Day 131

Day 131  Tanunda

At the border

Back in the hills

Well we had a really good plan last night, we would get up at 7:30, pack the van and then go up for breakfast at the park café by 8:15 and then leave about 8:45. Well all went well until the café. We got there just after another group arrived and had our order in by 8:15, at 9:30 we got it! So all idea of an early start went out the window and I was not in the best of moods and as a result, we have had our first major disaster for Girt on the trip. We had to go through a boom gate where you punch in a code and it goes

Hill country

One donkey following another into town

up, I misjudged how far out from the post we had to be and got about 1cm too close and as we drove out the post brushed against the cover of our hot water system and came off. Problem was it pushed into the system and buckled a vent which pushed into the pressure relief valve and I think bent the stem as it now dribbles water out of the valve. As you can imagine, this put me in the perfect mood for a long days drive – a curse on you café!

Donkey ready for his debut

Nativity Play Whistler Winery

We hit the road with our trusty list of directions to Tanunda from google maps and headed off. Our path was a little twisty and turny at the end but it was all new road. We had gone through the suggested way on the way through to Canberra so our rule of as much new road as possible kicked in. As an aside, when I was getting Grandpa Bathgates details for the wreath laying ceremony, it turns out he was born in Renmark. We had gone through there and stayed right on the river, a lovely little town. On the way out of Victoria we went past a little glade of trees that I first thought they were bluegums, but as

Me at the play

Donkey carrying some fat chick around

drove by it had a sign saying it was the Australian Willow Cricket Bat Project. Growing willows for future cricket bats. Can I also add for those who are still not sure where Elvis is, we found his place here, Presley’s Place, the road sign would not lie.

We crossed into South Australia and into a quarantine station. We had expected it and we only had a few leftover items to hand over. The guy was very thorough and went into the van to check and looked into the back of the car. A very pleasant young chap and w said our farewells and pushed on. We got into the hills and we missed a couple of our turns but being explorers of old now, we made it up as we went along and ended up back on track without words being said or decisions being queried. We arrived into Tanunda at 5:30 and 543kms covered. As per usual after a long days drive, we sat down to tea and then rumour had it that there was a nativity play on at a winery, so off we went. As it turned out, on the way into Tanunda, we had followed a trailer with a donkey in it, and Maureen commented that she had heard of the nativity play and wondered if this was the Donkey, turns out it was. He had to carry Mary round the place for the play. A wonderful little event and it raised money for Angel Flight, so a good cause. The songs were sung by a   local performing group, but it was really the lead lady doing most of the singing and the others were there to support her, shame really as I would have liked to have had more carols and singalong, but that would have overshadowed the main star.

3 wise men, but one looks wiser

From the Whistler Winery we headed back to camp and as we drove in, they were showing a movie in the amphitheatre on the park oval – the life of Pi. Not a movie I would have thought of going to but it turned out to be very good. We watched the movie and I must say it must have been good as by this time I was hanging out for bed and it kept me awake. It did end, and we went for showers and bed. The night was just perfect

Nativity Play

weather wise as it had been warm during the day whilst we were driving but had mellowed out by the late afternoon and it was just  the night to sit outside. During the nativity play I had booked a wine tour for the following day and pickup was 10:30, so no need to worry about an early start.