011 - Port Lincoln to Ceduna

And it was with quite a bit of disappointment that we said goodbye to Port Lincoln and the surrounding area today. It really is a remarkable part of the world with some real world class wilderness, beach, fishing and 4WD right on the doorstep.

We had a bit of a slow pack up, as we continue to find our groove with life on the constant move. It’s a different feel and motive than a normal pack up. Often at the end of a holiday, you just want to get home and as such, just throw things in the car/van such that it looks like the rubbish compactor scene from Star Wars.

B and I how we usually look packing the van and truck.

But on the road, you need to consider where you are going, for how long and what could go somewhere else. I think it will take a little while to work out the ideal spot for things, which will be directly proportional to the level of frustration I have trying to find or get something.

Either way, we packed up easily enough and were just about ready to roll when Joe McGuirk walked up to invite us to morning tea and also donate a long 3m hose for the Weber. I really need to make sure we catch up with them more often in the future with gifts like this!

Teresa, myself, B and Joe looking pretty comfortable. Their impressive pairing in the backdrop highlights the differences between a travelling family and footloose and fancy free Nomads.

Joe and Teresa bravely left these three whirlwinds of mess inside their van scoffing pancakes... Very very brave I thought...

So we went and enjoyed a great spread of pancakes for the kids and coffee and croissants for the adults. These guys certainly know how to travel and seemed to have their set up well understood and well balanced. A beautiful Lotus Trooper is now on the short list for our nomadic life in around 20yrs time when we can boot the kids out.

Bidding them farewell, we hit the road.

And that was pretty much the day. A solid 400km or so up to Ceduna was relatively uneventful but I could feel the pang and want to stop as we passed many a sign to another bay or cove. We just know there is another plethora of places we are bypassing in the interest of heading west and focusing our efforts over there.

The Elliston Information Centre - Quite the mural I reckon.

My view for most of the afternoon. An impromptu spelling bee and the dulcet tones of John Williamson helped pass the time no problem.

Ceduna appears at first very much a “stopover” town. Not many redeeming features from early impressions.

Had some squishy parks in the time, but this is the new benchmark. Still I managed to impress the nomads mulling around with my ability to chuck the van on the site with little fuss. Was quietly chuffed with that.

But I’ll reserve judgement until we see it fully in the daylight and when we can give it a bit of a tour around.