Five Dollars

Having decimated the local fish stocks at Port Neill, we headed down the highway to Port Lincoln, Australia's tuna capital. We didn't stay there, no, we had been told of a great site up the road. So after shopping and restocking, we got back on the road and drove to Farm Beach. Five bucks a night. Not even going to tell you about PJ, the site manager who apologised for his appearance and then explained he'd had his head kicked in in Adelaide over Christmas, as you do. Still, five bucks is five bucks.

We set up, then went and visited the local piggery. Happy fat, black Berkshire pigs lay everywhere in this free range farm. Got to see some three day old pigs, and Ivy was estatic. Glad he'd run out of bacon; eating them would have seemed wrong after all that. Sara bought some green glass instead.

Coffin Bay and it's oysters beckoned. Bought a dozen from the local butcher, who before we'd even realised it had sold us a couple of kilos of local prawns, and four sticks of local kabana. The latter was the most popular with the kids. The oysters were amazing, but I'm still unlikely to ever list them as a deathbed food.

Having paid so little on accommodation, we felt like millionaires, so we paid up to swim with the tuna. It's a slick operation, before we knew it we were in the middle of Boston Bay, in wetsuits, and holding pilchards in front of our faces as massive tuna swarmed around us. I got out of the water when it seemed these "Porsches of the sea" were taking more of an interest in my fingers than the bait fish. Sara didn't go in. Did I need to say that?

We met another family who were also travelling around Australia, and ended up having a BBQ with Nick, Rosie, Josh, Matt, Zach, and Abbie. Different setup to ours, but very impressive. We stole the best bits of their itinerary given that we don't really have one over a couple of bottles and a great view. Hope to see them again along the way.

We left Farm Beach late yesterday after homework. I'd made a pilgrimage to Gallipoli Beach where the movie was filmed earlier that morning. It would be a fabulous spot to camp. Not far along, we stopped at Elliston. Massive jetty, Ollie caught a squid, and I stopped on the hill overlooking Blackfellas surf break. It wasn't working then, but would be unbelievable when it's on. I bet Bill Fry has surfed it. Last night we went to the local community hall to watch "Australia" the movie. Five dollars each included popcorn and freshly baked scones!

Uncertain how long we'll be here. Sara and I have made solid promises to each other to work on the itinerary. Fishing looks good, and there must be surf somewhere. I've been trying to clean up this blog all morning without joy. Sara and Ned cooked Anzac bikkies. Might be time for a cuppa.

H

Squiddng

Tuna ready

Tuna

Awwwww