Drone Videos

Here are Drone videos from yesterday.

The First is Patchewollock Silo Art

and the Second is an old farmhouse somewhere near Warracknabeal. 

Silo Art Trail

Today was exploring new territory in both SA and Victoria. I left Renmark and went down through Berri, Loxton and Pinnaroo, the across into Victoria and Underbool. Then down through Patchewollock, Hopetoun, Warracknabeal, Rosebery, Sheep Hills and Rapunyip. All places I have never been before, despite living in Victoria all my life. I followed the Silo Art trail and ended up at Stawell, where I decided to stop rather than push through to Melbourne.

I did see a huge black snake wriggling quickly to get across the road just before Underbool. I did not stop to investigate, it was a BIG snake and since I nearly run over it in the car, I thought he may not be happy to see me.

I also took some drone video but it will have to wait until I get home as it will take forever to upload from here.

Oranges or Mandarins at Loxton

Underbool

Patchewollock

Lascelles

Lascelles

Rosebery

Brim

Sheep Hills

Rapunyip

Renmark SA

Arrived in Renmark this afternoon after an uneventful 400k drive from Pt Augusta. I saw some big chooks (emus) dash across the road at one stage but they were gone before I had a chance to stop and get the camera out.

Attached is a couple of Pics of Renmark. I think it would be over 30 years since I was last here and whilst it feels familiar, it is not how I remember it.

Port Augusta

I am back in Pt August after a 500km drive today from Ceduna. My purpose was to visit Ceduna and see what it is like. I have done that. Ceduna does not seem to have a lot to do and see. I had a nice pizza last night as a big thunderstorm rolled in. So decided to head back east again. Streaky Bay was nice, but it is a long way from anywhere.
Last night when having my Pizza, i was chatting to local that suggested i call in to Pildappa rocks on my way near Minnipa. It is sort of Sth Australia's answer to Wave Rock in W.A. but not as good. He also told me to look at Tcharkuldu Rock, but I followed the sign and then there was no more directions, so that had to be missed. Pics below
I also stopped in a town called Kimba and could not find any White Lions but I did find more Silo Art. 
It is about 5pm Local time here in Pt Augusta on Sunday and another big thunderstorm has just started as I got here. I think it will pass quickly.

Looking forward to some dinner and watching sunday night TV.

Pildappa Rock, Near Minnipa

Silo Art at Kimba

Ceduna Pier

Kimba

On the Road (watching out for Skippies)

Ceduna

Arrived at  Ceduna about 1pm and booked a place on line.

When I found the place, it is not like the website pics, much grungier, but it is cheap and it has Wifi that seems to work. Here are todays pics below.

A storm is coming, I think it will be wild, windy and wet in a few hours.

Streaky Bay at Sunrise today

Blue Tongue Lizards (There were lots of these crossing the road)

High Cliff on Westall Loop, Near Streaky Bay

Same as above

Granite Point

Smoky Bay

North By North West

Today I was on the road again, heading up the coast towards Streaky Bay. It is a fairly uneventful drive with not a lot to see. I took some snaps if highlights along the way, including Coffin Bay, Cumming's Monument, Lock's well, Elliston, Murphy's Haystack and finally at Streaky Bay. I got a very swish apartment at Streaky Bay because it supposedly had good wi fi, well it doesn't. But the view is good.

Pics below, Not in order

Coffin Bay

Streaky bay and view from Apartment

Port Kenny

Elliston

Above Lock's well near Elliston

Above, Cumming's monument

Murphy's Haystacks (Granite Outcrops)

Port Lincoln day 2

This morning the weather was cold, windy and cloudy so I did some laundry, then I headed down to the bottom part of the Eyre peninsula, a place called Whalers's Bay.  See Pics below.

I was hoping to fly the drone along the cliffs and around the shore, but because of the strong wind, I chickened out and was not going to risk the drone being blown into the sea or the cliffs.

The sand dunes are where local outdoor-y type people surf or ski down these dunes. I just look.

I came back to Port Lincoln about 1.30 pm and the clouds disappeared and the sun came out and it became a beautiful day. Weather is so unreliable.

Back at the YHA now, I might cook dinner here tonight as they have a great kitchen.

