The last week at Port Vincent just flew by (23/10-28/10). We spent days relaxing at the water’s edge and watching the tide come in. They have a school program that teaches the children about kayaking, sailing, windsurfing and water skiing. I took the dogs for a walk along the sand-bar at the spring low tide and watched the shells and crabs do their thing. At high tide we had rays come in right up to the stairs to the caravan park.

Sailing

Afternoon smming at Port Vincent

We spent an afternoon going to Stansbury, just down the road, to look at their very long jetty. The real point of interest however turned out to be the red sandstone cliffs close to the coast. They were full of holes that had been worn away by birds of ages past, but were now occupied by flocks of domestic pigeons that had turned feral and making their own way independent of man. Very interesting how quickly this happens! On the other hand we had a repeating ceremony play itself out where feral birds had become reliant on man. Every day the fishermen were gutting their catches at the cleaning station and feeding the pelicans that were loitering around all day long. When the pelicans opened their beaks they revealed a cavity big enough to swallow a baby, including pram. They have a little hole in their thorax through which they make a trumpeting sound; see pics.

Waiting for a meal.

Me please!

The next day our very friendly neighbour asked me to come along fishing on his boat ‘Duifken’ which is Dutch for little dove. We had a great day all around the coast catching squid, whiting and snook. The snook are around 30 to 55 cm in length, give you a good fight and taste great once you have prepared them properly. We had a great day and after a few beers later that evening. I was exhausted from all the fresh air and exercise. The cleaned fish and squid has been cryo-vacked and frozen for an evening meal of Salt & pepper squid, yum.

Duifken

Point Turton Caravan Park

Point Turton Tavern

Point Turton boat launch

Seascape

The following day we explored the foot of the Yorke Peninsula. We drove to Corny Point in the west and from there 5km along a good gravel road to the Corny Point lighthouse. It is in a great position at the north-west of the foot. There is a good swell running and in contrast to the flat bay it has a reasonable depth of water and rocks. There should be some good rock fishing to be had.

Dune flowers above the sea at Corny Point

Old Schoolhouse from the 1850s

Seascape at Corny Point

We then drove through a number of great little towns like Marion Bay, Yorktown, Edithburgh, Stansbury and Port Vincent, all of them charming. Back at Point Turton I did some fishing on the pier and ended up with some squid that I have frozen and will use as bait for some fishing later in this trip.

Point Turton Pier