It was good that we left Spear Creek earlier than we had planned because we heard as we left Laura that Port Augusta, 25 km from Spear Creek, had 100 kph winds last night and areas in the Flinders Ranges had received up to 90 ml of rain. We could have found it very uncomfortable at Spear Creek and might not have been able to get out for a couple of days. Areas to the north and east of Port Augusta haven’t received that much rain for several years so it’s good for the countryside. It rained steadily most of the way to Cadell but not enough to be a problem.

At Cadell we stayed with our friends who own Caudo Vineyard. Anyone driving near Cadell should visit the cellar door; the wines and food are great, the hosts and staff are fabulous and the setting is amazing. We had a wonderful couple of days here, at one of the nicest places we have seen anywhere along the River Murray.

After leaving Cadell we intended staying a few days in the Clare Valley and a few days in the Barossa Valley but the weather was cold and windy, getting down to 1 degree over night, so instead we came home early. Even though we shortened our trip by two weeks we still enjoyed it and we realise that we are very fortunate to have been able to travel at all. Throughout the trip we have thought every day of the people of Victoria, including our family, who have not even been able to leave their homes for more than an hour a day. The COVID case numbers are improving daily there so hopefully the Victorian lockdowns will be relaxed soon.

As usual, here are a few statistics for those who are interested (approximate figures). During the 37-day trip we travelled 5,000 km, being 3,600 km with the caravan and 1,400 km on side trips. We relocated the caravan on 18 days at an average of 200 km each time we moved; the van did 300 km or more on 5 days and less than 100 km on 5 days. We used 1,000 L of diesel at an average cost of $1.50, making a total of $1,500, or $41 per day. Average fuel consumption was 20 L/100.

We have no definite plans for our next caravan trip but, with luck, we might be able to go to Tasmania in 2021 to do the trip that we had planned for 2020. It depends on COVID-19.

Meanwhile everyone keep healthy and safe.

On leaving Alice Springs it was interesting to see about 25 aircraft standing idle at the airport, in storage during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Surprisingly entering South Australia was effortless, with no checkpoint to worry about. We spent a night at Marryat Rest Area then drove to Cadney Park, a roadhouse and basic caravan park 150 km north of Coober Pedy, where we left the caravan while we visited the Painted Desert. This involved taking a 90 km rough road to Arckaringa Station to see the amazing red, yellow, white and grey sand and rocks in the Arckaringa Hills.

At Coober Pedy we decided to stay overnight at Riba’s caravan park, about 5 km out of town, where we were able to put the caravan in one of several large shade-covered sites. During a 32 degrees afternoon that was welcome. After sightseeing and shopping in Coober Pedy we did an underground opal mine tour at the caravan site and really enjoyed 2 hours with a small group and the park owner, who is also a miner.

On leaving Coober Pedy we decided that, as the weather was still quite warm, we would drive all the way to Port Augusta, 530 km. That’s further than we usually drive with the caravan but the road is good so it’s not difficult. The next morning we took the much shorter 30 km drive to Spear Creek caravan park. This bush park is on a working sheep station at the foot of the southern Flinders Ranges, nestled amongst large 400 year old river red gums. There are about 40 powered, non-powered and bush camp sites along the banks of the usually dry Spear Creek. It’s a great place to stay and we will certainly return one day for a few days – this time we stayed only one night because there was rain forecast over the next couple of days and the clay ground could become very sticky/slippery.

A friend had told us that if we are in this area we should visit the bakery at Stone Hut and stay at the Laura caravan park. Thanks Burgo; they are both worth a visit. The bakery sells great pies, pasties and cakes and the Community owned park at Laura is a delightful park right in the town. The manager brings freshly baked scones with jam and cream to each site late in the afternoon; after 11 years of caravanning that’s a first.

The forecast rain did come overnight although not as much as was expected. We are still not in a hurry to get home so today we will go Cadell on the River Murray, where we will stay at a Caudo Wines which is owned by friends. It will be the first time we have been there and we are looking forward to seeing our friends and camping beside the river.

Keep safe everyone.

