Streaky Bay

We have passed by about 2000 hectares of wheat fields on the journey from Wudinna. It’s harvest time and the locals report a “pretty good” yield this year.  Apparently they have not had any rain to speak of since July.

Coming into Streaky bay, known for its fishing and oysters, I was surprised to see more wheat fields and silos. Evenso, Streaky bay does have a nice coastal feel . We have been travelling inland since we left Sydney and, as pleasant as that is, I admit to being a girl for the coast. Again, there is a lot of history, going back to some Dutch dude who first spotted the area in the 1600’s, and more recently Mathew Flinders (and his cat?) aboard the Investigator.

The region is considered part of the Great Australian Bight although no stunning coastal cliffs that one normally associates with the bight. Nevertheless, it is pretty and is squarely set in the Southern Ocean. And there is a lot of granite around. Just want to pick up these big rocks and make a kitchen bench out of them.

We found our way to the only caravan park in town and settled in for two nights.  It is a lot busier than we are accustomed to, noticing a few more families with children.  Again, we managed to endear ourselves with a few grey nomads who adopted the children as surrogate grandchildren and assured us they would keep an “eye on yer van” while we were out exploring.

And explore we did.  Bauer Point and Point Speed, being two headlands just south of Streaky bay provided us with great coastal views, rock pools to muck about in but no glimpse of the Peregrine Falcon or the Australian sea lions which are supposed to call this neck of the woods home.  We did see a pod of dolphins near the rock pools and a shingle back lizard. The lizard was dead, but in pretty good nick.

In town, we inspected the skate park and the golf course. Well I didn't, I just wanted a coffee and went along on the pretense, making sure we found a café on the way.  At dusk we walked the long jetty out into the bay for some lovely photos and an up close inspection of a fishing trawler. Alas the fishermen were not as friendly as the grey nomads.

I can see why the nomads are out here. It is a great lifestyle.  However I do miss a few creature comforts,  I need a facial and a wax, give anything for a pedi and my hair is out of control. It has been so dry and despite moisturising, everything is cracking up. No one else seems to care or notice, so I am learning not to also.  Even getting used to so-so coffee…. What next ?!?!?!

We pull up stumps in the morning and head down the western coast of the Eyre Peninsula.