Way out West 2025. 11th of August.  Day twenty- five.

Shelly Beach CP, Ceduna to Mount Ive Station campground.

A slow start, awoke to groovy orange sunrise colours over the park.

Richard came to say that he had no luck with Ceduna Toyota so had ordered the alternator from Auto Parts Plus and had a list of people to fit it. It should arrive tomorrow by 10:30.
A little later Laverne, Sarah and Jaxon came over to our camp to say goodbye and deliver thank you packs of Rocky Road for each of us that Jaxon had made.

We finished packing up and drove past to say goodbye once again and exchange Details they kindly offered if we’re ever in Charlestown area of Newcastle to call in.
Finally, we added Off to town for fuel and fruit. I’m desperately needing an apple and bananas would be nice. We did the shopping and stopped at the bakery for lunch.

We had had a little planning meeting this morning and decided to head towards the Gawler Ranges tonight.
We left to Ceduna in light rain which continued on into the afternoon.
Along the Eyre highway and turned left at Minnipa towards the Gawler Ranges. We stopped at Jack Black Airport to pull over and purchase SA National Parks Passes before losing service. Then back onto the dirt to Pildappa Rock.
Pildappa Rock is an ecologically complex granite reserve which, due to its proximity to the Gawler Ranges, provides an important corridor for many native animals and plants. Granite outcrops offer a valuable niche for ancient lineages of microorganisms and can be important water sources for Indigenous Communities.
It was cool to climb and see the various algae and plants growing in the rock pools and crevices. The corrosive power of wind and the passage of time have created some sculptural pieces of granite atop the base rock.

In a short drive to and through the Gawler ranges National Park the rain seems to be following us nothing too heavy but persistent in places. Heaps and heaps of kangaroos, very different colouring with light bodies and dark heads.
I saw some ruins at the intersection and then soon after two emus at a puddle.

We met a couple of Variety Bash vehicles.

Then we arrived at Mt Ive there were a couple of semi trailers associated with the Variety Club Bash, one yellow car pulled up at the Station sheds with mechanical issues. We were advised there are 60 campers booked in and all the accommodation is full with Bashers.

The advice was to park out on the edge of campground and have early showers as the Bashers were all out at Lake Gairdner.
We set up in a little rain and went to shower. A very mild night and the rain stopped for nibbles while we watched the cars roll in in the dark. Lots have lights and sirens and other noises. The poor buggers are setting up camp in the dark. Will be interesting to see the cars in the morning.

We had leftover Chilli con carne for tea, and it started to rain so we moved into Mary and Phil’s Ultimate to eat.

Could hear the Variety Bash doing their announcements and stuff.
We are all a bit tired from our past few days being more sociable than usual, which results in later nights.
Early to bed tonight. No phone service. The Bashers were partying on and revving cars but nothing would stop me sleeping.