hprtravels

[hprtravels]

From Ryelands Farm to Port Lincoln

After the sheep farm we went exploring … found stuff that didn’t smell right…

…and had a big walk around an old copper mine. I’m not sure why Helga got so excited about all the rocks, but the long walk was great.

Then it was back in the hammock. It was getting late by the time we passed the wind farm just before Port Augusta…

…and pitch black by the time we stopped at Arno Bay.

I was very surprised to find a lovely bit of water and interesting rocks and seaweed when I got up.

Our next stop was at another farm just outside Port Lincoln. The lovely owners put up hay bales to protect us from the wind.

Whilst Pip busied himself setting up the outdoor shelter and Helga got my water and food I thought about going for a little explore.

But it was not to be.

Before I knew it I was once again attached to the long chord secured under Warren’s belly. Did they really believe I was brave enough to go chasing after a kangaroo? As if!!! There wasn’t a kangaroo for miles.

[hprtravels]

From home to Ryelands Farm Stay and Retreat in SA.

Things have not been the same since we went to Melbourne to pick up the Weird Thing.

I didn’t pay much attention until, after we arrived home and Helga started loading the Weird Thing with loads of stuff, including my front door dog mat.

All focus was on the Weird Thing sitting outside our verandah.

“This is the test run for our trip.” Pip said.

“Come on Rodg, test out your new bed.” Helga said.

No way was I getting into that cramped space!

What did they mean anyway?

I’m always going on trips with them and I’ve never had to stay in a Weird Thing.

It wasn’t until they said said “hello” to someone called ‘Paul, house sitter’, goodbye to my brother Eddie the Cat and bundled me into my comfy hammock in the back of the car that I thought, “Hmmmm, something feels different.”

Maybe it was the table rammed between my hammock and the seat?

Maybe it was all the stuff in the back of the car?

Maybe it was that the Weird Thing followed us down the road!

Nothing has been the same since.

Our first stop wasn’t that bad. It was only an hour or so from home and in familiar territory. My mate, Monty the Cat and his human family were there and we stayed for two whole days.

There was a lot of muttering about electric brake failure and wrong wiring but I didn’t pay attention. I was getting lots of pats and plenty to eat though Helga and Pip DID make me sleep on the door mat in the Weird Thing and I didn’t get any ‘Walkies’.

Then it was ‘bye-bye, have a great trip’ and back in the hammock.

What now?

After 3 hours we pulled up outside friends in Melbourne. ‘Oh goody,’ I thought. ‘A comfy night in a warm, human kennel!’

But no.

Another night squashed into the Weird Thing then more ‘bye-bye, have a great trip’.

What was this great ‘trip’ everyone was talking about?

“Are we there yet?” I wondered as I was invited off my hammock and asked to sit very still in front of a big sign.

Yippeee. We were visiting Tom, Billy Jo, Fausto and my old friend Molly the dog. Their was heaps to eat, Walkies and lots of play with Molly while Pip, Helga and Tom went sightseeing.

Then there was more ‘sit still for a family photo’ and more ‘bye-bye’s’ and ‘have a great trip.

The next few days were a bit of a blur.

Lots of stop, start, in and out of the hammock and ‘keep still for a photo’.

It doesn’t look like we’re going home anytime soon.

Next day we passed through Meningie.

Not sure what the emu was looking at. All I could see was trees and water.

Then we drove and drove.

Encounter Bay

Victor Harbour for lunch.

… and then on to Goolwa. 

Apparently the toilet in the Weird Thing didn’t flush so we had some Walkies and explored Hindmarsh Island while some very clever people fixed the flush.

There was a great big bridge to get across before I had to sit still again in front of a sign.

I was getting quite good at sitting still.

As soon as the broken wire in the toilet was fixed I was back in the hammock and back on the road. A pattern seemed to be emerging. Drive, stop, sit still, sleep in the Weird Thing.

Getting into the Weird Thing was a little like wedging myself into a wombat hole. I decided to stop calling it Weird Thing and name it Warren. It made me happier when I wedged myself in at night.

After that things got a bit more exciting.

There was pretty scenery…

… interesting things to sit under…

… and a comfy place to stay a couple of nights. Ryelands Farm Stay and Retreat, near Tarlee S.A. Is a working farm. You could smell the sheep in the shearing shed but I didn’t get to round any up ☹️