Quorn August 2014 (Powell Gardens)

Powell Gardens have been featured on Gardening Australia. They are a drylands botanical garden established by our old "Quorn Lions" friend Brian Powell AM and now maintained and further developed in his memory. They are in the parkland area near the creek and the golf course, just over the road from the old cottage that we owned. We visited them in the late afternoon of another perfect day.

Back to our temporary home as the sun set.

Quorn August 2014 (Dutchman's Stern)

First morning we awoke to frost and sunrise on the Devil's Peak.

Planned activity for the day was the 10km bushwalk around and onto the crest of the Dutchman's Stern (a repeat for us after 18 or so years). This time we took the circuit in reverse (clockwise) - a longer but gentler climb with time to observe the changing vegetation while we were fresher. Vegetation changed with altitude and aspect (south or north in particular).

 Flannel Flower in quite a large colony on the southern slope.

 View over the Willochra Plain from the southern slope.

 Lunch, just below the summit, overlooking the western plains Port Augusta.

Quorn August 2014 (Endilloe Lodge B&B)

"Endilloe Lodge" was initially a "dry lands" information and interpretative centre established by our old "Quorn Lions" friend, Brian Powell. Now, converted to a "bed & breakfast" by its new owners, it provides quietly luxurious accommodation for  families or up to three couples. Location is perfect overlooking the local creek, the Quorn township, the ranges (to the south and west) and the Willochra Plain (to the east). The lodge sits between plantations of saltbush, quandong and other dry land vegetation.
"En-suites" would make it perfect, but you can't expect everything. The visitors' books are filled with genuine "rave" reviews.

The creek view from the back of the "lodge".

View from the main bedroom window.

Clare - July 2014

A "dinner, bed & breakfast" deal at the Clare Country Club was a great mid-term break from John's radio-therapy treatment. We travelled  to Clare via Burra and back home via Crabtree Winery at Watervale, the beautiful, rustic Skillogalee Valley and the new North-South Overpass (under first by accident - misreading signs - then over).

Morning overlooking the wetlands by the Country Club.

Catfords settled in the Skillogalee Valley 12 years after proclamation of South Australia.

 The overpass is a quite massive structure.

Decorative panels shield travellers from some unattractive industrial views
and the areas and roads below from lights and noise.

The Adelaide CBD from the overpass.

Victor Harbor - May 2014

A couple of days at Victor Harbor - our first for many years. Special thanks to two dear friends for the use of their family holiday house overlooking Encounter Bay. Joy - reading, walking (with Bwana), eating simply and drinking well (only good wines of course). Bwana was overjoyed to rediscover rabbits after years away from them - chased them with more style than success, as always.