Jetty Tour Day 13 - Port Rickaby to Edithburgh

We moved away from the rather windy Port Rickaby on the western side of the peninsular, down to
the heel of the boot-like Yorke, at Edithburgh.

Harry Butler

First stop for fuel and a coffee at Minlaton, home of the intrepid Harry Butler - not the scratch around in the outback, find snakes under rocks, sell out to the big corporations Harry Butler but rather Henry John "Harry" Butler, intrepid pilot of the first world war. Like most of the Australians who flew for the Royal Air Force (RAF) over the trenches in France and Belgium, Butler was a bit on the devil may care but not enough to stay there. He got himself back to England where he became a pilot trainer. When the war ended, Butler bought his training aircraft, the Red Devil, off the RAF, had it shipped home and returned to South Australia. He flew the Red Devil from Adelaide to Minlaton, the long way, by following the roads up either side of the Gulf of St Vincent, carrying mail from town to town as he went. He arrived to a heroes welcome and soon purchased a two seater biplane with which he did mail deliveries, gave air shows in the town he had delivered mail and flew passengers on five minute joy flight. For each of these things, he was well paid. His barnstorming tours made him famous in South Australia.

In 1922, flying a passenger on a joy flight, the plane crashed and he was badly injured. Newspaper reports didn't mention the passenger! He underwent many operations but was badly disfigured and then two years later, died in the early hours of the morning from a brain aneurysm.

We had a cup of tea at the specialty chocolate shop, where the treats were too expensive for us seniors and I once again got given #14 (back story too long to explain but I almost invariably get given the #14 when ever I am given a number).

On then to Yorketown, originally known as Weaning Flat. For some reason that name didn't stick. Checked out the supermarket for the special food I need which we live in fear of not getting. Thumbs up. Only one of the two pubs operating. The Melville is closed and the one across the road looked like the biggest dive in Australia.

Click on the camera for today's photos

Final leg to Edithburgh. Haven't met Edith yet but the caravan is excellent. We managed to talk ourselves into a foreshore site, yet again. This time, we are on a short cliff above the sea but our site is flat so we are hopeful of not sampling the journey down the cliff. A new gulf to look at and a slowing of the pace with four nights here, in part so I can finish re-writes and editing a play needed for a reading. Hopefully some bike riding for the first time on part of the Walk the Yorke route along the cliff tops and a visit to the big wind farm just out of town.

Next week we are off to Innes NP, shaping as the highlight of the trip.

Jetty Tour Day 11 - Moonta Bay to Port Rickaby

Port Victoria

After three excellent days at Moonta Bay Caravan Park, it was time to move again. One hiccup was our failure to do a thorough final check which resulted in us driving away and leaving our wheel chocks behind!

From the Bay, we traveled the few kilometres back into Moonta and a coffee break and last walk about. Lovely place and one we'll return to.

About 25 minutes to the south we stopped in Maitland at the information centre and for once, we gave out more information than we took in. The staff member was looking for a new January activity for her family and another family they travel with so we suggested Tamworth and in the course of the next half hour, she was committed to coming and recording information from us. Destination Tamworth, you can forward the royalties later.

Fountain donated by
the first mayor of Moonta

From Maitland, we headed south west to the coast again and Port Victoria. Another nice little town on the western edge of the Yorkie, with the Spencer Gulf as its main feature, it has a pub, a wharf/jetty/pier and a small museum down at the water's edge. One graphic that impressed me was a description of the windjammer ship the Pamir. It related it vital measurement to things which could be seen by anyone reading the sign i.e. the main masts were twice the height of the pine trees that could be seen in the main street. Very effective. One of the photos in today's lot shows the complete sign.

We had lunch in the van, overlooking the wharf. What can I say. We understand how blessed we are.

During the afternoon we went back to the Spencer Highway which runs down the spine of the Yorkie, as far as Minlaton and then back out to the coast to our campsite for the next two nights at Port Rickaby. Another tiny village that has grown in recent years as holiday makers from Adelaide have bought land and built weekenders here. The caravan park is right at the wharf, green grassed sites and friendly folks in charge.

Click to see today's photos

The loss of our chocks became apparent and their import more so, when we tried to set up on a sloped sight. The handbrake could hold the an when I released it from the tow ball and it promptly butted the rear bumper of the car. No one swore. Sorry. No one is admitting they swore. We loaded the van back onto the tow ball and got ourselves relocated to a flat sight and then drove into Minlaton and bought some new chocks.

A very strong westerly blowing, which wears you out just standing in it. Some nice walks to do tomorrow bu disappointingly, not able to unleash the bikes yet.