Thursday, 25 April 2013

Back to the mainland

As I've said before, all good things must come to an end and on Monday morning it was time for me to make my way from Kangaroo Island back to mainland South Australia and back to Waikerie.

There was still a little lingering cloud from yesterday's rain, but the sun was definitely trying to make an appearance for my last look at Emu Bay.


On the drive to Penneshaw and the ferry we made a couple of stops for more looks at the spectacular coastline and surf of Kangaroo Island.  First stop was at Pennington Bay, a popular beach for surfing ... and just to sit and watch the waves.




A stop at Browns Beach was next,


and then one last stop before getting on the ferry.  In 1803 Captain Nicolas Baudin, the French explorer, anchored in Hog Bay (at what is now Penneshaw) and sent a party ashore to find fresh meat and water.  While waiting for the water casks to fill, one of the sailors carved on a nearby rock, "expedition de decouverte par le commandant Baudin sur le Geographe 1803".  Translated it reads, "Expedition of discovery by Captain Baudin in the Geographe 1803".  The original stone is now housed in the Visitor Information Centre in Penneshaw, and a replica, Frenchman's Rock, can be found under the white dome, at the exact spot on Hog Bay Beach.



Now it was time to get on the ferry and cross back over to Cape Jervis.




Leaving Kangaroo Island behind


The ferry to Kangaroo Island passed by while we were on our way back to the mainland.


Looking towards the mainland at Cape Jervis

Back on the mainland all that was left was the drive back to Waikerie.  We went 'home' a different way so a lot of the drive was 'new roads' for me.  At one point we crossed over the mighty Murray River at a town called Mannum.  There are actually two ferry crossings at Mannum, so while I was crossing over on one ferry


I could watch the second ferry glide past beside.


Nearing Waikerie we stopped for an ice-cream, and a look out over a bend in the Murray River and it's majestic red cliffs.

And now I am safely, and happily, back in Waikerie.

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