Day 72
The day we:
- began with a relaxed breakfast then into town where we tried for a new chopping board at the Red Cross Shop but came out with dominoes and a few books instead
- visited Jill Murch's Photographic Gallery, she takes beautiful shots of nature, particularly beach scenes. No wonder she finds so much inspiration along this coast. Her shots are very artistic and we're all inspired now to become artists with the camera
- drove the 60kms to VCape Le Grande Nat. Pk. It was spectacular, perhaps even surpassing Wilson's Prom. Magnificent white beaches and turquoise water, rocky outcrops and shorelines, small islands. We first walked from Lucky Bay to Thistle Cove (taking lots of artistic shots) then had morning tea and fed a Pacific Gull with a sore neck. After a good rest we tackled Frenchman's Peak, a steep climb but well worth the view
- returned to the van for lunch then took the boys to mini golf where Luke was champion, Adrian was frustrated and Eric got angry
- had afternoon tea at the Tea Shop by the jetty then fished for the evening where Libby caught a Skippy and a Flathead. Luke kept losing his bait to a squid and Adrian was so busy changing his gear he hardly had it in the water
- listened to highlights of the Commonwealth Games Day 1 from KL.
The day we:
- packed up between showers and left just before 8am with one ear listening to the radio broadcast of the Rafter V Sampras U.S. Open Semi Final as we drove to Norseman (Rafter won and now plays Philipousis in the final)
- had morning tea by the road then copped very heavy rain and got caught behind two roadtrains who threw up such terrific sheets of water off the road we couldn't pass
- arrived in Kalgoorlie and set up in sunshine, boys were no help this time, they've disappeared to the TV room to watch Commonwealth Games. Had lunch and then it rained again
- headed out when the weather cleared, began at the Superpit Lookout watching haulpaks, looking like ants at the bottom, laden with ore climb the spiral path up and out of the huge pit. Its not until you see them parked beside a grader, absolutely dwarfing it, that you appreciate how big these vehicles are. Their tyres alone stand at 3m.
- visited the Museum of the Goldfields housed in the original building of the British Arms Hotel located under the Ivanhoe headframe which you can travel up in a glass lift to view the township. This town has some very ornate architecture, fabulous pubs, impressive facades on all the public buildings etc. Museum has an interesting collection of memorabilia pertaining mostly to mining and sandalwood industries, also the trade union movement
- got some groceries on the way home and drove down the infamous Hay St
- cooked a bbq under clear, starry skies, listened to Games report
The day we:
- saw Eric off on his run, he ran the length of Hannon St and back stopping at the bronze statue of Paddy Hannon to take a drink from his waterbag, he was one of the first to discover gold here
- visited Hannons Nth, a mine now functioning as a tourist attraction
- called in at the 2-up site, 7kms out in the bush, operates daily from 4pm except Xmas and Good Friday
- saw Mt Charlotte Reservoir from the lookout, this town supply is pumped from Mundaring Weir (Perth) and takes 10 days to travel the 565kms
- visited the tourist bureau after lunch, local second-hand store for new chopping board (got one this time) and Hay St again, this time explaining the purpose of the colourful tin sheds
- called in to Hammond Park, a reserve for emu and kangaroo and also many birds in aviaries. Of all things there was also a miniature Bavarian Castle there
- drove to Boulder Town and called into the Town Hall to see the hand painted drop curtain only to discover it had been rolled up for the day, building still very impressive
- went back to Superpit Lookout to hear and see the 4.45pm daily detonation blast only to discover today's was going to be a big one so it was closed for safety
- spent the evening all watching C'wealth Games. Eric would probably have preferred to be served beer by a 'Skimpy' at any one of the pubs
Day 75
The day we:
- got away about 8.30am and returned to Norseman this time via Coolgardie, the fabulous design and huge dimensions of the Town Hall (1898) are evidence of the gold rush in all its splendour, now only 1000 people in the town
- turned east onto the Eyre Hwy and laughed to ourselves of our folly in bringing a bag of firewood along - there are so many trees! We've been carting it since Parry's Beach
- watched the petrol prices vary:Norseman 87.9, Balladonia 101.9, Caiguna 103.4
- had lunch at Newmans Rocks, a good spot well off the road although the formation itself was nothing to write home about
- crossed Aust's longest straight stretch , 146.6kms between Balladonia and Caiguna
- were all travelling well so although we had been planning to finish up somewhere around Balladonia, we kept going. You travel through 2 time zones here, each 3/4hr, one back around Newmans Rocks and the other at the S.A. Border
- would have liked to visit the Eyre Bird Observatory but at the turnoff just passed Cocklebiddy the sign warns it is for 4WD only
- were surprised to come across a lookout at Madura Pass just on sunset when we were ready to pull up. Here the road descends steeply from Hampton Tablelands to the plains below. We pulled in to Moondini Bluff, what a good decision. A good sheltered campsite well off the road with a few other travellers, a pit toilet that passes Luke's scrutiny and a fine clear sky
- quick Spag Bol by the fire then marshmallows and chocolate, every boy's dream dinner
Day 76
The day we:
- didn't get away until 9am S.A. time then lost another 3/4hr at Eucla where we ascended the escarpment again and crossed the border into S.A. A bit glum to be leaving W.A., we've really loved it and will have to come back
- called in to umpteen lookout points overlooking the Great Australian Bight, some are beaches while others have fantastic cliffs. Took lots of photos. As we reached Nullabor we actually passed the sign that indicates the end of the official treeless plain, we'd missed it. So much else to see.
