Blue Lake

Day 117 – Mount Gambier to the Grampians, Australia

I escaped my jail at the correct time of 9am and went to see the Blue Lake, a landmark of Mount Gambier. Apparently, in the space of a few days in November, the lake turns a vivid shade of blue. It was still blue enough for me, and I took quite a few pictures (see gallery) while walking around it.

Mount Gambier, the Blue Lake

I took the van back downtown for a quick stop at Woolworths’, and got a surprise when trying to leave again… no engine starting up when I turn the key! I tried moving the steering wheel, opening and closing what I could, nothing did a thing. So I called the emergency number for my rental agency, thinking they would tell me to jiggle something to loosen something else and magically unblock the situation.

Instead, they called someone to come have a look. That’s when I appreciated that one, I got a full insurance coverage, and two, I was stuck in the parking lot of a major supermarket in a major city, and not in a rest stop in the middle of nowhere, without phone reception.

Which could have really happened, since according to the man who looked at the car, the last person having worked on the van hadn’t tightened a thingy enough on the battery. So it could have happened at any time. Like, when I was driving at night last evening on long stretches of empty highways and stopping at rest stops -hum no, I don’t stop at night at random rest stops if I can avoid it, actually- so I could have been stranded instead in the Coorong National Park.

At least, I can sleep on my van. And I have plenty of water and food.

So basically, it was resolved in 5 minutes tops. I still lost (only) an hour over it waiting for the intervention, and it put me a bit behind on my plans, but not overmuch.

As long as I could arrive before 5 at the visitor centre in Halls Gap to get a map of the Grampians to start early the next day.

And since the time went forward half an hour when I crossed the state’s line, it was not in my favour.

But I got there on time, got some good information (including where to find a free campground), got to the other visitor’s information centre to get my map and more advice, and drove 11km on an unsealed (hard, wide, dusty dirt road) road to the Plantation campground.

I parked, noticed the kangaroos grazing in the central area, and took advantage of the remaining light to prepare the back of the van. Doing it at night does add a layer of fun, but I thought to reserve it for another time.

The Grampians – Plantation campground – Kangaroos passing to join their friends

The quality of my videos are phone quality, so not really good, but still it is interesting.

The Grampians – Plantation campground – Kangaroos jumping

See how the baby kangaroo is looking from its mother’s pouch? Well, when mother is grazing, baby can also reach the grass and eat.

The Grampians – Plantation campground – Baby and mother are grazing

I ate diner watching the kangaroos graze, I thought it was quite convivial.

I was grateful to have a thick duvet to sleep under, as it is still cold outside, and of course the car isn’t heated at night. But I slept very well.