The hardships of bush camping in Australia
On the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia
After months/years of bush camping through Africa and Asia, Poor John and I are finding it doggone easy to do the same in Australia.
We’re on a month-long road trip from Canberra to Perth and back.
We’ve brought plenty of BOOKS, some toiletries, a few changes of clothes and shoes, a tent and groundsheet, two roll mats, two sleeping bags, two pillows, two camping chairs, a 12-litre water thermos, some cooking gear, some dry food staples, a 22-litre Esky/ice chest that holds most of what we need to keep chilled, and a few other bits and pieces. Plus I brought a bag full of food magazines and cookbooks (as reference for my cooking blog), the laptop (seemingly attached to my hip), music, phone and a collection of chargers.
Poor John has quickly resumed his role as fire master (although sometimes he has to haul out the little gas camp stove), and I’m back to cooking. There are friends out there who would be thrilled to know that I haven’t yet cooked with chickpeas/garbanzos or lentils, but I brought three tins of them, so the opportunity is looming.
We’ve found some wonderfully scenic places to camp and/or have meals, and I was rather pleased to make rolled omelettes one day when we stopped for a late breakfast.
In the Grampians in Victoria
Poor John is especially pleased that he has managed to buy a newspaper almost every day. He reckons life would be perfect if it was still cricket season and the matches were being broadcast on the radio.
So far the only hiccups have been rain (twice), the mosquitos in Seymour and the outrageous amounts of money that get charged for petrol in the Outback—$2.04 a litre on the Nullabor Plain!
Oh, and I’m not very happy with my new camping pillow. It’s a good brand, but disappointing—hard and lumpy. I might as well lay my head on my shoes or a rock.
A quick meal before crossing into South Australia and having to ditch all our fresh fruit and veg. Eat it or toss it!
Where to next? 
Hi Peggy,
I’m trying to comment on only every second or third post. Jan and Russ’s son’s veggie garden looks like a very professional enterprise. Those veggies looked really good; as did the food you cooked up with them. I’m not surprised to hear that travelling across Australia is relatively easy for you after your recent international overland trips. I hadn’t realised you’d taken cook books and cooking magazines with you although I was suspicious! I’m sorry your new pillow is disappointing and please tell John that some of us are relieved that it’s no longer cricket season. That’s a lovely photo too of John near Lake Eyre. So peaceful! What are the roads like crossing the desert? I hope they’re not too bumpy. Happy cooking and travelling and stay safe.
Best wishes
Louise
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The veggies were excellent and so plentiful. Poor John is looking out over Streaky Bay, but sitting on the Eyre Peninsula. It was a lovely setting. The desert has been easy, and much more varied than I expected. Stay tuned.
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You guys are a kick in the pants. Susan
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And you’re a character! 🙂
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You have to eat or toss fresh items going into South Australia??
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It’s all to prevent the spread of fruit fly and other bugs. We ate/gave away everything before hitting South Australia, but had to throw out two things (a bulb of garlic and some chillies) as we crossed into Western Australia. The guy at the border was great. He said ‘squeeze the lime on the greens and you have a salad, and can keep both.’ So we did and, as instructed, ate it at the next meal. Too easy.
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