ADVrider - A few days exploring the Limestone Coast (South Australia)

The plan for this trip was to head down to the “Limestone Coast” for a couple of days of scenic riding. With my partner in crime Paul living in Victor, we organised to meet at the turnoff to Wellington on Highway 1.
This called for a quick buzz up the South Eastern Freeway
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p>http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01729.jpg</o:p>
Before stopping for fuel and some breakfast at Tailem Bend
<o:p>http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01731.jpg</o:p>
The river is flowing nicely
<o:p>http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01732.jpg</o:p>
<o:p>http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01734.jpg</o:p>
Soon we met at the turn off

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01735.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
And then headed off to some dirt. First to get a bit of air out of those tyres

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01736.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
Before finding some nice tracks south

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01737.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
Then the nice tracks became a little bit sandy

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01740.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
Until the combination of weight and lack of skill found us zig zagging around followed by falling off

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01739.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
With steep dunes in the distance we chickened out and turned to look for another way on. But first a bit of a breather was called for at Malinong (nice little spot for a break)

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01741.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
After being tempted once more

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01742.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
We soon found some less sandy tracks and headed south once more

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01744.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
Mt Boothby Conservation Park provided some interesting tracks

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01745.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
And then on to Messent Conservation Park

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01743.jpg

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01747.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
And more tracks until we popped out at Salt Creek

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01746.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
The burgers weren’t bad (and popular by the looks of it :huh)

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01749.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
Then it was on to check out Tea Tree Crossing

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01750.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
When the Coorong levels are low it’s possible to get across the water of the upper Coorong to the ocean beach on the other side. With water levels now so high through the entire system this wasn’t an option

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01751.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
We then picked up the old road that winds its way through the Coorong National Park. There’s just something about the temptation of a salt lake

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01753.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
And picking the right moment to decide when it’s time to turn around!

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01752.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
After weaving our way through the park we eventually got down onto the beach at the “Granites”. Aptly named as it consists of a few big granite rocks sticking out of the sand :lol3

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01758.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
I nice place to drop a line… or laze around it you’re a seal :wink:

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01760.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
From there the beach stretches in both directions for many kilometres. For us it was south again along the hard packed sand to Kingston

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01762.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
Then it was on towards Robe and a camp somewhere for the night. Pine forests always provide a good place for some stealth camping, so the search for a good spot began.

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01763.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
It wasn’t long before we found somewhere right out of the way to set up camp and unpack

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01765.jpg

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01766.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
Next morning still had us heading south but via some nice out of the way (very old) tracks

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01767.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
One in particular followed close to one of the many drainage streams that criss cross the whole area. Lots of nice future camp sites out here :wink:

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01770.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
Even the gates were unlocked :clap

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01771.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
A few quaint little bridges

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01772.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
Until we came to Woakwine Cutting not far from Beachport
<o:p></o:p>
Back in the 1950’s a farmer decided to try and organise a channel from the swamp on one part of his property across a range to give him access to more water. After disagreements with the Drainage Board re the plan he decided to go it alone and the 8 Kilometre channel including the 1 kilometre long, 30mt deep cutting is the result. Only took him 3 years and 5000hrs on a Caterpillar D7!

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01774.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
Now on the way north we picked up some nice trails and headed towards Bool Lagoon

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01776.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
We wanted to ride around the lagoon and check it out but the idea of paying an entrance fee to ride in a few kms of National Park put us off on principle (don’t start me on SA National Parks and Wildlife.. :baldy)

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01777.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
With it getting a later in the day it was time to start searching around for a suitable campsite.

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01778.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
After checking out a few likely areas we found and old fence that was (sort of) laying down

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01779.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
That led cross country through some scrub land

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01780.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
To a nice sheltered camp

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01782.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
Where we soon had a fire going

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01787.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
Next morning we filled up at Padthaway

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01789.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
in the heart of grazing and grape growing country

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01792.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
then north on to Keith for a late breakfast

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01793.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
before attempting a shortcut

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01794.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
that once again ended in retreat :lol3

http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC01796.jpg

<o:p></o:p>
After back tracking it was soon on to the Wellington turn off, then a quick sprint home up the freeway.

A top few days with plenty to check out on a return trip sometime soon!

Cheers:thumb