Sheringa Beach to Streaky Bay

Day 30 - Sheringa Beach to Streaky Bay

Sheringa Beach, Elliston, Port Kenny, Baird Bay, Streaky Bay

Sunday, 17 February 2013
Left Sheringa Beach early in the morning. Stopped at Elliston and drove along part of the Great Ocean Tourist Drive. It provides views from the top of cliffs of the nearby Waldergrave Islands (West Island and East Island) and in the far distance, Flinders Island.

Stopped at Murphys Haystacks. They got their name because a visiting Irish agricultural expert thought that they were haystacks. Murphy's Hay Stacks are inselberg formations that were weathered and sculpted into their present form about 100,000 years ago. The Hay Stacks are composed of pink granite from the Hiltaba suite of rocks whch were laid down some 1500 million years ago.

Called in at Baird Bay and had a drive along the hard sand on the bay beach. It is used as a road to the coast beach. Arranged to go on a boat ride on Wednesday with Baird Bay Ocean Eco Experience. I will go snorkelling with dolphins and sea lions!!

Now at Streaky Bay Caravan Park. Normally it would be a nice place but with 40+ degrees, hot winds and warm water in the bay I miss the cold surf at Sheringa Beach!

	East Island as seen from cliffs of the Great Ocean [Map]		A few of Murphys Haystacks [Map]
	More of Murphys Haystacks [Map]		On the beach road at Baird Bay [Map]

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Sheringa Beach

Day 29 - Sheringa Beach

Sheringa Beach

Saturday, 16 February 2013
Windy and sunny morning. Walked down to the beach with Tuka. He is much more active but still unstable. Back legs likely to lose traction at any time.

Scenery is spectacular. In front of me are cliffs, sandy beaches, rock pools and surf crashing onto to the beach and the rock pools. Behind me are sand dunes covered in places by a colourful assortment of hardy coastal sand vegetation. To add to it a pod of six dolphins swam by heading north leaping out of the water and doing a bit of surfing.

Did some reading, walking, swimming and photographing during the day. Aimee and Christian called in and said hello. Aimee told me as she was being taught to surf by Christian the dolphins swam amongst them. In the afternoon I saw more dolphins heading south. Late in the afternoon Aimee and Christian called in with a blue groper he had just caught while spearfishing. He filleted it while I talked to Aimee and then they left me a piece for tea.

Went for another walk and paddle with Tuka. Even though he can walk he is still very unstable and does not appear to be getting any better. We had tea together (Tuka shared some of the fish) and watched the sunset.

	Tuka in the morning shade [Map]		The beach and cliffs [Map]
	Sand dunes and coastal vegetation [Map]		Sunset [Map]

Coffin Bay to Sheringa Beach

Day 28 - Coffin Bay to Sheringa Beach

Coffin Bay, Sheringa, Sheringa Beach

Friday, 15 February 2013
Got up around 7 am and tried to take Tuka for a walk. He was able to walk a few metres than lay down. Aimee and Christian came over and said goodbye. A couple that were in a cabin gave me some frozen shark that they had been given at the wharf yesterday. They were unable to use it as they were leaving on their Harley Davidson today.

Packed up and left at 9am and decided to go straight to Sherigan Beach instead of detours to other beaches on the way as they all involved dirt roads. I wanted to minimise the bumps that Tuka was subjected to today. Stopped at the Sherigan Roadhouse for a permit and bread. Near the end of the road to the beach is a lake with Pelicans, ducks and swans. I continued on and found a camping spot with toilets and four vans already there. Long beach was accessed was over small dune.

Decided to keep going along the dirt coast track. Numerous little beaches and cliff top stops. Came on a car park with six vehicles in it and a bunch of surfer overlooking a small beach. Found out later it was a renowned surfing beach. Continued until the end of the track and found the camping spot where Christian and Aimee had set up. Large sheltered camping spot. Walked over the dune to the beach and back to the van. The dune was far to high for Tuka to get over so left a note telling them I would camping at spot with better access.

Drove back along the track and found a spot that although exposed and had no shade, had great views and provided easy access for Tuka to the beach. Set up camp and we went for a swim. Tuka was able to walk down to the beach although he still walks as if he is drunk. I had a couple more swims in the afternoon when it got too hot. Late in the afternoon Christian and Aimee arrived in there 4wd. We had a couple of beers and talked. They remarked how much more mobile Tuka was since this morning.

	Rugged coastline [Map]		Coastal vegetation and the beach [Map]
	Camp site [Map]		Dunes and coastal vegetation [Map]

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Port Lincoln to Coffin Bay

Day 27 - Port Lincoln to Coffin Bay

Port Lincoln, Coffin Bay

Thursday, 14 February 2013
In the morning Tuka was only a little bit better - still staggering and unable to walk more than a metre. Called in at the vet and let them know about Tuka.

Drove onto Coffin Bay township. The large bay, Coffin Bay (after which the town is named) is one of the many places along the Eyre Peninsula named by Matthew Flinders. I have been reading his book "Terra Australis" so that I can understand why and when the places along the southern coastline were named.

