The long way round ! 2010-11

The Panda's are very popular. It is a hot sunny day after heavy rainduring the night. a curious face guarding the family. Our Last day in Adelaide. We prepare for a very long day.

We keep an eye on the flood warnings. Queensland has floods and the  Murray Darling system has rising waters. In the snowy mountains they releasing massive amounts of water. Victoria has flooding bringing more water to the Murray. Our options to get to the east coast have to be evaluated every day. We have many rivers to cross, all have rising water levels. Timing is getting critical. Driving along the Murray is no longer an option. Sturt Highway to Mildura and Hay is still clear. The flods hit Euchuca. Our option now is to take a run on the Sturt and Mid Western HWY.

At Nurioopta C/P 1931 Caravan In top condition. Back to Hahndorf  for lunch Mt.Barker C/P  plenty of room and close to Hahndorf The road down the Adelaide Hills into the fog. Lucky to get into a Caravan Park in Adelaide on the Torrens River  walking distance to the Zoo and the CBD The 12th January a sad day for both of us. We find out that my mother has just died in Switzerland. We walk in the Botanical park and cry a lot. even the weather is sad, we are not driving anywhere on this day. The Lotus Flowers are out we just make it back to the C/P and it starts raining first time in a long time on this trip.

Hahndorf a German Town  in the Adelaide hills worth having a good look at. the main street of Hahndorf Just one of the specialties in the way of food Bum Burner Sausages are great. on the way to the Barossa Valley at Jakob's Creek vineyard Back to Nurioopta C/P

a bit of french country side? just kidding, its Australia

  The Town of Burra From the hilltop by the mine The old copper mine this used to be one of the biggest copper mines  The old Railway station relics of an age gone bye  still quite a nice building an old pub in Burra blossoms in a garden the old police station Mintaro - Reilley's vinyard and restaurant one of the best places to eat in the area all the locals come here!!!!!! a little place in the country Martindale Hall and the stables that go with it Taste the wine and enjoy at Reilly's

looking for a free camp  near Lipson right beside the highway a big area with level ground just out of Port Augusta we stop for lunch and The Indian Pacific train goes past us. South Australias Rest areas are not as good as other states. hardly ever a toilet and like this one not even rubbish bins we drive away from the highway through farms to Clare. An almost empty caravan park gives us heaps of room and plenty of peace. Caravan park entry at the southern end of Clare. a beautiful park in the heart of Clare valley The Reisling trail, the old railway line is a spectacular place to excersize and explore wild flowers The Riesling Trail Ohhhhhhhh the plums are ripening wild plums along the Riesling Trail.