Port Vincent to Goolwa via many places

On our last day in Port Vincent, the fellow from the site across from us gave us 4 lovely crabs which we had for lunch. They were very tasty. They had steamed them instead of boiling them.
 Ray had caught a couple more squid at Stansbury so we now have enough for a feed on Good Friday.
We got away from Port Vincent on April 1st, but not without a little hiccup. The jockey wheel was inadvertently left down and as we pulled out it got horribly bent beyond repair. So we knew when we got to Gawler we would need to do a little on line research to find another one.
We got to Gawler just before lunch to a lovely park with lots of trees and hundreds of correllas which shat all over the annex. The park people finally came along and scared the birds away hopefully for good.
Following our research we found the actual factory which made the jockey wheel is in a suburb of Adelaide, so the next morning we went for a run into Cavan and were able to buy a new jockey wheel and take it back and fit it.
Then we went for a drive out to the Barossa Valley. We stopped at a couple of wineries, Jacobs Creek and Seppelts, but didn't buy any. They do charge for tasting $5 per glass and the wine is quite expensive.
Next we went to Maggie Beers Farm Store and tasted a few samples and bought some lovely apricot jam and some quince paste, a couple of pates and a creme caramel. All very nice. Everything is made on site form fresh ingredients on the farm.
The caravan park at Gawler suggested we ring Mt Barker Caravan park to make sure we could get in, and guess what, they were booked out. We then had a look at the map and decided to go to Mannum, which is on the Murray. The main reason for going to Mt Barker was to go to Hahndorf and it was only 60km from Mannum to Hahndorf so we booked in there.
On Tuesday 3rd we left Gawler for Mannum and got there before lunch. We have a good site with a view of the water. After setting up we decided to head to Hahndorf for lunch. On the way we stopped at Melba's Chocolate factory for a few goodies and then popped next door to the Woodside Cheese factory where we also bought some goodies.
Next stop was Hahndorf where we stopped at Hahndorf Old Mill for lunch which was lovely.

Hahndorf main street

Then to the Beerenberg Farm to buy some fresh strawberries and some jam.
The next day after the usual washing chores we went for a drive around the Mannum area. First we went up to the lookout on a hill above Mannum and it was quite breathtaking. You could see the Murray spreading out in front of you on both sides.

Lookout above mannum showing The Murray River behind us

We then decided to try and change our direction. We had a look at a site at Mannum beside the river and we went and asked the caravan park when that site would be available. She told us it was available form 16th April so we booked it for 5 nights. We will go down to Goolwa for 7 nights, then back to Murray Bridge for 4 nights and then back to Mannum. From there we will follow the Murray River back to Albury.
After all of this planning we went for more drives. We went across the river on the ferry

Approaching the bank of The Murray on the ferry

Some boats moored on the Murray

 and followed the river around past a huge houseboat marina,

Houseboat Marina near Mannum

 then Younghusband, Coolcha, Bowhill and Purnong. We then went back across the river on the ferry at Walker Flat and stoped there and had some lunch.

View of Walkers Crossing

In the park at Walker Flat there was a sign stating not to feed the birds as you could kill them. A bit harsh we thought.

Unusual sign about bird killing

Limestone cliffs along The Murray River

On Thursday 5th we left Mannum and headed south to Goolwa. The caravan park is about 3km out of town. It is quite big and after going to get some supplies we came back and sat down to watch the "Set up Your Camp for the Weekend" show. It is quite funny some of the sights you see.
On Good Friday we had some incredible winds, with gusts up to 80km an hour. There were tents and gazebos flying everywhere. We were quite safe tucked in behind a permanent van. We went to the Goolwa markets on the wharf and bought some peaches,cakes and eggs.
On Saturday we drove over the bridge to Hindmarsh Island and out to the where the Murray River flows into the sea. The river entrance is open at present as the river still has high water levels from the last floods in 2011. We took a photo but it is not real clear as the day was overcast.

Entrance to Murray River at Goolwa. You can see the waves pounding

If the weather clears up before we leave we will go back and try to get a better shot.
Sunday was still overcast and cool but we went for a drive anyway. We went down to Port Elliot and then to Victor Harbour where we wandered around some more markets and bought some cakes and quince jam.

Looking to Port Elliot from a lookout

Looking towards Victor Harbour from Port Elliot

Tramway connecting Victor Harbour and Granite Island

Looking towards the Bluff from Victor Harbour

Looking back to Victor Harbour from The Bluff

Then on to Cape Jervis. This is where the ferry leaves for Kangaroo Island. We could see the island quite clearly as it is only a 45minute boat trip away. For us to take the car and van would be about $600 each way. Maybe in a couple of years we will go and stay a month or so.

Kangaroo Island ferry at Cape Jervis

Then we went to Rapid Bay for a look as someone had told us it was a beautiful spot.

Rapid Bay

The 2 jetties at Rapid Bay

Then on to Normanville and Yankalilla and then back to Goolwa.

Normanville

Unfortunately on the way back we were detoured around an accident at Port Elliot where a little boy had been run over and killed. Very sad.
Now today, Easter Monday we are just having a quiet day watching the caravan park empty out. We will resume our sightseeing tomorrow.
Blog you later!!!