Hallo everyone, if you’re reading this you’ve obviously decided to join us on our travels again and welcome too those of you who are joining us for the first time, hope you all enjoy the ride but please do feel free to comment on the blog and or the content, then we can improve it as we go along, so long as your requests exceed my web page capability (not difficult!). The new map under ‘Our route this Trip’ is the result of such a comment and we hope that it is easier to use than the previous one, you should be able to zoom into this one and get some detail.
Day 1 Tuesday 17th June
Well, we’re on our way again, the neighbours came round on Sunday for a ‘briefing’ and reminded us that the last time we went away at this time of year, they had a tornado go through shortly after we left, guess what, strong winds and rain are forecast for next few days!
Sure enough the rain started just before we left home and the wind started to build up after we’d stopped for lunch. This afternoon we had the wind on the side which, for us is actually worse than head on. At least our front profile is reasonably aerodynamic! In addition, significant rainfall would mean a detour similar to last time because the Hyden – Norseman road, being red dirt, would quickly become a difficulty. So we dropped into the caravan park at Kalgarin, just short of the start of the dirt, so we could get a weather and road condition update in the morning. There were about six other vans here, some for the same reason. The park itself is pretty exposed and we’re likely to have a noisy night.
Day 2 Wednesday 18th June
Not too bad a night after all and fine weather this morning.
Yesterday we had encountered quite a lot of windblown debris on the road and at one point had heard a bit of a bang – this morning we discovered a hole about 30mm in diameter through the front cladding of the caravan and a bit of the offending branch.
These things happen and a bit of duct tape is currently gracing the van.
We had a good run through the Hyden – Norseman road this morning, this is approximately 300 ks of dirt road which in most places is better than a lot of sealed roads. We drop the tyre pressures to around 30 psi when traveling on dirt roads.
These roads are maintained by graders mostly which are operated by people who must relish isolation. We met one this morning about 150 ks from Hyden and therefore 150 ks from Norseman. They tow their utes behind the grader to the work site and may travel one way or the other morning and evening but my guess is that probably sleep in their utes and collect travelling money and lodging allowance in true West Aussie style! Seriously though they do a great job.
We had lunch in Norseman, then refuelled, reinflated the tyres and had a fairly leisurely run of a 100 ks into Fraser Range Station where we are staying tonight.
Day 3 Thursday 19th June
A bright morning, no wind and a good start to the day, we’re basically heading east across what everyone calls ‘the Nullabor’, which extends from Norseman to Ceduna, (1100 ks see map). In fact, the Nullabor really refers to a section of treeless plain to the west of Ceduna which only extends for about 100ks. We now have about 300ks to run ‘up on the scarp’ before dropping down onto the coastal plain at Madura Pass. The view here is pretty spectacular, if you go back through our previous trips you’ll find plenty of photos. So today is about 300 ks of this,
Followed by 200ks of this. Again there are plenty of Nullabor photos in previous posts.
We made good time today and when the wind did eventually get up it was behind us so our fuel consumption was good. In the end we did 533 ks, travelling at a steady 85 in cruise control, pretty comfortably, changing time zones to Central Western time, mid-afternoon.
One amusing episode happened when Pat was driving and I was using the HR radio, she kept complaining that the cruise control kept dropping out, I thought it was something she was doing but it turned out that when I transmitted, it actually was interrupting the cruise control! Something I need to investigate!
Day 4 Friday 20th June
A bright, sunny, if a little chilly morning but the wind was westerly which boded well for fuel consumption and proved to be good all day.
Set out around 0830, got up to our cruising speed of 85, drop in the cruise control and sat back to enjoy the view. Very much as yesterday to start with but after 60 ks we got back up onto the tablelands again at Eucla Pass and the scenery changes a little to shorter scrub and fewer trees (well high bushes mostly!).
As soon as we got a Telstra signal we rang an order through to the butcher in Ceduna, for a small leg of ham and a few kilos of bacon (you just can’t get good bacon in WA) to be picked up on Saturday morning.
And so, on the morning of the 4th day and 1,397 ks we reach the border with south Australia and leave WA for a couple of months. We’re still impressed by the size of this state, travel this far east from Norfolk and you’d have passed through a couple of countries probably, I know you’ll look at the map now, so keep it out because when we get to our first meeting point in NSW we will have travelled 3,845 in almost a straight line, few more countries perhaps!
For the rest of the day the scenery was pretty much the same
but after lunch we approach the Nullabor Roadhouse and there is a sign which marks the start of the true Nullabor Plain, which is truly (null arbor = no trees).
However, as I said yesterday, it is only like this for about 50ks, west to east, probably a lot more north / south, and then almost suddenly you’re back into woodland again, the boundary is very marked.
Our night stop is Penong about 60ks to run to the SA quarantine police, who search your van and vehicle for any fresh fruit or vegetables which are then confiscated. Vegetable curry and fruit salad tonight then!
Day 5 Saturday 20th June
A short run in to Ceduna, let the nice man search our caravan for concealed fruit and veggies and on into town. We know this place quite well now so knew where we could easily park the rig for the shopping precinct. The ham and bacon was ready, no worries, so off to the supermarket to buy a few veggies etc. Not much point buying too much ‘cos we’ll be checked again going into NSW on Monday!
Filled up with fuel, 222 litres, so still 40 odd left! Lobbed into our usual caravan parking. Changed a wheel on the caravan, with a slow puncture, I’ll get that fixed somewhere else.
Went for walk down to the waterfront, had a coffee overlooking the smooth waters of the bay and watched the fishermen catching very little from the long jetty. When we walked along the jetty we saw a huge shoal of mullet in the shallows and lots of white bait sparkling in the water. All the fishermen were up the end and only had a garfish and 2 squid in their buckets. It was a really nice day, crispish but no wind here and beautiful clear blue skies.
Day 6 Sunday 22nd June
The wind had got up overnight and was blowing quite strongly from the wrong direction, namely north easterly, which boded ill for our fuel consumption. We had a reasonable run but mostly because the troopie doesn’t work hard even with a head wind. In fact it is more economical to drive directly into the wind because at least there some aerodynamic advantage that way.
Filled up at Port Augusta, only 100 litres this time!
Had two potential stops for tonight – in the end we settled on Stony Creek, about 20 ks east of Port Augusta on the southern end of the Flinders Range, a bush camp about 3.5 ks off the road, should be pretty quiet.
Alloveroz 