COWELL, Wednesday, 2nd June.

We had some rain overnight and again at 7 o'clock this morning, accompanied by thunder but when we left Rawnsley Park at 9.15am, the sun was shining though there was still a big black cloud looming.It wasn't long before that big black cloud dropped its load on us but after driving through Hawker we encountered better weather and enjoyed the drive to Quorn.                                                        Scenes along the road to Quorn

On reaching Quorn and finding a parking spot, we made a bee line towards The Quandong Cafe which was close by, signed in with our SA QR code (we now have QR codes for four states) but weren't able to enter the cafe 'because of Covid' we were told, we had to place an order at the door and then we'd be allocated a table.  We couldn't follow the logic in that so we moved on, hoping to find another cafe to patronise but alas, did not.  There are several very attractive old buildings in the town of Quorn and we strolled around admiring them

before leaving town and on the edge of town we spied a tea house 'Teas on the Terrace' which boasted tea/coffee/cakes/lunches etc. etc. so we stopped nearby and went in, signing in as we do almost automatically.  The tea room was a cute, cosy little place, quite busy so we didn't mind waiting to be served.  However, when we had stood by the counter for several minutes being completely ignored by three staff who passed us by without acknowledging our presence, we left.  It was obviously not our day!

The drive to Port Augusta was a pleasant one and we followed the narrow gauge Pichi Richi railway for a time

Our stop in Port Augusta was just long enough to visit a supermarket and liquor store to replinish the larder and the bar, and to share a Subway footlong on the esplanade

before continuing along the open road

to and through Whyalla

and later, at our overnight stop just outside of Cowell

Sunset!

ELLISTON, Thursday, 3rd June.

There were a few showers overnight but the sky was clear when we made our departure this morning, first driving into Cowell for a look see

The silo art depicts Lionel Deer, a former shearer who developed a fascination for camels, and in his 30s made the decision to rear his own camels, forming an unforgettable bond with each of the 12 he reared and is known in the Cowell community for his passion and love for the animals.

A drive through the town revealed some interesting buildings

Post Office

    Franklin Harbour Hotel

and before we left Cowell, we stopped at the BP Service Station for a fuel top up.  Another case of no service when Mike went to pay for the fuel and was ignored by staff, he was gone for so long that I wondered if he'd got lost but he was eventually able to pay and we were on our way again.

Just out of Cowell we turned off the Lincoln Highway onto the Birdseye Highway or B91, heading to the west coast of the Eyre Peninsula.  

5kms along the road is the May Gibbs Tree and next to it a plaque which commemorates the creator of The Gumnut Babies, whose first Australian home after emigrating from England with her family when she was 4 years old, was near the site.

The drive was  through pretty farming country and we soon came to the lovely town of Cleve

and finding a parking spot opposite the bakery and wondering if we'd have better luck at being served today, we ventured in, were served with a smile almost as soon as we walked in, sat down and enjoyed our coffee.  A visit to the newsagent next door brought more friendly, cheerful banter and passers by on the street said hello, if it hadn't started to rain we'd have stayed a little longer to have a proper look around.  

 Cycling in the rain - what fun! (Been there, done that!)

There were roadworks 

for about 20kms before reaching the town of Lock in the centre of the Eyre Peninsula.  The town was gazetted in February 1918 and named Lock after Sergeant Albert Ernest Lock, a member of the South Australian Survey Department who had been killed in Belgium during World War 1, in 1917.  

We stopped for a short break in a rest area on the edge of town

 before completing the day's journey on a smooth non-dusty/muddy road

admiring the changes in the scenery

and coming around a bend, disturbed a flock of pink & greys, one of which hit the car and went to heaven

After checking in at the caravan park in Elliston, we managed to wash off the worst of the accumulated dust on car/caravan from the roadworks.....and then it rained!

ELLISTON : Friday, 4th June.

After a few occasional showers this morning, we were rewarded with a lovely, sunny day though a little breezy.  We had a quiet morning, did some washing, then hopped in the car to go sightseeing in the neighbourhood.  

First stop was at Little Bay, along the Little BayClifftop Drive and where we ate our lunch at a picnic table near the Aboriginal Monument Memorial

the Town Beach

Next was at Locks Well, about 16kms from Elliston, off the Flinders Highway towards Port Lincoln.

There are 298 steps down to the beach, so we were told but we only went as far as the lookout - 55 steps each way.  Three fisherman were on the beach when we arrived, two staggered up the steps before we left, I hope it was worth it!  The views are spectacular!

Back to town and a visit to the Historic Jetty : Elliston being an isolated township was once completely dependent on shipping and roads were almost non-existent. As roads and motor transport improved in the 1950s, coastal steamers became unprofitable and shipping ceased in 1965.

From the jetty, we drove a short distance to the Anxious Bay Clifftop Drive which includes a 12km sculpture loop.  We took a few photos

                                                                   A work in progress

 then we returned to town.  In the evening we strolled down the street to the very busy pub for a meal having completed a most enjoyable stay in Elliston.