To South Australia for a family reunion, bush camping and the Barossa Wineries.

For the last three years Chris and I have combined a reunion with her sisters (of which there are 4), some bush camping at a little known camp spot and then a week in the Barossa Valley, visiting wineries and stocking up on some wonderful wines.

Painted Silos – Coonalpyn – headed for McLaren Vale

Painted Silos – Coonalpyn – headed for McLaren Vale

The family reunion is a fairly typical affair, the sisters talk about grandchildren and other stuff while their male partners talk about important matters such as wine, beer and despair at the performance of our politicians.

This year we stayed at MaLaren Vale Tourist Park on Saturday and Sunday the 24/25th March which is close to the houses of 3 of Chris’ sisters. We had a pleasant couple of days including and excellent night out at the Old Bush Inn in Willunga then a broader family get together with cousins on the Sunday at her sister Margaret’s house.

On Monday morning after shopping for supplies, we headed for what is one of our favourite bush camping spots in SA (Actually Australia wide for that matter). We needed to chill out, Chris in particular had been very busy leading up to our sojourn to SA. So we elected to spend the next week bush camped near the Coorong close to the tiny town of Salt Creek with nothing else planned other than daily walks and reading books which is exactly what we did. We had made arrangements for our good friends Mick (slip) and Sue Syme to join us on Easter Friday.

Our bush camp – total relaxation.

So for the whole of Easter we delighted in a very restful few days of chatter, walking, some good food wine and the odd beer. Sensational. The best part being that we did not see one other person for the entire week. Why this particular area (1900 Hectare Conservation Park) is not seen as a destination for camping has got us stumped.

Beautiful Gums – Martin Wash Pool

We know that not everybody is happy just to chill out in the bush but surely there are some, yet in three years of camping in this area we have only ever seen 1 or 2 cars and none of them were there to camp, but simply having a sticky beak.

Moonrise

Even if people were to enter the area more frequently it would not be an issue as there are so many hidden areas that others would not easily find, for us to set up camp. Perhaps it’s the fact that there are no facilities whatsoever that discourages others. Anyway, we think it is fantastic. Hopefully it will remain undiscovered by the madding crowd. Or should that be the “Maddening” crowd.

Sunset Martin Wash Pool – SA

So, after a wonderful week of isolation from humanity, on Easter Tuesday we headed north, coffee in Meningie where we said our farewells to Mick and Sue. They headed home across the Wellington Punt (crossing the River Murray) and we headed north to the Barossa arriving early afternoon and set up camp in the Tanunda Discovery Park.

Grass Trees – Martin Wash Pool

These trips to the Barossa for us were spawned by good Melbourne friends of ours, Phil and Julie who invited us to join them and a bunch of their friends who have been doing this annual pilgrimage to the Barossa for a number of years. The core group have actually been doing the trip from Melbourne at the same time each year for the last 41 years (unbelievable).

So a wonderful week in the Barossa was had. Chris and I also had the opportunity to catch up with an Adelaide based nephew of mine and his wife and gorgeous young daughter on the following Saturday when they made a day trip to the Barossa.

So after spending far too much money on wine over the week we headed home to prepare for our upcoming 4 month trip into the Australian landscape. We will be travelling once again with Harold and Di as a result of the success of our first combined tour in 2016. There is not a lot planned for the trip other than picking up Harold and Di’s new camper in Maroochydore then discovering the Carnarvon Ranges and Cape York. After that, we then intend heading West until we decide to head South. Obviously I will endeavour to update my blog as often as possible. However there is a map here, while not showing anything at the moment obviously, will update in real time as we travel (actually every 10 minutes when we are actually on the move).

An overnight at Lake Bolac – returning to Melbourne 2017

So till then, please enjoy the few photos that I have included with this post.

PS: No doubt that from the photos you will realise I am a huge fan of Rockford Wines.