How lucky we are in South Australia. After a few months of serious COVID-19 lock down we were allowed to travel within SA, then in July the borders between SA and some states were opened up. This means that we can travel to Northern Territory where we will be able to enjoy some warmer weather. Adelaide has been very cold – perhaps it always is cold in winter but we are are never at home then so we wouldn’t know. We decided to head north for warmer weather.

First we took a short test run to Goolwa, 2 hours south of Adelaide and of course we did find a problem. The hot water service was leaking and we couldn’t get it fixed in time for our NT trip. We isolated the HWS and will get it repaired when we return to Adelaide in October. Meanwhile we can use our water tanks instead of connecting to mains pressure water and can use boiled water whenever we need hot water.

We left Adelaide on a cold, wet and windy day and drove 320 km to spend the night in Port Augusta.

Driving north along the Stuart Highway from Port Augusta the next morning was strange because the traffic was so light. Normally we would see dozens of caravans, motor homes, camper trailer and cars but this time there were just a few. Covid has kept people at home. We camped at a roadside rest area 370 km up the highway, known as Bon Bon rest area, sharing it with 3 other rigs. The minimum temperature was 3 degrees and the maximum 20 degrees.

Continuing north 180 km further we arrived at Coober Pedy and discovered that we had a broken shock absorber on the caravan. We checked into the caravan park, phoned RAA and within an hour a technician arrived to inspect to the van. Great service from RAA.

The next day the RAA agent replaced the broken shock absorber with a used one, at no cost, so we could continue on. Unfortunately rain last week meant that the bush roads we had wanted to take were closed, so we had to stay in the bitumen roads to Alice Springs.

Rainbow Valley National Park is 75 km south of Alice Springs and 22 km off the highway. The park was very quiet, partly because it is accessible only to 4WD vehicles but also because of the low numbers of tourists around. It was very peaceful and we enjoyed a pleasant couple of days there. The sunset was nice with red, yellow and white hills being the highlight.

Arriving in Alice Springs on Friday morning, a week after leaving home, we went straight to the suspension workshop where, as we had guessed, we were informed that all 8 shock absorbers on the caravan needed to be replaced. Luckily parts can be brought up from Adelaide and fitted on Tuesday. We checked in at G’day Mate Caravan Park and settled in for a few days. Feeling lazy we did only a few tourist things, most of which we had seen before. Temperatures had improved to 7-27 degrees.

As planned the caravan repairs were done on Tuesday and we headed off to explore the West McDonnell Ranges. Immediately we could see that there were not as many people around as normal. There are no international visitors and very few caravanners compared with a normal year. Covid-19 has had a devastating effect on the tourism and hospitality economy.

A fellow caravanner had told us that Ellery Creek Big Hole was a good campground so we checked in for 2 nights, then another 2 and finally a fifth night. About 12 rigs can fit in separate bays, set in a large circle. Inside the circle are 3 fire pits, 2 gas bbq’s and 2 shaded benches. The spring-fed permanent water hole is just a 5 minute walk away, surrounded by steep cliffs and shady trees. It certainly is a comfortable place to stay. Minimum temperature had been about 15 degrees each night and daily maxima 30-32 degrees. Evenings have been calm and campfires with new friends have been good fun. Unfortunately the water in Ellery Creek, as inviting as it looks, is too cold for swimming but we are not complaining.

From Ellery Creek camp ground we visited some of the other gorges in the West MacDonnell Ranges, all interesting but by now the weather was getting too warm for us to undertake long bush walks.

After a night at Redbank Gorge camp ground we drove back to Alice Springs and checked in for a week on a powered site so that we could relax in shade and use the air conditioning during the hot afternoons. The day temperature had been up to 35 degrees and the nights have been in the mid- to high-teens. Highlights in Alice have been visits to the School of the Air, the Desert Park and a light festival, showing images on the nearby cliffs.

Three weeks into our 6-week holiday we have decided to head south again, looking for cooler, but not too cold weather. We might go via Renmark to visit friends – but we might not, depending on how we feel at the time.

Keep safe everyone. Think of you, especially our family in Melbourne.