DAY 63 - PORT LINCOLN SA

PORT LINCOLN SA

DAY 63

Whalers Way, Fur Seals, Cape Carnot Blowhole, Theakstone Cravasse, Lincoln Night Trails.

And thanks to Jeff for taking me out and allowing me to enjoy all these Port Lincoln experiences.

The past 48 hours have unfolded in a completely unique and unexpected way.

There can be no amount of planning that can account for the way things like this turn out and it is exactly what makes life interesting.

It is also what attracts me to the idea of becoming a professional traveller although this may be a way off just yet.

A day's excursion to the privately owned Whalers Way is an uncommon travel experience - mainly because you do in fact need a permit to access the area - but also because Port Lincoln in general is not a major attraction on the radar of many travellers.

For the sake of Lincoln iteslf, this probably needs to change - but for anyone who should make the effort to come and explore one the southernmost points on the world map, then it is pure bonanza.

Whalers Way is part of an area mapped out by the 18th century explorer Matthew Flinders and a lot of what he came across features throughout the sanctuary.

Massive 400 ft sawtoothed limestone cliffs, desert islands, cravasses, caves, bays, beaches, blowholes, fur seal colonies and incredibly powerful rock formations litter the small but wild strip of coastline that has been carved by centuries of extremity in the Great Southern Ocean.

On location nearby also is one of Australia's biggest wind farms - perfectly situated on a west-facing bluff to capture enough kilo-giga-watts to power the entire Eyre Peninsula - and if exploited effectively, would surely power all of South Australia and beyond.

It is but a grand vision at present, although with 36 working operational mills, it should be at the very least considered a big green step in the right direction.....

It is difficult however, not to wonder how much longer this beautiful area can remain as naturally powerful and untouched as it is.

Tourism would bring in good dollars for certain, but with booming tuna farms and grain exports, Lincoln is not exactly struggling for survival.

As much as it is generally a shame for people to bypass it, Lincoln can probably afford to let everyone keep believing they are getting their money's worth on the Great Ocean Road and gloating for days after seeing the 12 Apostles and London Bridge.

I personally reckon they have something more impressive, even though the tourist brochures maybe aren't quite up to speed just yet.

After a day of clifftop marvelling and world-class oceanscapes, Jeff then had me tag along for the experience of a Port Lincoln nightride - cutting across the leg-burning hillsides and backtracks of Lincoln's topography and finishing up along the soon to be bicycling-integrated Parnkalla Trail.

The "Peninsula Pedallers" collective have in just these past 2 days, made a successful submission to Lincoln Council for a comprehensive upgrade of said trail as well a more user-compatible completion of the existing bike lane into Port Lincoln, which would ideally eliminate the need for any roadside death within the city limits.

I had already formed the opinion that the entry into Lincoln was one of the friendlier I have expereienced on this trip, but it is something of an inspiration that a small group of locals are actually lobbying at local government level to make it even better.

To initate similar action in my own backyard I can only regard as a distant fantasy, although I believe that one should never say never.

I also believe that one should choose one's battles with discernment.

Of course Sydney could learn something from Port Lincoln but this sadly remains in about the same likelihood of an Indigenous Australian becoming a Prime Minister.....

I will depart for Coffin Bay tomorrow morning.