Mannum-Murray Bridge-Tailem bend-Meningie-Parnka Point (Coorong National Park), - Kingston-Robe-Beachport-Penola-Naracoorte Caves. (8th – 14th January)

Superman writes…

WOW we have been busy travelling-Muz and I have been so good sitting in the back and coming out in the evenings and looking after the gas bottles.

Friday 13^th,  we went on an outing to St Mary Mackillop Centre in Penola-this was so interesting to read the history of St Mary and Father Woods.  Muz and I didn’t pay to enter and the entry fee of $5 each was good value. Brenda took a photo of us in St Mary’s school.

The Mackillop centre borders Petticoat Lane – old cottages are open to the public to wander through-the old herb and vegetable gardens are still in use.

On our way to Penola we stopped at Kingston to see the ‘big lobster’. We also tasted the lobster pate – yummy, Brenda bought some to have later with her wine. Over the last week we have had a drop of temperature – low 20’s, a week ago it was in the late 30’s. At night Muz and I needed our duvet!

Driving along the Limestone Coast – Coorong National Park, we had a head wind and Murray used 40 litres of fuel to 180kms! Diesel costs $151.9 litre.

We found Robe to be very yuppish – no-one spoke to us, but at Beachport – people were very friendly.

Over the last week we have stayed in various campsites; on the side of the road, a camping ground and National Parks.

Saturday 14^th January, we drove to Naracoorte Caves. On the way we came across a dead fox hanging from a sign outside the local Penola Pub. It had been shot!

We found the caves not as interesting or spectacular as Margaret River caves. We explored 4 caves-the most interesting was the Bat Cave-described as an interactive experience-“observe the bats as they fly and feed in their cave”- this was achieved by putting us into a small room and we watched TV monitors that were fed pictures via an infra red camera from inside the bat cave. It was fascinating but 30 minutes of this was enough. We did not see any bats in real life, although we did touch a dead bat! We also watched footage of baby bats – they look like mice-hairless and blind!

Brenda said she felt like she was back at the COP Police Post!

Tomorrow we head to Victoria!