After dinner and after I was finished writing my daily log, two Aussies came to the camp kitchen and started cooking on the BBQ. We chatted and teased and then they invited my to their cabin for beer and to meet their families. They were just as crazy as the ones who took me fishing in the middle of the night in Kalbari. The “party” broke up at 9 when the kids needed to go to bed. Great time. Left Ceduna and headed south on the Flinders Highway, B100, towards Port Lincoln at the bottom of the Eyre Peninsula. Did not get too far today. Stopped in Smoky Bay for lunch
then on to Streaky Bay. Drove to Cape Bauer (pronounced locally as “Boor”) and heard the whistling blowholes. Made a loop back to town and spent the night. A place right on the beach. Could not get any better.
Day 102 November 9 Sunday
Left the nice beach camp and headed south over 60 km of dirt roads to Cape LaBlatt to the only
main land based sea lion colony . Saw about 30 or so of all ages. Most were sleeping in the sun. Nice day, very little wind in the morning. Stopped at Haystack Hills on the way back to Flinders 
Highway. Neat weathered granite formations. On the main road passed a road to Black Point. Got its name I am told by a local man whose grandmother, born and raised in the area, told him that the early settlers of the Eyre Peninsula had rounded up the aboriginal people and pushed them over the cliffs there. Sad history. Further south stopped by Talia caves. One is called Woolshed cave 
and the other The Tub. Drove down to near the southern tip of the Eyre Peninsula to Coffin Bay and spent the night at the National Park. Saw an osprey with a fish so big it had a hard time flying.
Woolshed cave
Day 103 November 10 Monday
After breakfast headed out to see the sights in the park. Went to Cape Avoid which is a good name because of all the islands and reefs around. Stopped in Port Lincoln to check to see why Bank of America did not send me 
email about October bill. Site would not let me log on. Something as to “can’t with that credit card number’? Will have to call them later. I have sent money anyway to cover especially 
since I am using the ATM now to get cash. Headed out to Lincoln NP. Dirt roads all in the park. Went to Taylors Beach, September Beach, Donington Lighthouse. Decided to spend the night at September Beach. Very nice place.
Day 104 November 11 Tuesday
Left September camp in the morn’, and headed back out of the 
park after stopping and hiking up Stamford Hill. This hill was used by 
Flinders when mapping the area. Nice views of the surrounding area. A 45 minute return trip. Drove to Cowley to Harbor View Caravan Park. Washed my sleeping bag. As it was drying, I went to squeeze water out and got stung by a honey bee. Took some anithistamines to counteract the effect. No problem with swelling. It was there getting water. Will have to be careful when putting it back into the van. It is definitely warmer again. Suppose to have gotten to 31 degrees C (around 88 F) in Adelaide today
Day 105 November 12 Wednesday
Left Cowley and headed north. At Port Augusta with cheap petrol of 1.36 $C, headed north on the Stuart highway. This would take me back to Ayres Rock if I continued on it. Very hot today ( heard it had been 36 C in Port Augusta) and very high winds. Weather forecast said wind warnings. I believe it. Spent the night a Pimba which is a day’s drive from Coober Pedy. Coober Pedy apparently had 43 degrees. Met an interesting Aussie man who has been traveling around for many years. Went to the nearby road house together for a few beers.
Day 106 November 13 Thursday
Strong winds overnight and a thunderstorm in the morning. But a lot cooler. Headed north to Coober Pedy, “Opal Capital of the World”. Checked to find a certain Greek opal dealer/miner for a rock club member. Got a hold of him and may go see his mine in the morning. Stayed at the Stuart Caravan park for the night. Nice pool. Cooler today but still warm.
Underground houses
Day 107 November 14 Friday
After breakfast tried to get a hold of the opal man but no one answered the phone. Went looking 
around town at some of the stores, mostly underground, churches, etc. It is not a tidy town. Piles of dirt all over, junk, and most of the stores are dirty looking. If you are not an opal miner, opal dealer or buyer, or opal customer there is not much else. I found out they have Croatian, Greek, and Italian clubs which have very nice facilities. Went out of town a ways to see a section of the
dingo fence. Desolate area east of town. Called the opal guy again and he may come and see me this evening. He has to open up the Greek club at 6:30. He sounded very busy. They did not work at the mine today. Cooler today. Very pleasant. Found out they can now make synthetic opals as well as chemically and heat treat them to make them look better. One of the most common things to do is to take a very thin piece of nice opal, put it on a dark substrate and cover it with quartz.
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