Port Lincoln

Arrived here at Port Lincoln a little after lunch after a leisurely drive down the peninsula from Whyalla. I stopped at a few little places on the way, but not a lot to see. At Tumby Bay, I saw another example of Silo Art (see pic), but little else to talk about in Tumby Bay. It was blowing a cold wind this morning so maybe it is better in the sunshine. Thankfully, the sun has come out this afternoon  and the forecast is good for the next day or two.

I enquired about a Tuna Fishing boat charter but it is still not the season, another month or so. Port Lincoln is famous for big Tuna and commercial tuna fishing is a major business here.

I am staying at the YHA here as it was the most economical option, but still a $100 a night for a small room with ensuite and no windows. Place looks very clean and tidying has a good kitchen and facilities. Staff are also very nice and helpful. It is quiet at the moment but apparently there is a big group staying here and they have all gone out on a shark cage diving charter today. Maybe the sharks will have a win and there will be a few less returning.

I will be staying here until Friday.

Overlooking Whyalla

Silo Art at Tumby bay

Yha Courtyard

South Australia Transverse

Today I continued on my trek west across Sth Australia, travelling at least 700k. In the morning, I stopped at Coonalpyn, which was one of the first towns to embrace Silo Art. Where grain Silo's are given to an artist to paint giant murals. See Pic below. Several other towns have followed and it has proven to a good tourist attraction to get passing motorists to stop, get a coffee or a snack. Good economics for the locals.

I bypassed Adelaide and headed through the Barossa Valley, a region famous for producing excellent Australian Red wines. It also has a strong German heritage from Immigration in the 19th century. One thing for sure is that Sth Australia is not suffering drought, everything was lush and green, the vines are just beginning to get leaves on. Its all looking good. Although it rained nearly all day.

I decided to keep going and I went to Hornsdale in Northern SA, where the SA Govt, despite huge opposition from Loony Right Federal govt, built Australia's first Grid battery, fed by Wind power generation. Elon Musk supplied the batteries. See pic below. It has been a huge success and actually shows a govt with some foresight and leadership, sadly lacking nearly everywhere today in Politics. Although it is not much to look at, see small white boxes in distance, looked like beehives.

After leaving Hornsdale, I realised I needed fuel, i took a chance and made it to a fuel station about 40k away. it is a fairly remote part of SA.

I pushed through to Pt Augusta, with a view to staying the night. I went to the supermarket to get some supplies and while there, I went to toilets for a leak. When i came out, the big strong steel gates had been locked with a big padlock and I was locked in. What type of idiot locks the toilet area, male, females, baby change area without checking that anyone is in there. A sth Australian idiot, that's who. I was lucky a female staff member turned up with a key, by chance as she was going to the toilet. I was only stuck for about 10 mins.

Unfortunately, I could not seem to find anywhere to stay in Port Augusta so I pushed on through to Whyalla, where upon arriving treated myself to really  nice steak and a glass of Mclaren Vale SA Shiraz.

Coonalpyn Silo Art

Hornsdale Battery Plant and wind farm

On the Road (west) again

Greetings Blogettes,

I am on the road again, this time within Australia and heading west. My destination is Ceduna in South Australia and surrounding parts of the Eyre peninsula, including Port Lincoln.

Today, I had a easy days travel, stopping off at my brothers house near Beaufort for a cuppa. I ten continued on to a place called Natimuk in western Victoria to visit Mt Arapiles. Mt Arapiles is a very popular rock climbing location and is not farf rom the Grampians mountain range, another popular tourist destination.

My intention was to do some astro photography with Mt Arapiles in the foreground and the starry skin the background. Unfortunately, todays weather was totally unsuitable for night photography as it was totally cloud cover. So this turned into a reconnoiter for on the way back.

Mt Arapiles today

So tonight I ended up at Bordertown in Sth Australia as my first stop on the way to Ceduna.

Not much happening in Bordertown on a monday night, had to go to the truck stop for dinner as nothing open in town (except pubs).

Also I watched the new episode of Dr Who tonight with Jodi Whittaker. I thought it was Ok, hopefully they will continue with good writing and good stories.

All for now.

A view from above

Recently, I acquired myself a Drone. This is something I have been wanting to get ever since 2016 when the DJI Mavic 1's were released in 2016. So in 2018, I got the updated super duper Mavic 2 Pro.

Attached is a short video I took of my house. It is  circular fly by looking at the house from above and at an angle. I looking forward to being able to update my blog site with new and interesting videos of travel and other places, but as of now, I am still in learning mode.

The quality of the video is dramatically reduced to enable it to be small enough to upload to the blog site.