Day 40-50 Streaky Bay
Trip Start
Dec 01, 2008
1
14
91
Trip End
Nov 08, 2009
Where I stayed
Streaky Bay Caravan Park
Streaky Bay, South Australia, Australia
Sunday, January 25, 2009
After setting up in windy conditions and then cleaning ourselves up, Greg was keen to take us to the pub to check out his potential second home, "Just for a few quiet pre-dinner drinks" he enthuses!
We spend several hours here and end up having dinner as Greg has won some money on the trots. The kids are amused with the chocolate machine- (5 shots for $2 to win mini bars if they can grab enough to feed the pusher) and a couple of computer games.
Finally we call it a night - Greg will be back here on his own after lunch tomorrow for Sat punting...
We had initially intended to stay at Streaky Bay for 4 days; it's a reflection of how much we loved the area and how much Greg enjoyed the pub that saw us extend our stay to 10 nights.
The highlights of our stay in Streaky Bay were as follows:
SAT - MARDI GRAS
ˇ Max won the 6 & Under boys sprint $10 prize money & Maegs 4th in 8 & Under Girls sprint
ˇ Maegan came 3rd in the water balloon tossing challenge with Rachel $1.50 prize money
ˇ Greg teamed up with Annette for water balloon contest, the were amongst the last four doing well with Greg making a diving save until next throw Annette caught it on her chest and it shattered water all over her!
ˇ Kids enjoyed tattoos Max a shark and Maegs a mermaid
ˇ The Ironman & woman race attracted 2 girls only. The third prize $25 nearly saw me enter! The bay sheffield sprint also only had two girls.. This I seriously entertained entering for third prize $25, BUT I didn't want to snap my calf which was still niggling me.
SUN - $4 Pancakes breakfast at Caravan Park Kiosk
A must for all travellers staying here -Maegan implores you to remember to bring cream to add to your strawberry jam!!
Today we met Sprog, his wife Sharon and their youngest boy Max (little Maxi) at the jetty swimming area. They are from Iron Knob and are here on their first holiday in 3yrs!
Max is practising running all day every day since winning the sprint race. He says this is his sport now and that footy and cricket are a distant 2nd and 3rd. Greg is going to train him for the Stawell gift and hide him away for a few years!
Dion and Owen appear as Max's new friends. Initially they met at the Sk8 Park on Sat morn and Annette their mum was Greg's catching partner from the Mardi gras evening activities. These boys are a delight, Owen's smile and disposition is infectious. Max and Dion are soon to become great friends and we are lucky to befriend the whole family including Logan and Cavan the older bros and parents Annette and Peter, who is a coeliac would you believe!!
Peter begins Max's new nickname for Streaky Bay - "86" as he is a Maxwell Smart fan!
MON -Discover Perlubie Beach
We spend the day at Perlubie beach some 19km west of Streaky, partly as a reconnaissance for a potential cheap campsite once we leave Streaky. It is a sensational set up with many shade huts on the beach - some that are taken over by campers who have set up their caravans beside them on the beach for the summer.
There is a pontoon about 150m off shore and the tide determines if you can wade, walk or swim to it. We discover that one of the resident Streaky sharks have been hanging around near it and have only left the previous day. These guys continued to fish from their boats and come and go by boat. The shark didn't bother them and they didn't bother it. Nobody swam out to the pontoon for a few days!
A couple with a luxury tour bus, kitted out to live in are currently staying in the car park. They started out on a 12mth trip that has turned into a 4yr odyssey! The bus is for sale but they are not ready to give away their lifestyle of 6mths work and 6mths play as they move around the country. Greg and I briefly consider the bus but at $250K plus and with no special licence to drive it, it's a little beyond our league!!
That night back in the park, Logan rocks up, he is waiting to use the payphone nearby. We offer him our mobile so he can call his girlfriend so he doesn't have to wait in a long line. She isn't home and this point gives Greg endless ribbing opportunities for poor Logan.
Max, Dion, Owen and Maegs are coming and going from the van and Cavan pops in to see if anything interesting is happening. Later Annette wanders down to see where all the boys are and Greg nearly mucks up our new friendship by insisting on educating Logan and Annette with Opera DVD's. These guys are hard rock /punk fans!!! The Ramones and Andrea Bocelli do not mix... thankfully they overlook this only difference in interests.
TUES - BCC skin cancer cut out my back and Boogie boarding/surfing at SCEALE BAY with Smiths
We drove the car onto Sceale Bay to meet the Smiths some 800m down the beach. It's a fabulous day in the water; the kids are having a ball and it's about 42 degrees. However, the east/north onshore sea breeze is helping keep it cool for us.
