Day 9 Port Augusta to Laura

As usual we checked out, fuelled up and got back on the road.

Today was a leisurely scenic drive to Wilmington and Alligator Gorge where we walked to two lookouts. It was such a change from the open landscapes we’d been through up to now. The tree-lined winding road felt like Nature giving us a big welcoming hug.

After eating lunch and trying out the swing bridge in the picturesque town of Melrose, we drove to Port Germein where the longest wooden jetty in Australia can be found.

The Council caravan park at Laura didn’t disappoint. We’d stayed there a few years ago when we were camping on our way back from Kangaroo Island. The camp kitchen was the best equipped we’d encountered before or since and it still is. I had to borrow a grater from there to grate cheese for our Mexican meal Brian was cooking. It’s probably the only thing our cabin didn’t have. It even had a microwave-safe casserole dish with a lid. This was a first so far on this trip!

We had a walk around town before dinner. It was obvious from the decorations that the people of Laura knew how to get into the spirit of Christmas.

CJ Dennis, author of The Sentimental Bloke is commerated in the main streeet.

This was our last night on the road.  Adelaide beckons tomorrow and we must exchange the tranquility of the bush for the hustle and bustle of the city which will be even more overwhelming due to Christmas being just days away. But we have Tara’s 30th celebrations to look forward to and many reunions of family and friends along the way.