Coffin Bay is a little township which is small, and houses a permanent population of about 650 residents, a caravan park, shops, a pub and a yacht club. It has nearby surf beaches and national parks around it. The township overlooks Port Douglas which is tucked away on the south-western tip of the Eyre Peninsula, and is in fact several bodies of bay water (Coffin Bay, Little Douglas Bay, Mount Dutton Bay and Kellidie Bay).

Was going to continue north but decided to give Tuka a rest day. Booked into the Coffin Bay Caravan Park. Unpowered site is only $12/night. Talked to my next door campers, a young couple that had been working in Newman, WA, he as an environmental officer as she as a teacher. On their way to live in Ballina. Both of them patted and talked to Tuka and thought he was a great dog. At the end of the day Tuka, even with the extra attention, was not any better. Still unable to walk more than a metre without falling over

	[Map]		Coffin Bay [Map]

Fishery Bay to Port Lincoln

Day 26 - Fishery Bay to Port Lincoln

Fishery Bay, Sleaford Bay, Port Lincoln

Wednesday, 13 February 2013
Went for walk along the northern end of the beach about 7am. Fishing boats already out to sea as two 4wds and trailers were already on the beach. Packed up and drove to a few lookouts and beaches. Stopped at Mary Beach off Sleaford Bay in the Lincoln National Park - large sand dunes and an undisturbed beach. By the time Tuka had had three swims in three different beaches I decided to head back to Port Lincoln. Stopped at Sleaford Mere. The area was burnt in the November 2012 bushfires.

Had a late lunch at the foreshore park at Port Lincoln. We were next to the statue of Makybe Diva, three time winner of the Melbourne Cup. Port Lincoln is the home town of her owner. We had short walk along part of the 14km long Parnkalla Walking Trail at Billy Light's Point. Tuka had another swim. Dried him and went to the vet for his akupuncture appointment. Little needles inserted into his back. Tuka didn't like it. Once they were in he settled down and ignored it. He also had some vitamin injections.

After he was finished we drove out to the self contained campsite at Billy Light's Point. As it was hot I took Tuka down to the liitle beach for a swim. Afterwards sat in the shade. We went to go back to the van Tuka was unable to walk properly. Managed to get him to stagger part of the way and I carried him the rest. By late evening he was still unable to walk.

	Tuka [Map]		Sand dunes, Lincoln National Park [Map]
	Regeneration after fire at Sleaford Mere [Map]

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Cowleys Beach to Fishery Bay

Day 25 - Cowleys Beach to Fishery Bay

Cowleys Beach, Port Lincoln, Sleaford Bay, Fishery Bay

Tuesday, 12 February 2013
Packed up left for Port Lincoln. First stop at the Port Lincoln Caravan Centre to see about getting my leaking water system repaired. The guy from the service centre was very effecient and had the two cracked connectors replaced in thirty minutes. Bought a spare connector in case another one cracks.

Called in the Information Centre. Found out that Port Lincoln has two sites for self contained rv's at $10/night. Went shopping at Woolies. Came back and got Tuka and went to the park overlooking the harbour. Had a walk and took photos. As were coming back to the van Tuka's back legs collapsed. He couldn't walk at all. A local walking behind me offered to drive us to the vet. Diagnosis from the vet is that Tuka has CDRM (Chronic Degenerative Radiculo Myelopathy). It is also known as Degenerative Myelopathy (DM). Tuka was able to walk again as we left the vet so I decided to look for our next campsite.

Went for a drive out to see the self contained campsite at Billy Light's Point. Pretty spot with a small beach overlooking Porter Bay. The camp site though is a part of the bitumen car park set aside for the campers. On the way stopped at the Lincoln Cove Marina which has the fishing boats and tourist boats for swimming with tuna and white pointers (at different times and places).

Decided to drive down Fishery Bay near the end of the Eyre Peninsula. Stopped off at lookouts along the way. They provide views north towards Lincoln National Park. Campsite at Fisherys Bay is one the least scenic so far but it is out the wind, has some shade and provides easy access to the beach. Camping also possible up on the cliffs, very scenic but windy and unable to get Tuka to the beach. The beach is long, wide and has high cliffs at both ends. Tuka and I went for walks along the beach and in the adjacent coastal heath. Tuka was able to walk for about half an hour without side effects especially if there were rabbits to smell.

	Grain terminals at Port Pirie [Map]		Boats at Lincoln Cove Marina [Map]
	Looking towards the sand dunes of Lincoln National [Map]		Cliffs and beach at northern end of Fishery Bay [Map]

Cowleys Beach

Day 24 - Cowleys Beach

Cowleys Beach

Monday, 11 February 2013
Very windy night - van rocking - which continued into the morning. Cloudy morning but eventually they disappeared leaving a sunny day marred only by the cool wind.

I spent the day walking, reading, photographing and sorting photos on the computer. Too cool to swim. Tuka spent the day sleeping, walking and paddling in the ocean.

In the middle of the southern end of the beach is a rusted metal fence post. There is one on the rocks at the northern end. It appears that at one time the fences went down past the high tide mark.

	Looking south on Cowleys Beach [Map]		Remains of a fence post on rocks [Map]

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