Ok, here we go again , but this time with another purpose. We are embarking on a new phase of our lives,
Volunteers in National Parks either as camp hosts or to help with any projects where wild life is concerned.
We are heading west , and after leaving the oldest granddaughter and partner we did not get far as it was hot so stopped the night beside the Murray river for a swim.

As we entered a late hot spell we did not go far each day stopping where we could get in the cooling river.
 
 
So stops along the river then at Edwards river National park at Mathoura, also went to look around swamp with its bird hides.
 
Lake Benanee 15km east of Euston . The temperature got to 47to 50 as we entered Mildura and
stopped for shopping. 

 

We then travelled towards Menindee Lakes, it starts a narrow single lane unmarked road to Pooncarie for 130km then dirt road of about 120km into lakes. We could have gone up
the Silver City Highway from Mildura to Broken hill 264km then backsouth east to Menindee lakes 118km all sealed road, but too long our way just 250km about.

  
 
 
We stayed at Lake Pamamaroo on the weir road again . We had been here twice , the first time like now about 80% full, then last time, it was when the lakes were empty to give
water to SA. Part of the Lakes gives broken Hill its water supply so you can imagine the locals were not happy then. Apparently it is being planed for Broken Hill's water to be piped from the Murray river instead of relying on the rain and Darling river water flow { trickle} to fill the Lakes.

On our way in we saw all the grape and fruit growing properties with dead vines and trees their water allocations were stopped 2 years ago too.

We stay and swim and just sit/ stand/ float in water to get cool. Walk around in morning and find not as many  birds as we did before and do not see any lizards , echidna, only a couple of kangaroos, not like before. One of the roos had lost his tail probably hit by a car , I hope it was not deliberately done. He looked to be ok as he hopped away, we only saw it once.

 





We drove through Broken Hill as we did not have to stop for food or fuel , especially at their prices diesel $1.33. WE crossed the border into SA and stopped the night Cockburn
rest area beside Olary creek. The morning had started cloudy but was hot again when we pulled up.
We saw a fox on the road to Peterborough which was going to be our next stop but we decided to
keep going to Spear creek and stop for a couple of nights instead.
 
 
Yes we have stayed before and its on a sheep station 24km from Port Augusta and very peaceful.
We walked up to where the creek was still flowing and on around a couple of hills but could not find the waterfall at the start of creek. We find out its not a big waterfall but water coming out of rocks and the ground. We followed the old pipe line and little creek flow for about 4km though . This water flow and pipeline supplied Port Augusta with water back about 80 years ago.
 
 


 
We spent 19 February in Port Augusta walked a little track along the shore line next to the caravan park .
Views of the Flinders ranges and rail from port. We stopped here to make sure everything was running ok and shopping.
 




Our next stop was at Kimba we were going to stop at Iron knob like we did before but too many people in the campsite. They only ask for a donation for the shower and toilet upkeep, same as Kimba but they have $1.00 hot showers.


Kimba population of about 1050 .

Kimba is half way across between Port Augusta and Ceduna along the Eyre highway. This place was first settled by pastoralists in 1872 and crops were first planted in 1908.
It is now one of the major grain growing areas in South Australia.
We walked the Roora reserve nature trail approx 6km. It has sculptures made of scrap recycled metal of native animals along the walk. 



 The walk is flat for 2km then goes up to a lookout called Whites knob with sculptures of Edward John Eyre and his Aboriginal tracker at the top along with a telecommunication tower that is 86m tall. Edward Eyre and his tracker surveyed this area and were the first to cross from Sydney to the Swan river south of Perth. Lake Eyre, Eyre highway, Eyre Peninsular all named after
him.






Tuesday21 February
We pulled into Pildappa rock intending to stay a couple of nights, hoping to see the kestrel family we saw last time or part of it. It had been fun sitting watching the young learn to fly and hover in the updraft from the rock. A kestrel did appear a couple of times but did not stay and we did not
see any movement at the old nest site.

 
 

 
This rock is supposed to be South Australia's rock to rival Western Australia's Wave rock, well its
good but not as good as Wave rock.

We walked to its summit and around the bottom and only found a couple of kangaroos that took off before we could get a good photo or their actual identity- grey or euro or wallaby.



We made are way to Ceduna for 3 days to catch up on some things and me to do some pre cooking for the trip across the Nullarbor.



Ceduna is 780 km west of Adelaide and
480km from the West Australian border and 1900km from Perth.
Population of about 3500.
We are staying at Shelly beach caravan park 3km out of town . Walk the beach, cook extra meals, and we have a beautiful swimming /snorkelling beach and the weather, well it is a little windy , cloudy in the mornings and only temperatures of 26 so no we have not been in the ocean yet.
 


We are in no hurry to cross the Nullarbor it will take a few days stopping where we can to see the
cliffs and ocean or any other interesting sites. 
So in the morning Saturday 25 Feb we will start to cross.