Camp Kitchen showing the area of lawn between the river and the embankment all under water. On the bank was a kayak which must have been washed downriver, it was filled with mud.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Because the river areas are popular holiday destinations the tourists, shack owners and houseboat owners provide a reliable income for businesses. There are two pubs, a Bakery, Cafe, well stocked General Store, Craft shop etc. Many of the old buildings are now private homes, there is a church currently for sale.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

There’s a Railway Museum near the Information Centre and the old wharf which is now out of bounds because it’s unsafe.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Tomorrow our ten weeks are up and we head home. We’ll all appreciate the extra space and Fergus will relish being able to run free.

Day 68 Broken Hill to Peterborough

I think today we were shown what happens to small country communities when they lose relevance. We traveled down the Barrier Highway which for most of the way is close to the railway line and the water tanks used by the Steam Trains are still standing, On some you can still see the advertising, Amgoorie Tea featured often.

The Steam Trains would have stopped at those little places and maybe some of them even offered refreshments to passengers. Now those trains are obsolete and there is no reason for the new ones to stop.

Cockburn now has a pub and about three houses.

• 

• 

Olary looked very sad with old houses falling down everywhere, the only viable place seemed to be the pub and that was for sale.

Mannahill had a police Station, pub and railway station. We took a little break there for a drink and to eat the bananas because we’d seen a sign saying there was a Quarantine Checkpoint coming up. While we were stopped the Indian Pacific passenger train with all it’s carriages rolled straight on through without stopping.

• 

• 

• 

Yunta appears to be a viable town, I know it had a school but we didn’t see one when we drove through. At Oodla Wirra there seemed to be only the Halfway Hotel but today we had to stop there for the Quarantine Check. Our “Four Leaf Mix” of salad leaves was confiscated because it had Spinach leaves in it and so were our tomatoes and cucumber.

We were expecting the Prado Pilot to be breathalysed too but the policeman was too busy taking control of a man’s vehicle, parking it and then taking off with the man, lights flashing on the police car.

• 

• 

• 

• 

Peterborough seems to be a thriving town and it has lots of tourist attractions linked to it’s past as a railway hub. There’s even an underpass built after constant complaints about the difficulties caused by 100 trains a day passing through the town in its heyday.

There are lots of interesting old buildings in town in great condition but also several businesses no longer operating.

• 

• 

• 

• 

In the backstreets there are some really interesting looking places that are in desperate need of attention. One small place has been renovated and the craftsman has done a great job.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

We were able to walk from our Caravan Park site across a Park, past houses, through the underpass to the Main Street. There’s a pond in the Park and there were waterbirds, not as exciting as seeing donkeys and a Leopard Appaloosa horse yesterday.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Tomorrow night we’re booked in to the Morgan Riverside Park.