Big Trip 24 - Day 8 (Yorke Peninsula)

 The Yorke Peninsula is that bit of land that is opposite Adelaide with the St Vincent Gulf being the water between the two.

The total area of the peninsula is about 8,900 square kilometres. By way of comparison, the Mornington Peninsula is 723 square km, so about a twelfth the size of the Yorke. 

And I explored most of it today.

Much of the land is used for agriculture with wheat and barley the main crops. In fact, Minlaton, a town on the Yorke, has been called the barley capital of the world, due to the successful growing of that crop.

The Peninsula is also a tourist draw-card for its beaches, and many Adelaidians spend their weekends away here, so the comparison with Mornington Peninsula is apt.

However that wasn't why I was here.

It was for the art.

You may or may not know that "Silo Art" is a growing trend in Australia. Dozens of grain silos and water tanks have been the blank canvas for murals, often depicting, fauna, flora or the history of the area. Whilst these have been around for over a decade, they have really gained in popularity over the last 4 or 5 years, with a lot of funding from these projects coming from State and Federal Governments, no doubt in the hope of trying to boost tourism in the region.

Well they have sucked me in. Big time. I am a huge fan.

Like a lot of these things, a website has sprung up in the last couple of years to help you find this art, together with an app for your phone, as well as a printed guide, calendars etc.

Here is my guide:

As it so happens, the Yorke Peninsula is home to 10 of these. 

YP stands for Yorke Peninsula, in case you havent caught on yet.

And I visited all of them today.

Here are a few of my favourites:

In the middle of nowhere (Minlacowie). Emus are the totem animal for the Garrdi clan of the east

In Wool Bay - This won a Street Art Design award in 2023

Port Vincent - Unfortunately viewing this closer was difficult as the tower was on private property.

Kadina, the main town in the area. Depicting the rich copper mining history of the region (with its colour, not with the bride. No explanation was provided there).

In addition the the Silo Art, there were other spots of artwork around the towns, including these two:

This was only part of a featured wall on the council offices in Ardrossan. showing the history of the region

On the outside walls of the toilet at Weaners Flat Reserve. A class above your city graffiti.

Did I only look at art? Here is me standing in front of the ocean baths in Edithburgh.

The water was cold.

 The Yorke Peninsula is also very well know for its salt lakes. There is salt lake trail that I didn't follow. I did however take a photo of one of these lakes.

Tonight, after catching up with friends for tea, the pièce de résistance appeared with a light shown on a grain silo, about 2 minutes from where I am staying in Wallaroo:

 

 

PIE REVIEW

 

I almost didn't provide one today. Sundays seem to be the day of rest for bakeries across the Yorke. It wasn't until a little before 3 this afternoon when I found a bakery in Ardrossan that was about to close. They didn't have any pies left, however they did have a sausage roll. So here is the sausage roll review.

 

 Flaky on the outside and well seasoned meat on the inside. This was a big beast, and is the sausage roll you want when you haven't eaten all day. Cost was $6 (I think). Would buy again. 

The word is that this is a very good bakery. I am disappointed that I wasn't able to try any of their pies, this time around.

Podcast of the day: The Junkees - Dave O'Neil and Kitty Flanagan. 

- Two comedians providing honest review of all things snacky, both sweet and savoury.

 

Total km travelled 2,401