Month: November 2014

We’ve been out of range for sometime now.  Happily I don’t know what day it is or how many days we’ve been out of range.  It just doesn’t seem to matter.

However, after Wave Rock we travelled south to Kulin (a great little town with wonderful free camping and facilities) and then along the Tin Horse Highway.  What an amazing community effort has been put in to this place.  It started out as a community campaign to promote the Kulin Races but now every farmer along the way has a different tin horse in his paddock.   They provide a lot of laughs along an otherwise pretty dull highway.  This is just a very small example.  There was one about every kilometre.

 

Then on to Bremer Bay.

Such a beautiful place and the caravan park was just over the road from the water.  Great amenities and very friendly people.  However, Kirsty and I went walking along a bush track down to the beach and a snake crawled across the track in front of us.  We turned around to head back the way we had come but a bigger snake crawled across the track right behind us.  What a fun day!

We stayed at Bremer Bay a few days and travelled to the very very beautiful Fitzgerald River National Park.  I’ll let the photos speak for themselves other than to say ‘Wow!!!’.

(that’s Kirsty down there on the beach in the red shirt) and back to Bremer Bay

Aaahh, yes, the flies.  We have ingested more flies over the past few weeks than ever in our lives.  They get into your ears, eyes and nose. It’s gross to say, but I blew my nose into a tissue the other day and a fly flew away out of it.  Yes, I know, eeeewwww!!!!

Now, on to Albany.

 

 

 

With a very fond farewell, we left the Bay of Isles, Esperance

and took off for Wave Rock.  However, not too far along the way, we decided to head back to the coast to Hopetoun instead.  Well, that’s what it’s all about really, isn’t it?  Doing whatever the heck you want to at the time?

Stayed in a little caravan park right on the beach and, although it was old and rundown, we made some lovely friends there

and had a great Surf n Turf at the local pub which consisted of half a cow with 12 king prawns on top (the Surf n Turf that is, not the pub).

 

Then today, we drove via Varley and the Rabbit Proof Fence (and a very cute rabbit cemetery)

 

to Wave Rock

the Hippo’s Yawn

and Mulka’s Cave where there is some of the oldest Aboriginal art in WA.

Yes, I’m going in and no, I don’t want to!

There are still plenty of wildflowers out along the way although it’s clear the best of them are finished.

 

We left Norseman

and headed for Salmon Gums where we’d been told about a good little community run caravan park and a great pub for countermeals within walking distance.  Both of us were salivating at the thought of a pub steak!

Disappointingly, the pub is shut on Mondays and, yep, that was when we were there.

However, we continued on the next day to Esperance which is in the Bay of Isles.

Although the weather wasn’t the best, we took a boat cruise out to see some of the islands.  There are 105 islands in the Recherche Archipelago and over 1200 rocky outcrops.  It is really stunning.

We saw seals, sea lions, sea eagles, dolphins trying to race the boat, and lots of beautiful birds.

Afterwards, we took off to Cape Le Grand where we camped in the national park, firstly at Lucky Bay

 

 

which claims (sorry Whitehaven) to have the whitest sand in all of Australia.  Whether or not that’s true, the colour of the water and sand is truly beautiful.

Then on the next day to camp at Cape Le Grand

where, sadly, it teamed with rain most of the time.

Well, it’s been 5 days since I last blogged, because we’ve been out of range, and during that time, Kirsty and I crossed the Nullarbor – and we have the certificate to prove it!

We were going to play the Nullarbor golf course but at $140 for the 2 of us plus hire of golf clubs, we decided to do it our own way – and I reckon we had more fun!

Where’d the ball go?

 

The Nullarbor can be quite spectacular in places –

 

but also a little monotonous in others –

I think we were very lucky to see a storm over the Nullarbor.  Now that wouldn’t happen every day.

We also took off down a dirt track to see an old telegraph station which the sand dunes are gradually taking over.

 

We free-camped all the way and there are some quite good places off in the scrub.

but we were glad, nevertheless, to get to Norseman caravan park for a long shower, a hair wash, to fill up the water tanks and get the clothes washed.

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We’re off tomorrow for Salmon Gum and then to Esperance.

 

 

Took off from Adelaide about lunch time and headed to Clare.  We stopped off at the Seven Hills Winery where they make the altar wine for the Catholic Church.

Then we drove to Mintaro to look at the Mortlock Mansion where Kirsty brought me up to date with the family history.

The home was also used in the film ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’.

Then, through Clare to Crystal Brook where we free camped for the night – but we were comfortable – if a little cold (initially) –

The following day we headed for another free camping spot at Kimba, the home of the Big Galah.

 

And, Kimba is half way across Australia.

Finally, we hit the coast at Venus Bay –

and settled for a couple of nights at beautiful Streaky Bay to get ready for the Nullarbor crossing.

So, we’re stocking up on fuel, food, water and beer because we’ll start across the Nullarbor tomorrow.

The forecast for Friday is 40 degrees.  We should be about halfway across.  Great timing!

I had a great time driving along the beautiful Coorong.  Would like to go back and spend a couple of weeks there.  The place is chocoblock with birdlife.

Spent a night at Narrung, free camping but was very happy to have my own loo because a red bellied black snake decided to set up home in the ladies at the site.

 

I was also very happy to have the comforts of Betty because a lady, much older than me, set up camp beside me in this –

 

After Narrung, I choofed off to Murray Bridge where I stayed in a caravan park, gave Betty a wash and got her organised for 2 people to live in instead of just one.  Then, on Saturday, ducked into Adelaide and picked up Kirsty.  Welcome onboard Kirsty!