a very comfortable first night's sleep in the campervan
after pulling into a rest area in the dark at yanco creek
making the most of our option to be fully self-contained
hit the road early to try to get the agenda back on track
a kangaroo bounds across the road before we hit full speed
we take that as some kind of positive omen for the trip ahead
it's overcast and fog is hanging low making some great scenery
large ploughed fields with clumps of trees poking into the fog
our large vehicle cruises ok at 110kph and hay is soon reached
no urge or time to stop so we push on anticpating a long drive
mildura comes and goes - any other time it would deserve a look
but we want to get centred and there's a big distance to cover
coming into gol gol and a roadside citrus stall demands a stop
the mandarins are delicious - the oranges and avocados stashed
finally a sighting of the mighty murray as we approach renmark
this being the major reason for west by south rather than north
driving over the river gives a sense of the timelessness of it
large naked trees protruding from equally grey and muddy banks
we stop at renmark and take a visit to the information centre
some insight to the ps (paddle-steamer) industry is provided
we gaze out at the murray and contemplate a future river cruise
tempted to do some local sightseeing but we decide to push west
so off we head and then an unplanned stop - an agriculture check
seems our mandarins, oranges and avocados are illegal immigrants
sad to see them seized and destroyed - surely some futile gesture
it all seems a bit of a throwback but what can we do - moving on
we re-cross the murray near blanchetown and decide to look closer
a walk back across an adjacent abandoned bridge spoiled by rain
diesel running low and then with a fillup a re-check of directions
we've overshot by a few kms but easily recovered with gps help
and a guided journey through some quiet back-country roads
feeling even more like wop-wop when a car-ferry is required
darkness is upon us also as we keep pushing north-west
some comfort though when finally merging onto the a1
and not long after port pirie is seen off in the distance
another hour through to port augusta - and mighty relief
it's been a very long day - over 1100km covered in total
driver-swapping, continuous snacks and music all helping
we find a caravan park on the northern outskirts of town
office closed - but plug in anyway - dinner - and - sleep...
