At last.....the open road!

Left Port Augusta this morning at a respectable 0900 hours. Had a little sleep in as the day before was soooo long and exhausting, especially in the rain.

Our motel, Acacia Ridge, accommodated the trailer beauuuutifullyand we have pride of place in the courtyard as there was nowhere else to put it!!  As we headed off this morning, the only way out was to back it out of the driveway with Claire directing traffic.  I had an audience of women who were very impressed to see a woman backing such a long trailer.  (Secret.....it's much easier, the longer the trailer!)

So, zipped out to Beaurepaires to see if we can get that illusive spare tyre....Nup, not happening.  So head on out on the trek to Ceduna.  Get 5 minutes out of town and realise that I have not filled up with fuel!  What a townie!  Head back to Pt. Augusta.....doh.  Find fuel stop next to Big 4 and then hit the road - and my head.

Soooo, in the words of the song by Willie Nelson....."on the road again, I can't wait to get on the road again...."

We had decided not to do a big trek today and do 498 clicks to Ceduna and have a bit of a rest and relax before hitting the long, open road over the Nullabor.  BUT... we still intend to have a look at the whales at Head of Bight!

We had a great drive through to Ceduna and finally.....yes, finally got a spare tyre at Kimba! Little bit of jiggery pokery with a 14" rim and a low profile tyre, but it will do the trick if spare is needed.
We lunched at Kimba and a pilot approached us and asked if it was a glider in the trailer.  Yup, sure is and we proceeded to have little aviation chats whilst awaiting service.

Claire was finally able to oust me out of the driver's seat and took over the reins and relegated the knitting to the back set....as Claire has advised, "it was only a half square day today!"

We trekked along nicely and with a few stops for petrol and snacks and lot of Aussie finger waving from fellow travellers, grey nomads and local "cockies" (farmers to those from o/s!)

Arrived into Ceduna at a respectable hour having phoned ahead for a cabin; after yesterday's experience of not getting one! Very accommodating again at the Big 4 (and I am a member) and they give a great discount for members. Cost is minimal and the savings certainly pay for themselves. The owners gave us a great cabin with a perfect spot for the trailer and even blocked out the spot in front so that we would have plenty of room to drive out in the morning. They asked to take photos for their Facebook page (of course!) and we may be found on Big 4 Ceduna's site! :-)

And what can I say...we were met by a "gaggle of glider pilots" in the caravan park!  Ya just never know! Yes, a german lady approached us, nay, ran to us, asking what type of glider was in the trailer and that she and her husband had stopped in for a couple of days and flown in Benalla some years ago. He owned a Ximango and has had 2-3 sorties out over the Morning Glory, with the last one seeing his plane destroyed as he had an engine fire.  Nasty!

We also met a pommie gent - now lobotomied to an Aussie, who knows Richard Cotton very well. Let you think on that one Richard.  He flies at a winch club south of Sydney...Stonefield ring a bell?
So we chatted "glider stuff" and it was fun to catch up with other gliding people on our trip. That trailer says it all.....well it does say on the back "Long Load, Glider Trailer!"

A few more pics of the scenery - so green from the rain and then off to dinner....seafood, wethinks!