Day 25 (25/9) – On from Meningie towards the Fleurieu Peninsula

Great morning. Breakfast in the sun admiring the lake. Good day for windsurfing but considered the water might be too cold to risk (and himself from the icy wastes of the UK!). Out of the park before 10 am. A first!! Took the ferry across to Wellington (hadn’t realised this was required going this way but very nice interlude) with the aim of getting down to Deep Creek CP for the night. Looking forward to camping in the Conservation Park and utilising some of the benefits of the park pass we had. Also the Stringybark campground had been highly recommended by the parks officer in Naracoorte (hot showers and everything!). Stopped for late morning tea in Strathalbyn. Lots of historic stone houses and buildings, some galleries and good coffee. On to Goolwa and brief stop to admire some very good wildlife (mostly birdlife) paintings at the Porter St Wildlife Gallery. Through Victor Harbour and down to Deep Creek CP. Great anticipation for this, as the parks officer in Naracoorte had highly recommended Stringybark campground. All sites taken when we arrived! Disaster!  Had to turn around and head back to a regular van park in Victor Harbour. Perhaps try again Monday in hopes that mainly weekend campers (although also first weekend of school holidays so perhaps only faint hope of free site!). Further disaster (about time we had a few more disasters on this trip as blog becoming downright boring)! Water tank on van overflowing when system connected up for mains water plus 12V water pump non-functional! Fortunately still have hand pump so not really that much of a disaster – oh well!

After fiddling around for a while Chris decided he could probably pull it all apart and fix things if he could get parts (good luck with it being Sunday tomorrow). Only slightly worrying, with ever so faint visions of huge puddles of water forming in the cupboards and bits of piping leaking in all directions. But I have faith (really).