Tues. 2/10.

Long haul across the Nullarbor starts today. Unfortunately we have a couple of problems. Graeme misjudged a dead roo on the road & was too late to stop. We had to go over it which damaged the connection plug & socket between the car & caravan resulting in no brakes & electrics on the caravan. Luckily Graeme was able to gaffer tape the plug back on but it meant we weren’t going to undo it until we got home. There were lots of road kill along the way especially while we were going through the last of the farming country. Not only were there a lot of roos but also wombats. We have a very enjoyable stop at the Head of the Bight & spend a couple of hours looking at the whales. There were about a dozen in the bay – last week there were about 50! A few were breaching all the time we were there but unfortunately they were too far away for us to get a clear view of them. A mother & calf though came very close to us – something very special! Stopped at a couple of lookouts further on & had a quick view of the cliffs. Spent the night at Mundrabilla.

Whales in the Head of the Bight.

 

Mother & calf swimming in the bay.

 

The desolate Mundrabilla caravan site!

 

Wed.3/10.

Westward bound & almost home today. Change of plans due to our problems & have another one today when we get a crack in our windscreen – gaffer taped & carry on. Otherwise an uneventful trip – bit boring of course but its good to be back in W.A. Decide its best to stay the night in Norseman & not try our luck in the bush!

 

Thur. 4/10.

Onto Corrigin – take the gravel road to Hyden. First stop a lookout over Lake Cowan just 10km. out of Norseman. Get back into car which decides its had enough & doesn’t want to start! Wait a few minutes & an appropriate kick & “hell mary” & what do you know the car starts!! Decide its probably best not to turn it off until we reach civilisation i.e.Hyden – so the 300 km. trip is done with no coffee & only a quick change of driver. Of course the car has not been any trouble since! Make it with no further problems to Kate & Bryce’s  & park the van. Great to catch up with them & we have a nice dinner out at the Corrigin pub.

 

View over Lake Cowan.

 

Car & van at the farm.

 

Fri. 5/10.

Finally the last stretch! Easy trip home - always a pretty drive & this time its W.A's turn to have wattles in flower. Arrive home in time for lunch. Aahh so good to be home & the shower was the best!! Really enjoyed those first cuddles with the grandkids!!!

So after 91 days & about 20,000km we are finally home - what an experience & so many wonderful memories. Hopefully over the next couple of days I will publish another blog or two with some of the highlights & photos I was unable to post before.

I hope everyone has enjoyed this blog & have been able to get at least some small idea of the great places we have been.

Take care & happy travels. Terri

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sun.30/9.

Pack up & go  back to Highway 1 & go a few kms south to Mambray Creek which is also in the Mt. Remarkable National Park. We’re thinking about doing the walk into hidden valley until we found out how long it would take – about 5 hours so decided to do a shorter one to Sugar Gum Lookout. The walk took us along the creek which ran through a wide & flat gorge. There were lots of big trees & different vegetation – very pretty. The last 600m though was up a very steep road to the lookout which was a bit disappointing – so many trees that the view was lost! Back to the car/caravan & on to Port Augusta. Have lunch & do a bit of grocery shopping to stock up before heading west. The barren landscape around Port Augusta soon changed to farming land & bush lined road. Stop for the night at Kimba – the coldest night of our trip!

Walk along Mambray Creek.

 

Mon. 1/10.

On the road again – heading west across the top of the Eyre Peninsula. All farming country today with lots of wattle lining the road – although we are just too early to see it fully flowering. Take a detour to Streaky & Smokey Bays. Both pretty spots with jetties & sandy beaches. Then to Ceduna for the night. We stayed at the Shelly Beach Caravan Park which is at the back of the sand dunes. Go for a tour around town & out to Thevenard where the small port is. Take a short walk around Pinky Point. Back to C.P & take a stroll along Shelly Beach.

 

Darters lined up at Streaky Bay.

 

Shelly Beach Ceduna.

 

 

Fri.28/9.

Start the long trip home & head north. Quick stop at Yorketown where Graeme is unsuccessful in getting some engine oil. Another well maintained, historic town with friendly & helpful people. Next stop Port Victoria – our first really wet & windy experience for many weeks. Fined up enough for us to have a cuppa on the old jetty. Carry on north & after a quick stop in Wallaroo make it to Kadina for lunch & successfully obtain some oil. Along the way go through avenues of wattles. We have been very surprised at the amount of wattle we have seen on our trip – almost everywhere there has been one type of wattle in flower. Then through Port Broughton to finally get onto Highway 1 at Port Pirie. Travel north along the highway until going east through Horrocks Pass in the Flinders Ranges to Wilmington & our caravan park.

Graeme rugged up on the Jetty at Port Victoria.

Sat.29/9.

Set off for a tour of the Southern Flinders – Mt.Remarkable  National Park. Go first to Hancock’s Lookout which had great views over the lower range hills to Spencer Gulf & Port Augusta. Due to a very icy wind we could not stay too long admiring the view! Take the pretty drive to the top of Alligator Gorge & walk to the 2 lookouts. Bit of rain so have to be rather quick. Then drive down to Blue Gum Flat & take the walk into the gorge. Luckily the rain stops & conditions are ideal for walking. Great little gorge – very scenic & easy walking. It gets very narrow in parts but not very high with interesting rock formations. Sugar gums grow in & on the gorge. One that you can see starts growing horizontal out of the rock before going vertical – very amazing. There are also many flowers & ferns growing which doesn’t seem possible as we are less than 50km. from Port Augusta & the barren landscape there! A pretty spot & well worth the walk. Go back to the C.P. for lunch & watch the footy grand final.

View into Alligator Gorge - spot the tree.

 

Terri in Alligator Gorge,

 

Alligator Gorge.

 

Spot that Sugar Gum!