Day 3 Charmaine was back from Adelaide, so we hung around the house, those two never stopping with changes, repairs, watering or cooking and cleaning up. I went in to Kingscote while Paul did some bits, and had a quick wander through.

We called to do bits and pieces along the way and back, like collecting manure in the trailer. I walked out, chatted with Bradley who lived on the property, Charmaine’s brother and visited their veg garden – to tomatoes, peppers (capsicums here), pumpkin, herbs etc. He’s deaf so doesn’t really speak, but he showed me round and we shared comments.

I walked the dogs around the house, as having saved a wild cat from the dogs earlier in the week Im wary of taking them too far nut the followed me!

Taj & Tikka

An easy day of some work on my ipad and websites, researching travel options to get back to Sydney at month end to move on to New Zealand, ans with yummy lunch and dinners cooked for me again so feeling very spoiled!!!

Day 4 was an organised trip to Seal Bay on the south coast where we watched seals about 10-30 feet away, sleeping, playing or coming from the water; a couple of feeding pups there too and strong waves on a lovely beach.

After that we lunched at Vivonne, then moved to Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch, and past the lighthouse, hearing stories of the areas we visited or drove through, and KI as a whole. They are very community minded, volunteer firemen and medics, helping neighbours with bushfires or groundwork, watching out for each other and helping wherever possible.

No cinema here but sports like netball, football, tennis and cricket, bowls, softball and card clubs for a start. Little if any crime and people don’t lock their doors anytime in case people need to wander in if they call to see you, to borrow something or even overnight. I did hear of the only two murders on the islamd ever too last night!!!

The cutest airport Ive visited!! 100 seater planes to be brought in next year instead of the 33 seat maximum now calling here…

Then we saw koalas in the trees at Koala Walk and an echidna quite happily hunting for ants whilst we followed him, photographing and watching his antics. A rare treat and something I wanted to see but didn’t expect to, as quite shy animals.

Also saw koalas on our travels, and roos at the dusk trip and possum on the roof at ‘home’.

Day 5 was chilled for me, busy for them, and then a drive out to Kingscote, not much open but coffee shops and souvenirs but interesting enough, and later to the West river area for dinner with Jim Chapman, a farmer with 2000 acres of land, 1500 sheep and 700 cattle. It was an insight into a manual lifestyle but creative and entrepreneurial mind with his plans and current development – his own hands and helpers – for a bigger b & b business. Although rough and ready it is what many people want in Australia – a wild, country bush experience …. with beautiful wild scenery!!!

On the way home from Jim’s along dark red dirt roads a roo ran out in front of the 4WD but I missed it other than a braking and gasp from Charmaine, then possums on the side, a wallaby waited on the road whilst we wemt by amd another hopped across higher up (or a bilboa??). Then a koala was on the road and Paul stopped, it crossed, its little white rump bobbling in the headlights. He turned in to it, so scared it ran forward in the road then off back to the side it came from, looking at us as we drove by and on. Not often seen on the ground, it was cute to see it bobble across!

Whilst sitting talking I saw a brown wren Paul pointed out, saying the blue fairy wren male was colourful, and a few seconds later I saw it over his shoulder too!!! Cute, with a long tail sticking up, and bright blue head and neck. A lovely, and again lucky, sight!

Day 6, today is Sunday and my last day on the island sadly. There are limited buses off to Adelaide and the last ferry at 7.30 from Penneshaw which Im booked on, so leaving Kingscote at 5.30 from The Gallery (although two galleries, this gas a bus stop nearby! 🕔

 

Today I soaked up the seaview from my room, stripped thened as Im not a paying guest, walked out with the dogs to the field and sat in various places writing these blogs! Now Im sat at the sea front in Kingscote finishing off, listening to the lapping gentle waves against the rocks. Its a warm day and blue skies with light wispy clouds alone, people laughing against this very quiet town on Kangaroo Island. What a lovely week Ive spent here. 😃