THURSDAY 2ND APRIL 2009 – STREAKY BAY S.A. TO FOWLER’S BAY S.A. – DAY 24

We rise early today as we are going to head towards Ceduna. If we like Smoky Bay which is on the way we will stay there for a couple of nights.

Our packing up doesn’t seem to be getting any easier despite all efforts to pack away things the night before. As we are putting the awning away, I let the little piece of rope go (by mistake) and the awning, as it was rolling up, hits the side of the van and the screws are completely pulled out. We have to somehow, attach it with some rope but this is proving difficult as the awning is so heavy. I ask one of our neighbours if he can give us a hand, which he does and we get it in place.

We make enquiries at the local Service Station and they give us direction to a local Welder. The young chap is very helpful and tells us he can fix the problem if we can leave the van here for 1 ½ hours. So much for our early departure!!!

The van is manouvred and then unhooked and we drive into town to have a coffee and an early lunch. We sit on the deck of a local restaurant – The Mocean, with gorgeous views over the bay. We have a sandwich and coffee, and I buy some supplies and before we know it it is time to pick up the van.

The job is done, and is as good as new. We pay him and are off, heading towards Smoky Bay.

It is quite a pretty drive along the coast and we arrive into Smoky Bay. With a population of about 200, it is a really pretty little village but the caravan park is crowded and quite unappealing. As Jan would say lots of ‘grey nomads’. We decide to drive onto Ceduna and eventually end up in Fowler’s Bay. Our neighbours at Streaky Bay were heading to Fowler’s Bay for 2 weeks. They fish and as we are not really fishing people we are not sure it will suit us.

We stop of at “The Oyster Bar” on the highway just the other side of Ceduna. When we were here in 2005 we purchased the best oysters we had ever tasted from this little shop so hopefully, they still have the reputation of the best oysters ever!!
When we arrive at the little shop there are 2 ladies relentlessly opening the freshest and biggest juiciest oysters so I buy 2 dozen. At $9-00 a dozen I decide to buy 2 more dozen. We will be eating oysters for days (or 2 days at least)!! After buying petrol we head out of town towards Fowler’ Bay.

Jan and Alan phone us in the meantime and say they are 20kms the other side of Ceduna and will see us in Fowler’s Bay. As they love oysters too we remind them to stop at the Oyster Bar to get their oysters as well.

As we get to the turn off and drive the 24kms on to Fowler’s Bay we are overwhelmed at the site as we come over the rise. The view is spectacular. With the site of the blue ocean, white sand-hills and green vegetation we are keen to arrive at our camp site for the night.

Fowler’s Bay is a tiny seaside village. Dotted with 3 or 4 holiday houses, a caravan park on the oceanfront, a kiosk and jetty this is gorgeous.
We meet the Manager and he shows us to our site. We un-hitch and get set for the night. About 20 minutes later Jan and Alan arrive, are shown to their site (next to ours). They set up, do some washing and then join us for fresh oysters. We are not disappointed they are delicious.