We left Ceduna and started our trek across the Eyre Peninsula to Port Augusta.
Looking at the map and how far we were travelling for the day, I felt we had time to make a detour through the Gawler Ranges National Park.
So we stopped at a little place called Minnipa to grab a coffee. While we were waiting, we noticed the photos on the wall showing a local monolith called Pildappa Rock. It looked as though it might be worthy of our attention.
On our way to the rock, I came across a wheat field that, in my mind, was kind of like an Australian answer to the Windows XP desktop wallpaper. Lovely rolling hills, golden wheat stalks, blue sky and light wisps of cloud. I’m now using this image as my phone’s wallpaper. In all honesty, it would have been better to shoot this about 2 months prior when the wheat had not yet been harvested.
Apparently, Pildappa Rock is the less famous cousin to Western Australia’s Wave Rock. Both have been eroded over millennia so that the rock looks like a breaking wave. Naturally, Max and I just had to climb it. And I’m glad we did. From on top, you get a completely unobstructed 360º view. I shot a complete panorama, but haven’t got to editing it yet. Once this roadtrip blog is complete, I’ll get onto it.
We then proceeded through the Gawler Ranges National Park, seeing LOTS of kangaroos, most of whom were sleeping under shady trees in the heat.
While we there, I felt it was time for a rite of passage for Max. I let him climb behind the wheel and drive the car for about 10km. Most of the time, he did a really good job of keeping the car on track. A couple of times, I had to remind him to watch the road instead of the kangaroos, but all in all, he enjoyed himself and did very well for his first go. And all on dirt roads, to boot!
Once we got out of the National Park, we followed more dirt roads into Kimba, home of the Big Galah. For my non-Australian readers, a galah is a particular type of native parrot, pink and white in colour, and not known for their intelligence when it comes to moving vehicles. They seem to love getting hit. And despite this self-destructive behaviour, the national supply never seems to become depleted.
We stopped at the Big Galah for a photo and to grab some food for lunch. But when we went inside the shop, we were told that the kitchen was closed and that the only food available was from the pie warmer. Also, the toilets were out of action.
So, we jumped back in the car and headed for the roadhouse half a km down the road. They had a functioning kitchen AND toilets! Bonus!
Fed, watered and the car refuelled, we headed off on the final leg to Port Augusta, where Cath has us booked into what sounds like a really nice 2 bedroom apartment for New Years Eve. Sweet!
