It was a late start to our journey today (as we had anticipated) since so many things were not prepared.
We treated it as the first day of holidays, with a sleep in, and then bacon and eggs breakfast before really setting our minds to packing up and leaving. In the end it was just after midday before we were on our way.
The drive out through the Adelaide Hills via the freeway was characterized by brights spots of orange on the roadsides, and then later, great drifts of varied oranges and reds as we enjoyed the springtime flower displays. The wattle is also out and adding patches of bright yellow to the bush.
Tailem Bend offered a first stop location. Here we laughed at the multiplying animals in the town. Last time we were here there was a orangutang/gorilla in the bakery, but now there are at least two pigs (one of the doing the mowing) and a cow as well.
We took the Mallee highway via Lameroo and Pinnaroo, and said oo roo to Pinnaroo expecting to be stopping soon at one of our favourite campsites. In fact we even drove in the 3km off the highway to the old Ngallo tennis courts before deciding that it was really a bit early in the day to stop.
We decided to use the new "Camps Australia" book that I got for mothers day and chose a likely sounding spot another hour or so on.
Turning off the highway at Walpeup, we headed down towards Patchewollock (great name) and then into the east till we found the Timberoo Flora and Fauna reserve and Lake Walpeup. This was a delightful spot well worth revisiting. The Lake is only a small dam at the moment (maybe a big puddle) with some enormous tadpoles, a few frogs, children's play equipment, floating tyre tube and a cement brick building on the rise which unexpectedly offered flushing toilets and taps. It looks like showers might also be returning sometime, judging by the new plumbing.
We only had one set of neighbours who were quite a long way away and very quiet. They were a retired couple taking the opportunity to investigate silo art in a break from granchild-sitting. Even their blue heeler cross dog was quiet and friendly.
We had a small fire to cook our tea, and enjoyed the chance to watch it slowly turn to coals on a mild evening then headed for our swags to watch the stars.
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