Day twenty two. Nuttbush Retreat to Bendleby Ranges Campground. 23.7.26

please if you comment, leave your name as mostly I can’t identify who is making comment

Another relaxed start to the day. Warm and toasty overnight with the heater working nicely on the thermostat.

Had a walk around the station/ CP buildings. Lots of history! The station has been in the family since 1895.

The shearing shed.

Recreation room

Rec room

The bell outside campers kitchen. Did it once call the shearer’s to brew?

Camp kitchen

Rugged prep benches

The old stove.

This tree has been around for some time.

Old tank.

Rouseabouts ready to go.

An old cement mixer come wheelbarrow. Now a garden ornament.

Back to camp to find the committee checking on things under my bonnet.

The shearer’s lunch bell. It had 1856 on the side.

Top facilities here, only downside was some road noise that impacted some more than others.

Thankfully a dry night which meant no damp canvas to pack up.

First Port Augusta via a road less travelled, Caroonda Rd which got us off the highway.

Wind turbines were stuck in the clouds

Then cleared a little

A hill along the road

Coffee in Port Augusta and some more planning as there’s a fair bit of rain forecast for our plans to journey down the border track between SA and VIC.

Street art in Port Augusta

Planning at the coffee shop

Old church.

Second stop for the day was Quorn where we lunched at Quandong Cafe and then paid a visit to Flinders Gin Distillery. We shared a couple of tasting flights of gin, testing the four varieties distilled here with their own Flinders tonic as well. Needless to say we walked out with some of the produce. The distiller also runs runs the local Spirit of Flinders Bakery so we swung back past there to buy some bits for later. Filled up and headed out of town, bound for Bendleby Ranges and our camp site for the next two nights.

Driving under the Picci Ricci railway.

These sculptures in the war memorial gardens…

…we’re all made from…

…bird wire.

An old house in Quorn , typical of many we walked past.

Gin tasting.

The distiller at work with Myrtle the still.

The bakery with Scotch Oven.

Bakery.

A car park right out the back.

Some of the gin tasting information.

The drive across through Carrieton to Bendleby Ranges was really nice, with a view around every corner. The recent floods have obviously belted through here and pushed trees over, scarred trees, rough Creek crossings and lots of silt in places it shouldn’t be. A beautiful drive.

A grader working

Views of the Southern Flinders Ranges.

The trees were magnificent in creek beds.

Church in Carrieton

More hills

And more

Driving through the creek.

An old ute on the corner

Getting closer

We’ve arrived.

Advice for our 4wdriving tomorrow.

Arrived at Bendleby Ranges Campground about 4:30. Signed our lives away and booked in and also signed up to a day pass to go 4 wheel driving around the property.

Got to our campsite and it wasn’t the one Meg had asked for, so they went back to the office and sorted it out. We just had to move the wood across to new site.

It’s chilly here tonight. We have the fire going but it’s a struggle to be warm enough. A very clear night with just over a half moon and many stars above. The quiet is wonderful. A few looking forward to a sleep without trucks.