- entered Yalata Aboriginal Reserve and visited their site at the head of the Bight, here we found about 2 dozen whales lolling in the water just offshore. Mothers and babies, fantastic, never seen so many before and so close. The ranger said there were over 100 here earlier in the month, now there were about 70 left in the region and about 40 calves
- looked for somewhere to stay the night before the quarantine checkpoint at Ceduna as we've lots of fresh fruit and veggies aboard. Decided to try point Sinclair, 21kms to the coast from Penong. Had read somewhere that Cactus Beach was famous with surfers and decided to give it a go even though it is not marked on Explore Australia's map (our bible)
- congratulated ourselves on a great choice. The property owner here maintains a campground amongst the dunes with stonewall toilet surrounds and fireplace shelters, firewood provided and a bore (not for drinking) all for $6 per head. He's an interesting character, environmentally conscious and out of rate paying district though not sure for how much longer, doesn't like government interference
- spent the evening on the beach and walked the Point - beautiful
Day 77
The day we:
- awoke to a beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky. Eric went for a run then we adults had a Pommy wash out in broad daylight much to the boys astonishment and disgust
- had breakfast then went for a walk along the coast, around the point and to the jetty. It is a rugged coast with caves, blowholes, big sand dunes, beautiful waves breaking offshore and lots of birdlife. We loved it but the boys found it a bit long
- had a long drink then hitched up and departed for Port Lincoln over 500kms away, our third big driving day in a row
- stopped for morning tea sometime after Penong and then quarantine check at Ceduna. The highlight here was being able to check off lots of things from the 'I Spy' sheet we'd been following since Norseman
- drove on to Murphy's Haystack (an interesting rock formation) for lunch, Libby went for a walk but the others preferred to sit and watch a stumpy-tail waddle about
- drove straight through to Port Lincoln listening to John Williamson because one track on the album mentions this town, then we had Les Miserables which the boys were not impressed with but who cares. Must say they travelled well today
- parked the van and set up the awning only later to discover our young 'level advisors' had given us a bum steer and we had to jack the van up to pack blocks under one wheel. We are not amused, all tired after a long drive so early to bed
- expect to fish tomorrow, Eric has bought the burley
Day 78
The day we:
- all woke up bleary-eyed and tired, showing signs of not enough sleep after a night of gusting coastal winds. Through the night we'd had to get up to attend to poles for the flies to stop the flapping, the whole van was rocking at times and clips were clattering, didn't get much sleep
- had a slow start reading and washing clothes, some were so dirty from the Nullabor, they came out dirtier than they went in!
- went for a tour around town and the impressive marina, busy with tuna and prawn boats, very flash. Went out to Billy Lights Lookout and saw the Blue Tuna farms offshore
- drove 30kms out Whalers' Way for lovely coastal views but we've either seen too much coast lately or are all just too tired to appreciate it today. On our way back to town we visited the local Costantia Wood factory famous for having been commissioned to make the Government table and Hansard's bench in the new Parliament House
- went home for lunch and a rest, Eric drove up to Port Lincoln Lookout for stunning views of the town and bay while the rest read and played on the park trampoline
- fished in the afternoon. First at town jetty (no luck) but we did see a dolphin doing his own fishing and Libby enjoyed a walk along the Parnkilla Trail. Then at the marina (no luck there either). Finally at caravan park jetty where Luke gets one and Libby gets 3 more. It must have been the burley. Meanwhile Eric went for a run and Adrian trampolined with friends he has met
- are constantly reminded that tomorrow Adrian turns 12. We must be getting old, today we feel it and look it. Need a good night's sleep
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