To quote no less a personage than Elizabeth Regina, there can be little doubt that 2018 and the early months of 2019 were our 'anus horribilis'. But that is now behind us (almost...some messy legal stuff is still in train) and we are well and truly back on the road again.
Once the majority of the dust had settled after the death of Liz's mother, Liz and I had the pleasure of spending a few weeks in March-April with our grand Victorian friends, roaming around beautiful Yorke Peninsula. They were putting their new van through its 'sea trials' in preparation for the trip north this winter and were more than happy to spend time showing them around this well kept SA secret (or so we have been told by many we meet!)
We spent a couple of days at Edithburgh before moving on to Marion Bay for a week and thence north to the top end at Port Hughes. Liz and I stayed on here once Rhonda and John had left. We were giving some thought to possibly moving to this area once our roaming days were over, but after having a good look around, have since shelved that plan for a number of very practical reasons.
We returned briefly to Windsor Gardens in mid April for the last of a few medical appointments and for Anzac Day, where yours truly unexpectedly found himself (by default) tasked with leading my UN contingent in the march through the Adelaide streets.
It had been almost 40 years since I had been barking drill commands at a squad of hapless young Police cadets. Practice was needed....Liz dined out for some time on the sight of your scribe pacing up and down under our awning muttering 'eyes right', 'halt' and other necessary orders to make sure they were given as the correct foot hit the ground (there is much more to good drill than any who have not participated could imagine!). It was worth the effort.....all went well on the day and I did not embarrass me or our group in front of thousands. But it was thirsty work!
For the first time on record neither Liz nor number one son Cameron came into the city for the event which left yours truly to participate at will in the 'after march fluid recovery sessions'. I did so with gusto at my old stamping ground the Combined Ex-Services Mess, where, as so often happens, 'one thing led to another'.
Our plan to have a lay day on 26 April was again a smart move, but by late that afternoon I had managed to pull everything down. We were all shipshape (as was I!) and ready for an early departure the following morning.
I find it a little difficult to describe just how good it was to again be back on the road with no end date or pressing family obligations in sight. The gypsy in both of us, which had been tightly bound for the past year and a bit, had been released. The Marshies were indeed Mobile!
The smallish mid-north SA country town of Crystal Brook was the target for our first day out. Liz was keen to catch up with an old work colleague who now makes this town her home, and I had, in days of yore when working in this area from time to time, been most impressed with what I saw of the local caravan park.
The run north up the Port Wakefield Road was so familiar I suspect the Cruiser could have almost done it hands free, and after just over 100 kms, the rather grand and very picturesque town sign slipped by.
The highway through town, lined as it is with service stations, two bakeries and other assorted food outlets, was its usual busy self. A stop here when coming or going from the north of the State or Yorke Peninsula is almost mandatory in the minds of most travellers, but we had no need of fuel or a freshly baked pie or pasty. We pushed on without stopping.
Crystal Brook lies a few kilometres to the east of the Princess Highway (the A1), the main road north out of Adelaide,
where the approach to the town centre takes those arriving here past a rather spectacular stand of large pine trees.
From here we drove in past the small CBD and on to the other end of town where this very neatly painted sign told us we had reached the park entrance road,
which took us down a gentle slope under an avenue of gum trees to the park office below.
Here another set of signs, equally neat and informative as the first (these were a real feature of this park) directed me to the booking in lane
where I came to a halt opposite a group of park cabins and the row of vans backed up along the southern creek bank. The sites in this very well organised park are laid out on both sides of the small stream from which the town takes its name.
Because we had asked for a large drive-thu site, we were directed to the other side of the all but dry brook
where we were soon set up with a minimum of fuss on a very large site with good gravel surface underfoot.
As may have already been obvious, huge gum trees are another feature of this charming park, but past experience has left me very shy of parking directly beneath any of them lest we become victim of a sudden bough drop. There were no such problems here, and as this shot shows, the camp kitchen was no more than twenty metres away.
Here again, the little council owned Crystal Brook Caravan Park punched well above its weight. The almost fully enclosed camp kitchen was spotlessly clean. One end housed the stove, sink, fridge etc.
whilst at the other end two BBQ plates stood ready for use. Three large tables and plenty of chairs completed the picture.
I was quick to take advantage of these facilities on the second night of our stay....and no, I was not feeding an army (as many have commented in circumstances such as this). We have learnt the trick of cooking enough for two meals on these occasions. Sausages and patties reheat very well in the micro wave, so why not?
A short footbridge took us across the creek to the amenities block which was on the other side of the park.
Those currently in use were old but perfectly functional, but any who pull in here in a few weeks,
will have the benefit of a brand new ablution block which is currently under construction.
What a real pleasure it was to find that this park was every bit as good as it had appeared to me from the road (and something of a relief given how I'd sung its praises to herself). Excellent, level sites, with good large gravel under foot where there was no grass, magnificent stately gum trees throughout, and first class facilities, and a most obliging, hard working manager, all make this a spot to remember. The very smart signage which greets new arrivals is no coincidence and sets the tone for what is to follow.
