Betten On Bike: DAY 90 - 8TH JULY 2013

Day 90– 8th July 2013 - Smoky Bay to Venus Bay

Every morning is quite cold down here and the last few mornings the tent ‘room’ is totally soaked with condensation. Walter puts it down and rolls it up and places on the floor in the passenger side of the van. Later at usually our 2^nd stop I pull it out and hang it over the passenger door to dry so that when we erect it in the afternoon it is all aired and dry.

Cycling Stats: 150 kms

Cycling Average: 27.5 kms per hour

Today the plan is to head to Streaky Bay for coffee in a coffee shop – great as we haven’t been able to do this in a long time…. We also want to find out about the Lucky Bay Ferry crossing to take us over to Wallaroo. Best would be an early morning crossing as Walter intends cycling 160 kms after the 2 + hour ferry trip to the other side of the peninsula. Coffee is great and we meet two lovely friendly couples who have come to Streaky Bay for a holiday. They tell us that there has been a lot of rain where we are heading so fingers crossed it will all be gone by the time we get there.

Walter left and told me we need the Port Kenny Road. I found out there is only one crossing of the ferry and this is at 12pm on Thursday (as it is winter & there is only one service per day) so not sure if this will suit so I decide that I won’t book but will wait until I’ve had a chance to chat to him about it.

I take the road out of town and I don’t know how I did it but missed the turn-off to Port Kenny. Later I realize I am on the highway to Pochera so have to do a quick backtrack to Streaky Bay to find the correct road which is actually through the town so I didn’t miss it but silly me headed out of town the wrong way.

I put the foot down and luckily caught Walter 40kms before Port Kenny and we had our lunch break at a nice spot overlooking some wheat fields.

After lunch Walter continued on and I knew I had time to see Murphy’s Haystacks, some ancient billion year old groupings of boulders and pillars which I found very interesting – many years back from a distance they were thought to be very large haystacks and on the land belonging to a farmer called Murphy. We arrived in Port Kenny at the same time and after speaking to a local who reinforced what a friendly chap in Streaky Bay had told us that we should head to Venus Bay as it was very picturesque and quiet. So another 17 kms for Walter but when we arrived we knew we had made the right decision – what a pretty peaceful spot and the caravan park is located right next to the bay and the ladies we met in the office Linda and Trish are very friendly. This is a fantastic place to stay – thank you for your donation in allowing us to stay at no cost.

Walter told me that today was a headwind all the way and the first section was quite hilly so another challenging day in the saddle.

We set up camp at The Venus Bay Caravan Park with the most amazing waterfront view – the numerous water birds, the pristine blue bay and all so very peaceful being away from the highway. I decided to set out with the map and do a few of the local walks – first to Needle Eye Look-out and then to explore the South Head Walking Track – so wild, so natural – you can walk where you please and so you can go close to the cliff faces which is not possible in some of the more touristy areas of the Great Australian Bight. When I reached South Head lots of dolphins were surfing into the inlet and having a great time and I caught a quick glimpse of a sea lion as well.

Walter was keen for fish & chips and the Venus Bay Caravan Park also does take away seafood. Trish cooked up probably one of the best fish & chip meals we have ever had – the local King Whiting & the chips were delicious.

At 7pm off to the jetty as we had been told about something special – there are currently dolphins coming in to feed on white sea snakes in the evenings.

The white sea snakes were easy to spot in the moonlight and the dolphins came in close to the jetty to snare them - impossible to photograph but a unique experience to witness.