Robe to Donovans and everywhere in between

Having decided that Robe is an enchanting place to stay, we considered what little side trips we might make. Where might we go to by bus for example? What about Mt Gambier? The Visitors Information Centre, helpful as always, delivered the great news. Yes, there is a bus to Mt Gambier. Excellent! When does it go? It leaves Thursday and comes back Friday. Mmmmmm, computer says NO!

On laughingly explaining this revelation to Mick and Verity Quinlan-Watson (local sailors, farmers and wine growers), Verity immediately piped up that we should go with them on an excursion instead. The departure day and time was set and the Bloke and I were ready with a basket of food to compliment Verity's provisions. What an EPIC day out. We left at 11am and came back at 10.30pm!

Verity, our most energetic tour leader.... ever!

It turned out to be a calm day and Mick needed to seize the day for spraying his vines so our outing began with Verity alone before collecting her brother from near Mt Gambier for part of the safari. After sharing a few local sights such as Long Beach (approx 12km), local lakes and waterways that are really a continuation to The Coorong, Verity showed us Beach Port and Port MacDonnell - the latter is proclaimed as Australia's Southern Rock Lobster capital. Since these locations are potentially our next cruising destinations it was great to have a chance to eyeball them. The Bloke's discussions with the local Robe  crayfishermen revealed that moorings existed in those bays and could be used. The proprietor's mobile number is generally on the buoy and a courtesy call is always welcomed. Right now the crayboats are all out of the water, just as they are in Robe. All very encouraging news, though having now seen the extent of the surf and reefs on a calmish day, we are considerably less excited by these possibilities. The swell will need to be teeny-tiny before considering them. Suddenly another overnighter is looking quite appealing!

 

The Bloke with tour director Verity and brother Gilbert

Our lunch stop with our picnic was to a house boat belonging to Verity's brother Gilbert at Donovans, not far from the Victorian border. The Kingfisher is one of only 11 permitted houseboats on the Glenelg River. A houseboat licence is highly sought after and it was not hard to understand why.  Although we didn't get there until around 2:30pm it was so very worth the trip.

 The outlook from 'The Kingfisher' across the Glenelg River.

It is a special and tranquil refuge for Gil and his wife.

 There are also some holiday shacks. 

As and when the owners die, the shacks are being demolished.

Verity readying to salute the day.

Our buns in foil looking decidedly 'ordinaire' compared with sandwiches on silver trays!

 Just ducking... er.... mucking about

The river flows out to sea at Nelson and is tidal. 

It's salinity has saved it from being used for irrigation.

We drove over kilometres and kilometres of mostly v e r y flat grazing farmland until we reached the Mt Gambier district. The city itself, while not enormous (population around 30,000), is South Australia's second biggest after Adelaide.  It is very interesting geologically since it is the site of a couple of long extinct volcanoes. Mt Gambier itself is one of these. Blue Lake is one of the remnant craters and provides the town water supply being fed from deep artesian aquifers. It's up to 70m deep in places. This lake is renown for turning a striking shade of blue in November each year. The reason is unexplained.

 

Blue Lake around 5pm

It is bluish but Gil was very apologetic that it was not more so

 Another nearby crater lake surrounded by recreational parkland

 

Gil shared a view over his pond before we headed back towards Robe at dusk.

The finale for the day was an impromptu dinner stop at Mick and Verity's farm house. Astounding hospitality to complete a brilliant day and toasted by none other than one of Mick and Verity's own Governor Robe red wines. Cheers!