The Flinders Highway is a stretch of road linking the towns of Cloncurry and Townsville in Queensland.
I did not drive that road today.
Instead I was on the other Flinders Highway, the one that connects Port Lincoln with Ceduna.
Total length is about 400km and along the way there are half a dozen towns with the best beaches I have seen so far on this trip.
After leaving Port Lincoln the first stop was Coffin Bay, a town named by Matthew Flinders in honor of his friend Sir Isaac Coffin. Flinders' French rival, Nicolas Baudin, gave it an alternative French name of Baie Delambre, which translates as Delambre Bay, probably named after the French astronomer Jean Baptiste Delambre. I think the town lucked out with the English name.
Coffin Bay is best known for its oyster farming - Coffin Bay Oysters are thought to be one of the best in Australia.
Oyster beds can be seen throughout the waters, around the town.
The scenery around the town is spectacular.
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| OK, It looked better IRL |
This caught my eye. A family of emus wandering around the town scavenging for food.
Getting back on the highway, I noticed that most of the traffic consisted of three types of vehicles - Road trains (especially the three trailer types), grey nomads (lots of them) and oversized tractors towing grain harvesters (it's that time of the season). One particular beast of a tractor took up both lanes of the highway which would have been impossible to pass. He was kind enough to pull right over for me and a few nomads.
I had schedule a break at a place called Cummings Lookout, named after a boating accident 60 years ago.
Morning Tea was at Elliston, a picture perfect small town in the middle of absolutely nowhere (about 200km from Port Lincoln). Apart from great beaches and a fantastic bakery (pie review below) it also had its main hall (The Elliston Community Agricultural Hall) entirely covered in murals. The sign out the front indicated that this was the largest community mural in the Southern Hemisphere.
In the middle of nowhere.
Lunch was at the pub in Venus Bay. Did I mention that this stretch of road had glorious beaches?
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| Pauly the Pelican - named after a local family |
After lunch I passed through Streaky Bay, which had a sculpture of their favourite son, jockey Kerrin Mcevoy.
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| Great beach at Streaky Bay |
The final town (more like hamlet) was Smokey Bay.
An exploration of Ceduna tomorrow, intermingled with another work day. The weather will be hot (35 degrees) so will be keeping it easy.
PIE REVIEW
It occurred to me that I hadn't yet reviewed a standard meat pie. Elliston Bakery became the lucky bakery to provide me with that opportunity.
This was one of the larger pies I have had, and was very well priced at $6.30.
The crust was flaky on the top and firm around the side and bottom, which you want.
The meat was perfectly cooked and seasoned.
I cannot fault this pie.
This is going to go just below the Steak Bacon and Tomato Pie from Meningie Bakery.
Podcast of the day: WILOSOPHY - Sammy J: The Hardest Part of Leaving Breakfast Radio.
- Comedian Wil Anderson has been creating these in depth interview style of podcasts for many years. In what would have been the most fortuitous timing (or deliberately staged, given these are recorded sometimes months ahead), Wil interviewed Sammy J, who had just announced his retirement from breakfast radio on ABC Melbourne. These interviews can go for over two hours, however can be some of the best listening around.
Total km traveled: 3,242
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