Nature is constantly inventing and reinventing extraordinary events for us to discover. The Blue Lake in Mount Gambier shines with a vivid aqua hue about its shoreline today. Arrive here at the right time of year and the entire lake is fluorescent aqua in its entirety. Whilst sprinting (ha ha) about the 5km perimeter of the lake this morning, remnants of volcanic action that created the lake, tantalised my inquisitive nature and brought me to a brief halt (have to keep the bpm up, ha ha). The layering here are actual materials thrown out of the volcano when the lake formed. Limestone, basalt, glass, and other stuff for me to view and touch oh so many years later.

• 

• 

• 

• 

Around half way around, we found ourselves in China. I was compelled to climb the wall, hoping to meet a Shaolin Monk on my brief, yet life fulfilling epic pilgrimage. Didn’t happen. The view from the top was spectacular. So much so, that I completely forgot to take a photo from those heights. With my heart pounding and obvious cerebral hypoxia, photographic decisions were eliminated. Actually, there was a water tank at the top.

• 

• 

Driving further west has allowed us the beauty of experiencing Autumn all over again. It has been months from when we originally experienced Autumn in Tenterfield, with trees bursting the pantone colour ranges with all their might. Again in SA we have these moments of joy.

Melbourne doesn’t have autonomy over the Crowded House song “Four seasons in one day”. Don’t be fooled by that blue sky and no sign of clouds. They can magically manifest producing manic moments.

• 

• 

• 

• 

A short drive from Mt Gambier takes us to Carpenters Rocks. A day with turbulent gusting winds and angry seas. Colour aplenty in the ocean, crisp knife sharp waves break through the bays rocky gateway. Outcrops as sharp as can openers silently wait , ready to tear apart boats, ships and unwary sailors, fishermen or cruising guests. Many have seen their last days right here. A lightly protected bay with a marginally less aggressive channel, gives this small town its industry. A fishing village, with a very long history. A place with raw beauty that must be discovered.

• 

• 

• 

• 

Flake, chips and gravy inhaled (it was soooooooooooo good) from the only shop, exploration is now at hand. Headlands to scale over, lighthouses spotted, rugged coasts and the privilege to place the first set of footprints on the beach that day.

You know the walking tracks are serious around here when the “shared path signs” refer to snakes and people.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Once we spotted the lighthouse and found out that you can drive there; it was as Russell Coight says, “time to hit the road”… A spot of 4WDing in the dunes, and getting sea sick in the largest corrugations known to man. Mandy says it was like being in a boat out to sea. I agreed. We arrive at a small camping ground, dodge a feral cat, drop the cruiser back into second and climb the last dune. Round the last corner we are presented with Southern Ocean delights.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Farming vistas with healthy animals bound around us. In fact, there are literally hundreds of newborn lambs and young cows. The small herd of angus cows below ran away from me initially. Shortly they ran back in an inquisitive yet cautious manner. I don’t think they see too many people walking their fence line.

• 

• 

• 

•