Once the majority of the dust had settled after the death of Liz's mother, Liz and I had the pleasure of spending a few weeks in March-April with our grand Victorian friends, roaming around beautiful Yorke Peninsula. They were putting their new van through its 'sea trials' in preparation for the trip north this winter and were more than happy to spend time showing them around this well kept SA secret (or so we have been told by many we meet!)
We spent a couple of days at Edithburgh before moving on to Marion Bay for a week and thence north to the top end at Port Hughes. Liz and I stayed on here once Rhonda and John had left. We were giving some thought to possibly moving to this area once our roaming days were over, but after having a good look around, have since shelved that plan for a number of very practical reasons.
We returned briefly to Windsor Gardens in mid April for the last of a few medical appointments and for Anzac Day, where yours truly unexpectedly found himself (by default) tasked with leading my UN contingent in the march through the Adelaide streets.
It had been almost 40 years since I had been barking drill commands at a squad of hapless young Police cadets. Practice was needed....Liz dined out for some time on the sight of your scribe pacing up and down under our awning muttering 'eyes right', 'halt' and other necessary orders to make sure they were given as the correct foot hit the ground (there is much more to good drill than any who have not participated could imagine!). It was worth the effort.....all went well on the day and I did not embarrass me or our group in front of thousands. But it was thirsty work!
For the first time on record neither Liz nor number one son Cameron came into the city for the event which left yours truly to participate at will in the 'after march fluid recovery sessions'. I did so with gusto at my old stamping ground the Combined Ex-Services Mess, where, as so often happens, 'one thing led to another'.
Our plan to have a lay day on 26 April was again a smart move, but by late that afternoon I had managed to pull everything down. We were all shipshape (as was I!) and ready for an early departure the following morning.
I find it a little difficult to describe just how good it was to again be back on the road with no end date or pressing family obligations in sight. The gypsy in both of us, which had been tightly bound for the past year and a bit, had been released. The Marshies were indeed Mobile!
The smallish mid-north SA country town of Crystal Brook was the target for our first day out. Liz was keen to catch up with an old work colleague who now makes this town her home, and I had, in days of yore when working in this area from time to time, been most impressed with what I saw of the local caravan park.
The run north up the Port Wakefield Road was so familiar I suspect the Cruiser could have almost done it hands free, and after just over 100 kms, the rather grand and very picturesque town sign slipped by.
The highway through town, lined as it is with service stations, two bakeries and other assorted food outlets, was its usual busy self. A stop here when coming or going from the north of the State or Yorke Peninsula is almost mandatory in the minds of most travellers, but we had no need of fuel or a freshly baked pie or pasty. We pushed on without stopping.
Crystal Brook lies a few kilometres to the east of the Princess Highway (the A1), the main road north out of Adelaide,
where the approach to the town centre takes those arriving here past a rather spectacular stand of large pine trees.
From here we drove in past the small CBD and on to the other end of town where this very neatly painted sign told us we had reached the park entrance road,
which took us down a gentle slope under an avenue of gum trees to the park office below.
Here another set of signs, equally neat and informative as the first (these were a real feature of this park) directed me to the booking in lane
where I came to a halt opposite a group of park cabins and the row of vans backed up along the southern creek bank. The sites in this very well organised park are laid out on both sides of the small stream from which the town takes its name.
Because we had asked for a large drive-thu site, we were directed to the other side of the all but dry brook
where we were soon set up with a minimum of fuss on a very large site with good gravel surface underfoot.
As may have already been obvious, huge gum trees are another feature of this charming park, but past experience has left me very shy of parking directly beneath any of them lest we become victim of a sudden bough drop. There were no such problems here, and as this shot shows, the camp kitchen was no more than twenty metres away.
Here again, the little council owned Crystal Brook Caravan Park punched well above its weight. The almost fully enclosed camp kitchen was spotlessly clean. One end housed the stove, sink, fridge etc.
whilst at the other end two BBQ plates stood ready for use. Three large tables and plenty of chairs completed the picture.
I was quick to take advantage of these facilities on the second night of our stay....and no, I was not feeding an army (as many have commented in circumstances such as this). We have learnt the trick of cooking enough for two meals on these occasions. Sausages and patties reheat very well in the micro wave, so why not?
A short footbridge took us across the creek to the amenities block which was on the other side of the park.
Those currently in use were old but perfectly functional, but any who pull in here in a few weeks,
will have the benefit of a brand new ablution block which is currently under construction.
What a real pleasure it was to find that this park was every bit as good as it had appeared to me from the road (and something of a relief given how I'd sung its praises to herself). Excellent, level sites, with good large gravel under foot where there was no grass, magnificent stately gum trees throughout, and first class facilities, and a most obliging, hard working manager, all make this a spot to remember. The very smart signage which greets new arrivals is no coincidence and sets the tone for what is to follow.
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