Fowlers Bay

Thurs 22^nd 

 

 

Our first event of the day was when Bernie & Jan got lost because they lost sight of Woody’s van, and their Navman was set for Port Augusta. Of course Jan and George were following them.  Our first stop was at Penong where the third hole of golf, Windmills, was played. On the eastern edge of town were 26 windmills that pump up the town’s water. We continued on towards Nundroo, but took a side road down to Fowlers Bay where it was suggested that we might see whales.  It is a small town of 16 that was named by Matthew Flinders when he surveyed the coast.  We had a walk along the pier and enjoyed looking at the seabed through the crystal clear water, but there were no whales.  Apparently there are two that have just calved, but they are around the next point.  Instead of going out the way we came we took an unmade road that was quite rough and corrugated. The land was very flat with low growing red tinged vegetation. At Coorabie we found a farm stay and decided to check it out. He owners have lived in the area for their whole lives and have a farm of 20000 acres of arable land where they grow crops and run merinos, 50,000 acres in all. We were well set up with power supplied, spotlessly clean showers and toilets, a kitchen/dining room that was fully equipped (it was an old classroom that they got free and had transported there and set up for $16000) and an excellent outdoor area with large fire pit, Webber, spit, barbecue and all sorts of extras hanging around it - like tasting forks, jaffle irons, camp ovens etc. and plenty of seating. Jan made a batch of delicious scones and we enjoyed Devonshire tea around the big dining  table. The owners, Deb and Leon Kloock, came from across the road where they live and we spent a couple of enjoyable hours chatting, making sure we had everything we needed and getting wood for the large campfire.  They were extremely friendly and excellent company. Leon’s sister and brother-in-law manage the whale watch interpretive centre at the Head of the Bight.  He also gave us directions to a huge sinkhole – I wonder if we are brave enough to go near the edge?