Day 28 Wellington to Salt Creek 105kms

It was threatening rain again today but it really only drizzled for about 15 minutes, which was just enough to wet them and make them colder. We lost Ben again today with him going off viewing something but then not being seen again by anyone. He did turn up for lunch so I wasn't too worried for very long and he did send me a text today.

The scenery around the Coorong is spectacular even in the drizzle. The bird life is unbelievable and our bird book has come out a number of times today, trying to identify them. We spotted a large flock of pelicans flying in formation overhead during lunch. Peter managed to get a decent photo.

We stopped for lunch and was of course rewarded with the display of pelicans but then we were in camp by 1 pm. Quite a few camped today but the usual ones went into the dongers or cabins. Annie even camped today. Nice camp ground but some areas of the grass was very soggy and the facilities were a little ancient. Adam, the manager, is trying to do the place up and he has been spending quite a bit of money but it's a big job. He takes groups on fishing trips and hunting trips (deer). He is a bit of a go getter.
Annie and I went for a walk around "town" and found the local primary school that appeared to be fairly new but abandoned. All the windows were boarded up. We did a little wander around the school and found a tennis court, an amphitheater, a basketball court, a discovery centre and an area that looked to have had a swimming pool at some stage.

It was really eerie wandering through as it looked like the kids were removed in the middle of a class as everything was just left there. We had fun making up stories to what may have happened but spoke to the guy who lived next door and it was nothing sinister (as we had suspected). The school had been updated and expanded in 1999 and had about 30 students, then around 2005 the government stopped the school bus service and the school population dropped back to around 6 students. Then they decided to close the school.

The boys all watched the Wallabies vs the All Blacks with the All Blacks winning well and Jim donning his wallabies cap for Collis.
Collis shouted everyone a mullet dinner at the roadhouse tonight and there was very little left on their plates. It was pretty nice and followed nicely with some ice cream. Adam went out to light an open fire for the campground at around 8 pm but changed his mind when he found that half the group had already gone to bed and had turned the lights off around the area.
He had lots of mallee roots in the trailer and those of us still up would have enjoyed the treat but instead we stayed in the roadhouse chatting with a couple who had become stranded due to the hire vehicle they had breaking down.