Day 6 – Monday 17 August

We’re headed for Port Augusta today.  We have to find either a doctor or hospital.  The wound on my neck opened up a little.  It looked good before the stitches came out on Friday, however there seemed to be a build-up of fluid and it had to come out somewhere.

We went to the hospital in Port Augusta.  The staff there were great, the only problem being that there was that there was no doctor there.  It is similar to Gunnedah where the doctors are called when they are needed for an emergency.  I thought that Port Augusta was a similar size to Tamworth so would have a full Accident and Emergency service.  In fact it is not much larger than Gunnedah.  They dressed the wound and made an appointment at the medical centre.

The doctor had a look, wrote a prescription for antibiotics, took a swab and had it dressed with a packing.

The travelling is great.  The country changes all the time.  Today we travelled through some very arid areas and other areas where the wheat was so green and thriving.  We take turns in leading the way, Bernie led from Hawker to Port Augusta and I took the lead to Kimba which is half way across Australia and home of the Big Galah.

Good Bakery.  Last time we passed through I had a berry turnover and cream.  Just bought a loaf of bread this time.

The Big Galah (A bit misty in Kimba this morning)

We are staying at a free camp in Kimba.  It is next to their sports ground and has been set up by the townspeople for the traveller.  There is a shower that is coin operated, $1 for three minutes and good clean toilets.  They ask for a gold coin donation each day you stay there.  Excellent facilities.

The tongue in the towbar has been making some knocking noises.  Not when we have been pulling along the highway but when going slowly over bumps.  There is a bolt to tighten it up, however when I went to tighten it up I managed to break it off.  It was only held on originally by two small tack welds about 4mm long, one of which had been broken for a while.  Will have to get something done before we leave tomorrow.  Deb has found a number of engineering businesses here in Kimba.  One that says no job too big or small.  We will see if this is so and will give them a ring in the morning. 

Day 7 – Tuesday 18 August

As mentioned in the previous day’s blog I had to get the tow bar repaired.  Deb rang Lienert Engineering first thing and spoke to a nice young man called Matt who said to come down and he would see what could be done.  He sent me around to the back of the workshop where they put in a new nut, bolt and locking nut.  Took about 15 minutes.  Cost $20 and we were on our way to Ceduna.

Had a stop for morning tea in a small town named Wudinna.  Turned off the road to find a park and a toilet and found something that you don’t normally find in a public park.  A jumping pillow!  There was a pump running and it was fully inflated ready to go.  Thought we might give it a go but we had to take our shoes off and it was a bit chilly for that.

Our lunch stop was at a little town where Jan and Bernie had free camped on a previous crossing.  The town was called Wirrulla.  Its claim to fame is the town jetty.  There is no lake, river or any water to speak of there, just a jetty.  The end of the jetty is the tee for the 5^th hole of their golf course.  They also have a boat of sorts, it’s a frame made out of water pipe in the shape of a boat.

No water here

Note the greenery at the end of the jetty.  5^th Tee

The Boat Crew

We are now in Ceduna at the Big 4 Caravan Park.  Deb rang earlier and booked two sites next to each other which has worked out quite nicely.  We had both Webber Baby Q’s working, pork shoulder in one and baked vegies in the other.  Good meal, as good as we would get at home, with homemade apple sauce and gravy.

Tomorrow still heading west.