Lakes, Farm, Wagin

Spent a night in Albany CP catching up then drove up to Lake Nunijup. Old sealed area behind the small hall, and a small lake. Decided to chat to some people I thought were there fishing. Turns out they were on a wild flower hunt.

 BUT - small world. One  was a Kiwi whose grandfather came from my home town! Wow. They were all heading to Lake Poorarecup and took me with them. Had a lovely picnic lunch there then back to the camp with an offer to spend a few days on a local farm. Accepted with pleasure. Spent the next day in the van once I had shifted it well away from trees as it was a very windy day. No-one else here.

Monday I headed off to the farm about 30 km away. Excellent gravel roads around here. Parked near the house and was able to run the power over so that was nice. Spent 3 days there being spoilt with farm beef, and grand tours of the property which is bisected with well maintained shire roads. The property (14,000 acres!) is looking picture perfect at the moment but am told as soon as it warms up it will be long dry 'standing hay' as we would say at home. Grain crops for hay and plenty of trees left for shelter. Some of the ground water is becoming very salty but steps being taken to fix that.

So many wildflowers around including the spider orchids.

Next stop was going to be Lake Queerarrup but it pays to put the GPS co-ordinates in correctly to find places.  Luckily I found a farm drive to turn around in and ended up in Wagin. Checked out the show grounds but decided to go to the CP instead. Only $20 p/n. Stayed 3 days as the weather packed up AGAIN and it is far too hard trying to camp in the cold and wet! No way I want to drive in this wind either.

 Have been playing with the Gamin and the caravancaravan website and can now plan at trip and load it in to the GPS. Good in theory but I am not very good at making a plan and sticking to it! Well - who needs a plan anyway! Still - something else I have learned!

Esperance, Lucky Bay, Albany

Spent a couple of days in Norseman at a CP - catch up on washing and have a luxury break - of sorts. So nice to get fresh fruit and veg again - a long time from the border. So much Cape Daisy in the pasture here although I am told the stock appreciate having it when other feed not available, and that it does die out in the summer.

 Drove on down to Esperance and out to Lucky Bay on Cape Le Grande - what a stunning place. National Park so $6.60 p/n - for me. Stayed a couple of nights. Very clean and tidy parking area. Saw a whale both days just wafting around in the bay. The second day was damp so drove up to a hill to get internet - and left my lights on so had to walk 200m back to the main road to flag down help. A coaster came and gave me a jump-start. DUH!

Such amazing lumps of rock sticking up everywhere and that pure white sand and clear blue sea. there are shrubs in flower everywhere. Lots of very stunted Christmas trees so that will make a very lovely sight in summer.

After being jump started I drove the 9 km around to Rossiter Bay - which just reinforced why I have very little desire to travel on gravel roads. Corrugations so bad the the GPS kept jumping out of its holder!

On towards Albany. Stopped at a village overnight opposite a roadhouse then to Fitzgerald camp which is in the old town on what I presume was the school ground. Was set to stay until I had a message from a nomad couple that they were only 120 km away so shot down to Pallinup River to spend time with them. Wild flowers in the scrub. Very pleasant couple of days chatting.

Nullarbor again

Topped up at Ceduna then off across to WA. Stopped at a camp past Penong. Forgot about playing golf in Ceduna then too hot at Penong. So much for my big plan! 

On to Head of Bight in time to see the Whales. They were very placid so not much spectacular action but 8 floating including a white one. So many people on the roads now - all the nomads heading home I think. Stayed the night there then on to Nullarbor for fuel. So much wind blowing grit all over the place so no golf again! On to a big camp at a gravel pit with lovely views over the ocean.  Trucks use this one also.

Saw a dingo eating a roo - just lifted its head as I drove past - usually they run. Couldn't stop as I had a truck behind me.

Through the border - pretty sullen inspectors there. The truckies must get so frustrated having to spend ages there every time they go across. Fuel expensive - should have waited for Eucla.

 Thought about stopping at Eucla but once again so many people there so off down the hill to a camp. Very windy so pleased to be off the road. Then I get  an email warning of the storm coming through! A friend turned up so nice to have someone to chat to. The wind did die down in the afternoon so we sat out and looked at the super moon.

The next day was also very windy but I went on a bit further. Bought fruit at Mundrabilla but decided not to stay as once again there was a dust storm everywhere. Kept going to Moondi Bluff - and could almost see the fuel gauge moving down. Found a spot out the back of the camp area - had to practice backing to get in to position! The toilet there is still gross! Fueled up at Mandura - have used almost 5 litres per 100 km more than normal - ouch! Jillbunya Rock hole was out among the wild flowers. Getting lots of practice on the Uke and the guitar - can park well away from others so I dont disturb them. Woke to a mist and dew everywhere - and no wind! This change of time zone is a pain - I really dont want to be awake at 6 am! Makes for a very long day if I am not driving very far. 

Next camp at Woorlba among the pretty grey bushes and the trees. These camps have lots of roads winding back well away from the road. Chatted to a nice boy - family on the road for a few months again.

Thought about stopping at Fraser Range again but only another 100 km to Norseman so kept going. Such good driving all the way across the Nullarbor. I have been using Wikicamps and am amazed at the comments from grumpy people. The cost of fuel, coffee, state of the camps etc. Maybe they should think about how far it is, what it costs these road houses to run a generator, desalinate their water etc. And the cost for councils to put in nice flush loos!!!! Imagine having to carry enough fuel to cross from Ceduna to Norseman!

Quorn, Kimba, Streaky Bay

Stopped at the caravan park in Quorn for a night. All very green = organic washing machines etc. Nice people. Then a lovely drive down to Port Augusta past so many old ruins. Beautiful stone work - seems a shame that the houses have not been re-roofed to protect them.

Stopped in Port Augusta long enough to get the new weight shackles and groceries then on to Kimba. Great free camp there at the recreation ground - donation box  hiding round the back of the showers. Also a dump point. Chatting to another solo lady towing a van.

Next stop at the camp behind the store at Kyancutta, then on down through Lock and across to Elliston. Crazy countryside - looks like it has been in a massive hail storm. The white stone is more obvious now with grass around.

It is very pretty around here at this time of year. Gorgeous green and gold with grain and canola crops. Would love to see it from the air.

Stopped at the camp at Walkers Rock. Nice spot. A couple fishing there had caught some beautiful fish. Would like to have gone up to the top camp area but was not game in case I got stuck trying to fit in! Pretty beach.

On up to Murphys Haystacks for a night. Crazy rocks sticking out of the hill. What a great credit this place is to the farm owners - toilets, picnic shelter etc. and just $2 donation.
 Streaky Bay - caravan park again. pay for 2 and get the 3rd free so took the deal. Had a sore shoulder so a good idea. Found an excellent masseuse - does sport and remedial and gave my back and shoulders a good treatment.
Did a quick tour around the Peninsular - all dirt roads and not somewhere I would camp with the caravan. Then down to Seale bay - the 30 km road is sealed except for the last 9 km which they are working on, but it looks as though the bush camp is closed. Had enough driving  so didnt get to the Sea lion colony.