Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Millicent




Back on the mainland with some sunshine so stopped at Morgan’s beach for an hour for some lunch and the kids to play on the beach once again. Cheese and bickies on the beach whilst the kids wore off heaps of energy climbing massive sand dunes and tumbling down. Packing up to leave when Morgie came running up saying her mouth was burning, but sure she hadn’t swallowed anything, we had all eaten the same as her so couldn’t work it out. Out to check out the wind farm – Gordon is fascinated by them but this turned into a very brief inspection as Morgie became progressively more distressed, though thankfully no breathing difficulties. Panadol and lignocaine spray gave no relief so progressively emptied our ice box for her to suck during the 50 km north to the nearest doctor. Nil insight given here other than give panadol as needed and there seemed to be nothing that was going to give further problems other than possibly a head cold threatening.
Had hoped to make Mt Gambier but as with all doctors they were running behind so stayed in Wellington, a sneeze of a town on the mouth of the Murray. Quick pack up in the morning in an attempt to beat the rain then to the ferry to cross the river before heading south, just making it before it stopped for an hour’s tea break (no kidding). Headed down the coast trying to beat the wind and rain, stopping in Kingston SE for lunch which proved we had not managed to be ahead of the elements. Quick look around the sundials which proved ineffective today though quite an ingenious with one where you stood in a particular spot depending on time of year, you could use your own shadow to tell the time. Jack got to have a couple of quick spins around the skate park before Morgie used a puddle to slow her down by laying in it.
Headed off down the coast again finding none of the windblown rain squalled bays too appealing, (though I’m sure they are quite beautiful in better weather) to call a stop in Millicent, a fair size town about 50 km north of Mt Gambier where we found a van park with brand new cabins which only blew our budget by a little and were twice as big as any we had stayed in previously. Planning to use this as a base for a few days to save on wet pack up. Very thankful for this when it started bucketing and blowing again at near 100km/h. Prior to this the kids had managed to fill an hour on the trampoline and sandpit feeling quite at home.
The kids caught the day's rain free hour at the park in the morning, an immense complex sponsored by Kimberley Clarke but boasting an excellent skate park, incredible playground with little areas for all ages including a work out area for adults with much of the equipment you would find in a gym whilst I fought with bureaucracy, X@##@** banks.
Decided to check out the local museum during the next deluge and was very pleasantly surprised, a very big steam train display which the kids spent quite a time playing "Bond ...James Bond....."on, and restored horse drawn carriage collection next to yet another ship wreck display (everyone has claimed a shipwreck for themselves). Throw in a literal maze of local area historical paraphernalia with a small tribute to the indigenous community and every old farm machinery that they could round up from the back shed of every local farm and the boys managed to be very entertained for the rest of the day with just a brief intermission for lunch. An incredibly large and well maintained display for such a small town.
Squeezed half an hour of rain free time in in the afternoon during which we explored the Lake McIntyre which is the old quarry turned into a bird sanctuary - the only birds brave enough to show themselves were the seagulls, but a great place to get in a bit of a stroll and relieve the cabin fever.
The park we were staying in had a beautiful brazier that Jack had been keen to light since our arrival, made an attempt to have dinner around the fire in memory of the Tanamai but even this came to a screaming halt with a sudden shower dousing the fire and us.
Spent the night hoping the van wasn't being blown off the cliff during yet another onslaught from above. It is now three weeks that we have been plagued by rain.

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