Willunga Almond blossom festival

Lovely drive through the country side this morning to Willunga which was about 1 hour from Echunga where we are staying. Very steep hill down from hills into Willunga, could smell the brakes when we parked the van

 

Almond blossom festival is a 2 day event with a street parade tomorrow & carnival with all the fun rides

 

 

 

Farmers market was in full swing this morning, with wonderful array of fresh food. We bought some smoked "Coorong Mullet" from Lake Alexandrina. It was very tasty, done with lemon & spices

 

 

This is the only photo I took of the blossoms, apparently we should have driven a bit further out of town towards the coast to see all the orchards with rows & rows of trees in all their glory

What's happened to Witchwae!!!!!!

Well the day started out just fine. Sun was shining & good day to go for a drive to Mt Barker 10kms away to do some shopping. First stop some fuel @ Woolies service station. 4 cents off a litre proved to be a very expensive exercise

 

Witchwae @ the bowzer. If you take a close look you will see only 2 pumps on front of bowzer which says Vortex for all 3 types of fuel!!!! After 34 litres of Vortex 98
Bob realised he had put the wrong fuel in the van. Diesel pump was on the SIDE of pump (NO SIGNAGE OR ARROW pointing to the pump!!!!!) .

Bob went into servo & told the staff what had happened ($50 for wrong fuel) & was told that it happens 3 or 4 times a month. If this is the case one would think they would make some signage pointing to the correct pump for diesel.

After a phone call to insurance company & getting their contact for a tow truck company to tow us to a mechanic to get the tank drained

 

Bob waiting for the tow truck.

 

Witchwae causing chaos on the driveway for 2 hours waiting for tow truck

 

 

Tow truck arrived from Adelaide & got us on board for the 5 minute drive to truck & bus company to get the tank drained

 

 

 

 

 

 

This whole fiasco cost $50 for wrong fuel, $242 for tow truck, $132 to drain the tank + another $60 diesel. On top of that Bob had put the van in @ local mechanic to get the radiator flushed & new coolant + needed a new fan belt = $103.

My oh my a very expensive day & still didn't get the shopping done!!!!!!!!!!

Bob in the bird cage

Bob getting up close & personal with the budgies

 

 

Who's a pretty boy then!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Jupiter Creek Gold mine

Jupiter creek gold mine is 5kms up the road from Echunga, so decided to go & take a look. Old mining site from around 1839's. Not much left these days apart from mine shafts etc. The bush is reclaiming the area

 

 

 

Bob wandering along the tracks through the bush to what's left of the old gold diggings

 

 

Mushrooms anyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Entrance to the Phoenix tunnel built in 1930

 

Bob getting ready to walk through the 50 metre tunnel

 

 

 

Bob coming out at other end of the tunnel

 

 

Jan climbing the ladder out of the tunnel

 

Very tall straight eucalyptus trees @ Warrawong nature reserve

 

 

Bob looking for KOALAS!!!!

Echunga 2nd housesit in hills

We have left Dawesley now & moved into Echunga on 12th July till 13th August.

Echunga is a pleasant farming town with a few old buildings & Hagen Arms hotel. Established in 1839 & was most important when they discovered gold @ Jupiter creek about 5kms from town.

Bob is yet to try out the 18 hole golf course about 5 minutes away

 

I thought this was our new home but I got the street numbers wrong & we are across the road @ number 11 not 22

 

Number 11 Adelaide road!! Very comfy & warm inside & has the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in & lovely kitchen

 

Frost out the back one morning, down to about 3 degrees over night

 

Basil the tabby. Also a black cat Diddles but he rarely comes inside

 

 

Yours truly & her new friend Basil making himself at home on my lap!!!!

 

Sharona the very old, deaf dog, who just loves a cuddle & walk each day

Almond train @ McLaren Vale

Vintage train carriages in middle of McLaren Vale. It's a step back in time & browsing through the assortment of flavoured almonds, dukkah, jams & chutneys is taste testers heaven!!!!! We bought up big on the almonds Yum!!!

 

 

 

 

One carriage has been turned into a cafe making lovely homemade scones, milkshakes etc

Not only is McLaren Vale an internationally acclaimed wine district, it's also a town offering exceptional wines, beautiful scenery, cafes & delicious regional produce. Just 40kms from Adelaide. McLaren vale is nestled between Mt Lofty ranges & beaches of Gulf of St Vincent & a great place to explore 76 cellar doors!!! The first vines were planted by John Reynell in 1838, 2 years after the proclamation of the colony of South Australia. As early as 1850 the historic Hardy & Seaview wineries were in operation.