Friday 24th February

Carrying on south down the B83, in Hawker we stopped for a coffee and cake at the Sightseers’ Cafe and then gritted our teeth and bought $25 of petrol at $1.72 per litre. Carried on from Hawker via Carrieton to Orroroo. Interestingly our 1996 map shows most of this as unsealed. An easy drive on empty roads with the scenery subtly changing as we came away from the main Flinders Ranges.

In Orroroo we had a quick lunch in a pub, sharing an excellent $9.50 fish and chips which included a free salad bar. We were lucky as they only do lunch until 1.30pm on weekdays and we got there at 1.25. Before leaving the town we visited the Big Gum - a 500 year old gum tree. Chatted to an Canadian who was there in his hired Tarago and who seemed to be driving the entire country on his own.

We then went to Tank Hill Lookout for a quick view over the surrounding plains before we started off down the B83 to Jamestown where we first filled the car as the prices were back to ‘normal’. While Anne was paying Les tried the mobile phone and there was a full signal. As we left the petrol station we found the National Trust Museum and went in. This is very low key and not what you’d expect from NT in England. Basically it’s the old Jamestown Railway Station stuffed full of antiques/memorabilia to do with Jamestown. The museum itself and its contents don’t seem to have changed since it opened in the early 1970s which makes the whole thing a bit of an exhibit in itself.

After a short look round the museum we went into the main part of the town and stopped for a quick cup of tea at the bakers. We then tried the mobile again, only to find that there was no signal!

We then came down through Hallett to Burra. Nice but unspectacular countryside. Only two things of note - one was a vast array of wind turbines - probably more in this one spot than we have in the whole of the UK. The other thing was the constant spattering of the car with swarms of grasshoppers/locusts. We just about managed to keep the screen clear but the front of the car is a complete mess. It was horrible and you felt like ducking the whole time. Anne managed to do a quick video - click the link below to see it.

Arrived in Burra a little after 5pm. After a quick drive round we were pointed to the local mini-supermarket, IGA, where we bought bananas, milk, breakfast bars, juice. Back to the motel to check-in. Not very pre-possessing from the outside. Inside however our room is very large (double + single), clean, fresh and well-equipped. There is an indoor pool but very small - two strokes would do a length. Much as we like the idea we skipped a swim/plunge as it would mean Anne washing and drying her hair.

The motel was advertised with a restaurant but the owner explained that on taking over recently they’d decided not to re-open the restaurant as they didn’t think it would be viable. Instead he gave us a comprehensive breakdown of all the eateries in the area. Unfortunately the really really good one is 15km back down the road and we really don’t want to drive anymore today.

Once again there’s no mobile signal unless you’re on Telstra. Hotel boss used to work in telecoms! He said to go to the top of the lookout by the old mine. We need to phone the Oakford apartments to find out what we do if we’re late arriving tomorrow.

We walked down to the Burra Hotel. A little worried at first as they’d had Happy Hour which had just finished and there was lots of noise outside and from the bar. Also live music was advertised! As we walked in however we found the formal dining room and got a table. Had a nice meal - fish and chips for Les, Calamari salad for Anne. After the meal we took our drinks into the Lounge which was empty, and sat in nice armchairs for a while before walking home.

As we sat in bed Les was able to watch Australia lose the one-day international to Sri Lanka. The perfect end to a lovely day (not so for Anne!!!) It had been another hot day with temperatures 30-35c all day, but a lovely breeze.

Saturday 25th February

Up around 8am, usual breakfast of bananas and muesli bars. Rang through to Oakford Apartments to check where key will be left. They told us we had apartment 27 which is upstairs and we had specifically requested a ground floor one because of Les’s difficulty with stairs and having lots of luggage to cart up. They said to ring back in 15 mins and they would see what they could do. When Anne rang back they had checked their paperwork and confirmed our request and said they would be able to let us have a ground floor apartment - no.22 and key would be left inside.

We then checked out and drove the few hundred yards back to the Burra Copper Mine Lookout. Looked over the mine and the town and took some pictures and stopped at the bottom on the way back down to take pictures of Peacocks Chimney.

Set off down the Barrier Highway (the old division between pastoral and agricultural land) towards Kapunda. A very easy drive in generally rolling countryside. We started for looking for coffee in Manoora but there wasn’t any. At Saddleworth we stopped to clean the windscreen as it was still really bad from the locusts the day before. We asked a lady about coffee and she recommended a place in Riverton a few km on.

We found the place and had a very nice coffee and cake in what had been Hannah ‘s Emporium.

We went into Kapunda where we stopped and assessed our options. We decided we would head for the Barossa towns but first we stopped at Map the Miner just outside Kapunda. This is a huge bronze statue of a Cornish miner of the 1800s - very impressive, if somewhat cartoonish.

It was around here that we at last got a mobile signal and a message came through from Robyn which had been sent on the 23rd.

We missed our turn for Greenock (not sure where the satnav was trying to take us) and had to go down a final unsealed road to get back on route. Interesting seeing all the vines as we entered the Barossa area - they are in the process of being picked at the moment. Got some shots of nice fat black grapes. From Greenock we went along into Nuriootpa where we picked up Scenic Drive No.4 which took us to Angaston. There was supposed to be a festival in Angaston but we saw no sign of it. Town looked nice with lots of cafes, etc but we decided to carry on to Tanunda.

The drive took us up to Mengler Hill Lookout and Sculpture Park where we took pics of the scenic views over the vineyards.

Then on into Tanunda. Seems bigger and smarter than when we were here in 1996. The town now has entry arches sponsored by Penfolds - specifically Jacobs Creek. We stopped and had a lovely lunch at a small German cafe called Zinfandel. Les had a Kransky (German sausage) in a roll with a side of sauerkraut. Anne had sundried tomato, mushroom & pesto bruschetta. Both were $9.50 and were as much as we could eat and delicious. We also had a very welcome cold beer as it had got up to 37c.

From Tanunda we decided to head down to Williamstown and then on down into Adelaide. As we drove out of Tanunda we passed the famous Jacobs Creek. It’s still just a small creek but now nearby Penfolds have built a huge Visitor Centre which looks very smart. Unfortunately we didn’t really have time to stop.

After Williamstown things got a bit confused. We set the satnav for the Oakford Apartments with Chain of Ponds as a waypoint. We got down to Chain of Ponds and then the satnav seemed to be trying to take us back. We came down Gorge Road but it took us off Gorge Road and on an odd route with all sorts of turns down into the Adelaide suburbs. At one point we saw a Coles so we went in and stocked up with bread, spread, etc. Got to the apartments about 4.15pm. Reception was already closed but our apartment was open as arranged.