Whyalla, Redbanks Beach, Tumble Bay, South Australia.

Our return trip from Woomera took us back through Port Augusta where we stopped off and bought some supplies.  Daniel headed off to the bottle shop for his supply and I having some time to myself went through the local shopping plaza and was lucky enough to buy a gorgeous pair of thongs to replace the ones I had previously bought in a $2 shop that gave me callouses! For $20 a pair that's a bargain what girl could walk past that?

Heading down the coast on the Eyre Peninsula the next stop would be Whyalla known for its steel works and shipbuilding.  I kept checking coverage on my mobile and thought that I would call Ania at work and surprise her.  We had a great chat a bit of a laugh and chuckle as we stopped at a rest place for a coffee break.  It was good to catch up. 

Arriving at Whyalla Foreshore Caravan Park we checked out where it would best be suited for us as it was pretty breezy Daniel decided on a site away from the shoreline. We got on our bikes and headed out for a look around town.  When we got back we walked along the foreshore and guess who had set up?  Our British couple, Stew and Les.  Well they came over to our site in the evening and we spent a couple of hours chatting before being joined by the managers of the park. Lets just say that Daniel's supply together with Stew's and even the manager's own supply of homemade port somehow dwindled to very low amounts.  I know there was one box of 30 units per carton which was found empty that morning.  A few nursing hangovers found everyone a little slow the next morning.  Daniel and I headed off to what was advertised as the largest regional shopping complex outside Adelaide, but it really wasn't and I still managed to purchase a new dress for the beach!! I don't know how I got that lucky....maybe to do with the hangover.

Packed up and ready to move on this time vanning together with Les and Stew who took prime road position and onto Redbank beach free camping area.  Again headwind on the road saw the fuel tank chip away but the site reached was sensational.  The two vans were the only ones at Redbanks beach.  We were perched up high and the beach below was crystal clear with shallow waters out to about a kilometre.  We all got into our bathers and headed for the water.  I got Daniel to blow up the lilo and we met Les and Stew in the water.  A little bit of surf in the waves kept pushing me back to shore, but it was fun.  In the evening we shared dinner, a few drinks and lots more conversation. 

The next day was bright until late afternoon when another chap pulled in off the highway set up camp and joined us in the water. However, you could see that the change was coming as the rain swept along the coast of the bay.  That evening Stew and Les joined us in the van and they introduced us to a game called Rummicub.  Night settled in and the rain came and rained and rained all night with the wind a gale.  Next morning it wasn't a place to be able to stay as it was still raining and the sand beneath us turned into a clay that we kept sinking into and just a mess!  It was decided to move on from Redbanks beach, clean up and head down to Tumble Bay.

Tumble Bay is a quiet seaside village only very small.  The only clothing store there was the local Op shop, but no bargains there that day although some really good books.  The four of us biked into town, did some grocery shopping before heading to the foreshore cafe where we enjoyed lattes and a cappucino.  Next day we all set off on our bikes through the back of the town where the new marina, landsales and homes were being built. We stopped a couple of times to check out the bay views from both sides of the road before venturing with our bikes on the beach and riding along the sand until we could go no further.  A few pics taken for memories we headed back along the beach to base.  Dinner over we settled in for an early night so that we could depart the next day to Port Lincoln.