Mid morning I set off on the regular route home again. On to the South Eastern Freeway at Bald Hills Road. Down to the edge of Adelaide and then North along Fullarton Road and the A1 through the suburbs and on to Port Wakefield. A regular stop at the Bakery for a pastie, coffee and leg stretch. Next stop at Port Germain for another stretch of the legs and toilet trip. Refuel at Port Augusta and a short hop to the West to Nuttbush Retreat at Pandurra Station for an overnight stay. Third time stay and 386km of the journey done.
Late afternoon at Pandurra Station. Dry and red.
Plenty of feijoas from Ric & Ann still to eat.
Saturday. Across the top of the Eyre Peninsula, through Kimba to Wudinna. Another Bakery stop for a pastie and coffee. Not as good as last time. At Poochera turned off the Eyre Highway to Streaky Bay. Stayed for two nights at the (newer) Islands Caravan Park again. On Sunday caught up with washing and farted around doing some update of the previous chapter of the blog. Cold wind and cloudy all day. A rain shower just after I brought the washing in. Perfect timing. In the evening I took a trip into town and had the regulation King George Whiting at the Pub. This time I went into the Bistro rather than the Deck Bar. A little more expensive, but busy, portions quite a bit larger and access to the salad bar included. Guess where I will go next trip. The KGW and chips were supremely good (sorry, no photo again).
On Monday (27 May) I departed for Ceduna. Refueled and had a coffee before heading out again. Stopped at Nundroo for final fuel top up in South Australia and made it to the Head of the Bight Entrance about 15km East of Nullarbor Roadhouse.
Four vans spent the night at the Whitewell Tank Camping Area outside the gates. Nice level area and about 2km off the Highway so much quieter.
On Tuesday morning, I stopped for a bacon and egg toasted sandwich and coffee at Nullarbor Roadhouse. No fuel as it is the most expensive of the whole crossing at $2.11 per litre for diesel. Dumped the remaining salad ingredients at Nullarbor and started eating the fruit I had left before reaching the WA Quarantine Station at Border Village. No problems there. The packaged coleslaw ingredients I had retained and some sweet potatoes were on the OK list. A short journey on to Eucla where I stopped to fill up the diesel tank and have another reasonable coffee. Then a descent to the coastal plain and the long flat drive through to Mundrabilla where I again stopped to top up with diesel. After climbing up from the coastal plain at Madura Pass, I camped overnight on the high ground beyond the Madura Lookout. The road goes a long way back, so it was very quiet, very dark and all alone.
Bushtracker with a view out over the coastal plain below.
All alone in a real bush camp.
The Pass climb looking back towards Eucla.
On Wednesday morning, the journey continued. Past Cocklebiddy, with a stop at Caiguna for yet another toasted bacon & egg sandwich, which was very ordinary and machine made coffee which ended up in the bin. Just awful. I stopped at Baxter Rest Area to empty out the caravan toilet tank, then a long stage to Balladonia for more diesel and a good coffee. Last section of the day was to 10 Mile Rocks, about 75km East of Norseman. I had camped there previously. Behind the rest area, tracks run a long way back into the bush with lots of privacy and level ground. A cold clear night with the Milky Way absolutely brilliant until moon rise.
Thursday (30 May) I continued on to Norseman. More diesel, with a welcome price drop back down to $1.65 per litre. Good coffee as well. Their expresso machine was broken when I stopped on the way East.... Next stop was a diversion to Kambalda West where I stopped at Woolworths for some fruit and green vege. Had some lunch at the Cafe at the Sports Centre. Not bad. Back on the road and through Coolgardie and Southern Cross to Bodallin where I again stopped for diesel. Not much further I turned off the Highway to the North for the short trip out to Westonia. Great small caravan park in town.
Late afternoon at the great value, well appointed Westonia Shire Caravan Park. Nice to catch up with Caretaker Debbie again.
Time to stop for a couple of nights, get the blog updated and enjoy a bit of walking around town. Visited the Hood Penn collection at the Shire Community Museum again and had an excellent hamburger and coffee at the Galllery Cafe on Friday for lunch.
Saturday 1 June 2019.
On the road for the final leg to Folly Farm down the Great Eastern Highway via Merredin, Kellerberrin and Cunderdin to Meckering. Dumped the Caravan Toilet container for the final time this trip, then on around Northam and home via Wundowie, Bailup and Berry Road's.
Nice to be home again. Jean has been busy whilst I have been away.
Chooks are excited as well...
Time to get the new shed built and much more crossed off the job list before the next major excursion.
New walls, gate and paving at folly farm.
Chooks are excited as well...
Time to get the new shed built and much more crossed off the job list before the next major excursion.
Until next time......
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