Mount Ive Station campground to Jamestown.
Reckon I was in the land of nod literally seconds after turning the light off. Well ahead of 10pm. The Bashers were still at it and there was a few drops of rain.
Had kangaroos grazing in the campground this am and a couple hopped past me taking a pic into the sun.
I had a quick wander around the cars on way back from cleaning teeth. Turns out this is the WA contingent of the Variety Club Bash. They started 4 days ago in McLarenvale with the SA crew and went in different directions.
Phil and Stef had gone to ask about the track to Lake Gairdner while we were showering last night and backward mapped our trip home.
So we unhooked the vans and set off at 8:40. The Bashers were up and about and mustered for their morning briefing.
The track to the lake (used for land speed records) is via private roads through Mt. Ives and neighbouring station. A locked gate with the key from Mt Ives.
The landscape is a mix of sandy and rocky. The Gawler Ranges are red and rocky and covered in green from recent rains I presume.
The lake itself was a bit of a surprise. So much water as far as you can see left and right. 110 km in length.
Then onto The Embankment constructed in 1892. A well built rock dam wall to create a dam to catch the runoff.
Our final point of interest on the Lake Gairdner return trip was The Organ Pipes. A rock formation resembling organ pipes and some new flowers and great vistas back down the gully and up to Spinifex dotted red rock hills.
Returned to the Station to collect our vans and return the key before heading off towards Quorn/Peterborough/Burra area to see where we stay tonight.
Left the Station at 11:45 for the submarine at the turn off. Yep! A submarine. Made by folk of the Station out of bits and pieces. Not bad.
The road out was good. Passed through several different stations- Konelda, Uno, through Nonning and past Lake Gilles.
Lunch beside a big empty dam, hot dogs with the rolls and cheese warmed in Mary and Phil’s new 12 volt sandwich toaster.
Shortly after we turned left at Iron Knob Mine onto the CYRF Highway towards Port Augusta, back into Civilisation.
We headed towards Burra but decided to stop at Jamestown (on thr basis that last time at Burra we ended up at the Showgrounds and the facilities weren’t great)
The Park CP at Jamestown was brilliant. A small park, we had to go powered sites as the unpowered were almost full.
They recommended The Commercial Hotel for a meal. So we set up and showered (again fabulous facilities nice and clean and even a bathmat provided) and headed off on foot to the pub – which lived up to the recommendation. We were all quite taken with Jamestown and need to return another time.
Home to camp (with heater) it was clear and gonna be cold. With such a little space to heat (without the tent down) I had to turn the heater off soon after hitting the hay.
Travel adventures with Nicola & co. 