Footy and Netty Day on the Peninsula

Today was a long day and as we travelled 490kms so it was very good to finally stop tonight at a place called Maitland- which is the centre of the Yorke Peninsular. We plan to spend the next few days exploring.

Tuned into the local radio station as we started off this morning with Reeves and Beeves giving the Saturday morning sports reports. Actually we were tempted to stay to watch Tumby play Cummins as we saw the team list yesterday. Bum was picked to be full back in the Magoo Ressies. He sounds like he would star. Reeves talked about a team on the wrong side of young and the the netball gels that  that had a few big outs however Beeves listed some teams that were having a crack so guess they'll be the winners.

Tonight we are camped at the showgrounds with basic facilities but it is quiet. We are next to the ewe paddock and last night apparently a couple of lambs were born so might hear some bleating in the night. About half a dozen vans are here. We were instructed to put the plugs in to stop the mice getting into the van. Don't like that idea!! Walking the dog saw quite a few deaduns. Double yuk!! 

Back to the day. After an hour we stopped for coffee at Whyalla and the beach front was lovely .

Then it was on, and on, and on.....and on!! At one stage saw some mining in the distance. I put my camera on action freeze mode and with the camera poked out the window snap away while we zoom along at 100 km per hour. Get the odd good shot. This one is mining boys...not too far from Iron Knob.

We didn't stop at Port Augusta. I remember last time we stopped (20 years ago) and while we walking down the street one of the locals...warning Yuk information.... blew his nose of the T-shirts for sale and hanging outside the shop. Drove across the causeway and took a lovely shot of the smelly salt lake.  

  

 Lunch was at Port Pirie where there is lead smelter but at the moment nothing appears to be happening. Lead is so nasty environmentally. A bit of research tells a us about how toxic the smelter has been. 

"Port Pirie in South Australia is located about 225km north of Adelaide, the town’s residents have long known that their town’s 125-year-old smelter – one of the largest in the world – produces harmful emissions.

However the smelter is now destined for a new and hopefully future. Apparently a danish company is about to develop it.   

 The current smelter is to be turned into a multi-metal recycling facility and a big environment improvement is expected for the regional city.

It was obvious the area had rain as everything was so green, best we've ever seen it although I must admit all the other times we've travelled have been in summer.

We are now settled and I'm about to cook tea. As I type this Greg is trying to tune in the TV...getting frustrated as its not happening. Melbourne footy.... the AFL is on and all he can get is pixilated blur. Few choice words happening! We are tucked behind a shed so that may be the problem.....