We have moved on since my last post and have crossed the border to South Australia.
Still in Victoria, we drove along the Great Ocean Road as we had done back in 2014. First stop was at Cumberland River, a great spot where the rainforest meets the ocean.
We did a short walk in the morning and swam in the creek, when distant thunder and first raindrops announced an approaching storm. We decided to head back to the car, speeding up a bit, when suddenly a snake crossed the path just half a meter ahead of me. I stopped immediately and told Dag and Robin behind me to move backwards. We all got a close look at the snake before it disappeared in the bush. I wouldn’t know what kind of snake it was, brown-orange and half a meter long, but it doesn’t really matter. All snakes in Australia are venomous!
Bad weather and the need for new brakes made us stay in a cabin in Port Campell for two nights – quite nice not to have to put up our tent in pouring rain. We still got a sunny afternoon and explored all the lookouts and short walks at Lord Arch Gorge, making sure not to be there too early to avoid all the Chinese tourist groups driving down from Melbourne for the day.
Driving 1500 km the next three days meant long hours in the car, which we managed surprisingly well. Even Robin was coping well, watching films on the iPad, listening to e-books or music, sleeping a bit in between. Adelaide, we just passed through (we had spent 4 days here in 2014). Further north we had the intention to take a ferry over the Spencer Gulf to avoid driving an extra 200 km or so up to Port Augusta. The ferry is marked on our maps, going from Wallaroo to Lucky Bay. But when we knocked at the window at the small ticket booth at the pier, a friendly lady opened the hatch and informed us that the next ferry wouldn’t leave until later this year… That didn’t leave us any choice but driving all the way up to Port Augusta and continue our trip from there.
After all this driving we deserved a break and settled down on a campsite in Streaky Bay, west of the Eyre Peninsula. Our site is on the beachfront of the bay and the view couldn’t be more awesome. However, the water is very shallow and to warm for my taste (Robin wouldn’t quite agree on that, I guess).
Not far from here there is a place called Point Labatt with the largest mainland population of Australian sea lions in the world. We enjoyed watching them with binoculars from the lookout above the beach, secretly hoping to spot a big white shark which are supposed to live in these waters.
On one of the information signs we read a beautiful dreamtime story which goes like this:
Wardu and Balgurda
Wardu the Wombat was always fascinated by the “Warna” (Sea) and all who swam in it. One day, Wardu wandered down by the cliffs near the Warna and saw Balgurda the Seal swimming and frolicking… just having such a great time
Oh! How he had wished to jump in and join Balgurda in the Warna! Wardu kept coming back day after day and sat on the cliffs watching longingly with anticipation. Balgurda noticed this and warned Wardu that it was not wise to come into the Warna as he did not belong in the ocean and would drown if he did.
One day Wardu’s urge became too strong, he ignored Balgurda’s warning and just jumped straight into the Warna. It was too late now, he could not swim and started to panic as he sank under the water, he was drowning! Balgurda saw this and quickly came to his rescue, pushing him back up on the rocks to safety. Wardu thanked Balgurda graciously for saving his life, he felt very foolish for not listening to his wise advice.
In appreciation, Wardu gave Balgurda his front legs so that he could dig burrows on the “Manda” (Land). In turn, Balgurda gave Wardu his “Yari” (Flippers), so that he could enjoy time swimming in the Warna too. In the end they both enjoyed their new surroundings so much and decided to stay where they were. 
RCD on Walkabout 