I capture Maegs on video surfing and Max is boogie boarding without goggles on. He's toughening up in the boys company and loving hanging out with them. All the boys treat the kids well and take the time to play with them.
We join the Smiths for ice-cream desserts and watch 20/20 cricket. This is where I discover Peter is coeliac. Annette has bought amazing ice-cream (Golden Twins - local in Port Pirie) especially for him that I am lucky to enjoy also.
WED - 26 degrees... Cool Change
The boys and Maegs are hanging out around the caravan park, we are all enjoying this cooler day and have a slow paced relaxing day.
That afternoon the boys join me for some TV time, watching a DVD (Prince of Egypt). Max cannot hide his affection and is openly cuddling and kissing Cavan. I have to tell Cavan it's ok to tell him to stop as he was being too polite not saying anything initially!
It is the Smiths last day (BOO HOO) and we are going to have dinner together at their cabin. Greg and I hire the Get Smart DVD so we can show Max why he is "86", although this nickname has been downgraded to "43"! We have started calling Maegs "99", but after the movie she realises that "86" and "99" are a couple and cracks it, so we cannot call her "99" anymore. We have another great night and a good laugh. It's a shame these guys are leaving.
THURS - Farewell Smiths
There is a chance the Smiths might be in Darwin when we are, so we hope to catch them there. We have exchanged details and perhaps if they are in Melb we will see them again if not in Darwin.
We have a quiet day catching up on sleep and chores that had gone by the wayside while we were playing with the Smiths.
FRI - Maegan has massage for her back/neck & Explore Westall Loop - Granites etc.
The best we could find in town to help Maegs back is a sports therapist masseuse. After this appointment we drive the Westall Loop.
It's a windy but warm day. We figure we can find a place to swim and play, somewhere along this drive. At High cliffs it is a photo opportunity and at Granites we were nearly blown off the car-park. I insist we walk down the steps and find that it is sheltered and the granite rocks provide a great play area to explore. There are plenty of surfers out on the break which is great to watch. We end up staying here for an hour or so.
Smooth Pool further around the loop boasts snorkelling and swimming opportunities in a deep natural pool. Unfortunately, it's really windy here and we baulk at having a swim here.
Yanerbie Beach is the last stop on the loop drive, but again it's really windy and the beach here has lots of seaweed so not an ideal swimming spot.
We head back for happy hour at the pub and to watch the final overs of the cricket. There is a chook raffle the kids enter. If your ticket is drawn you have the opportunity to win a bottle of baileys if you can sing some of "My old man's a dustman"! Maegs is worried that when her ticket is drawn she will not be able to sing it, she has no idea of the tune or the words. A woman does a great rendition and Maegs is trying desperately to remember how it goes when it her turn!! Unfortunately Maegs ticket is not drawn she is mighty disappointed, she honestly thought she would be a shoo in...
The publican Tony is from Horsham and knows Dave Mc Cluskey well. He took over the pub some 6 weeks ago. It's a beauty this place- they serve party pies and sausage rolls whilst the chook raffle is on and Tony moves among the patrons chatting. The outdoor area overlooks the water it has its own big screen TV and the Bistro adjacent to the large bar area has a formal lounge drinks area in the entrance hall. It's a really great place to hang out. The people are friendly and the whole atmosphere is always a warm and welcoming one to all family members.
SAT - Greg's TAB day, we swim at the Jetty beach
We are hoping Greg has a win today as I am keen to eat out at Mocean, my favourite café/ restaurant. Unfortunately he has a poor day on the punt so its leftovers and a non eventful dinner.
SUN - Pancakes Sunday celebration!! (Maegs wakes feeling great for the first time in weeks)
Forecast 37 degrees today and we are heading over to Sceale bay for the day to surf, swim and boogie board. It's a ripper of a day and the kids are doing well on the boards.
We are going to the pub for an open mike night and for $10 lamb roast. Again it's another fantastic night in the air-conditioned bistro. Maegan considers getting up to sing Abba's "Money, Money, Money" at the open mike but decides against it when she sees that the three singers are really good and they are playing guitars. It was fun razzing her up about it prior to going, she was all bravado practising in the amenities block!!!
MON- Leave for Perlubie Beach
Comments
Streaky Bay
The luxury bus sounded great.I'm sure its not beyond Greg's punting skills to win $250K with a bit more time to study the form. Perhaps he needs more time in the pubtabs !!!!
Enjoy crossing the Nullabor.
Francis
Hi and much love to all the Miller,s
OMG. Danielle, what a fantastic diary. Peter only told me about the web site tonight. I got on straight away,Ihavebeenlaughing so much, and I've only read the first few days. Now I know about your web site, I will log on as often as possible. You are so articulate, funny and informitive, you should write a book about your adventures. You have a writing telent. Love you all so much.