The views were truly amazing and the air was so clear.
Then we crossed back into Western Australia; and gained 2 hours.
We drove on and stopped for a short break just west of Madora Pass. It was still early and the temperature was rising so we carried on driving and enjoyed the cab airconditioning. We decided to call it a day at the Cocklebiddy Roadhouse.
The caravan park offered little shade but did offer a discount for seniors.
We were a bit confused over the time, we were actually on Western Central Time - still 30 mins difference to the Perth area.
It was hot, but windy outside but inside the van we were cosy and cool.
The next morning the wind had increased dramatically and we had a very rocky ride for the next 100kms. Once we passed Caiguna and the scenery changed to taller trees and the weather changed with less clouds the wind dropped and the run more comfortable.
We stopped in Balladonia for an early break - local time was 9:30 am.
We took on a few litres of fuel in Norseman, thinking that it would be much cheaper in Coolgardie and we'd fill up there.
We had a quick cuppa break just north of Norseaman and then carried on north. Michael pointed out a high cloud of red dust just ahead, was it a dust storm, a 'willy-willy' or a bush fire? I said that it was dust because it was red.
Then we rounded a bend in the road and found the answer - the rear trailer of a road train had broken away, the hitch had dug into the road and the whole trailer had flipped over and was lying in the middle of the road.
The road train was stopped on the side of the road and there was another road train in front of us unable to pass around the trailer. A couple of cars came by from the other direction and managed to pass the trailer. We decided to give it a go rather than get stuck for hours waiting for police to attend and the trailer to be moved (how?? a crane!?)
We scraped past, having to go close to the trailer rather than risk overturning as the roadside edge was at quite a steep angle.
We were just feeling good about getting passed, and not getting stuck when another roadtrain came out of a side road, from a mine site, and threw up a stone which cracked the windscreen!!! A crack spread across the screen and continued to slowly expand - Bugger.
We drove on to Coolgardie and were right about the fuel, it was a lot cheaper; by 13 cents a litre.
A car pulled in behind us and confirmed that the road was now closed, the police had arrived just after we squeezed past.
It was still hot outside so we carried on driving; Just before 5pm we stopped at the Boorabin National Park 24 hour rest area. We were surprised how quiet it was, only 3 other vehicles there.
There were lots of parrots flying around the treetops, including the magnificent Major Mitchell Cockatoos and the cheeky pink and grey Galahs.
A breeze finally arrived in the early hours of the next morning and despite the long day the day before we were wide awake and up before 7:00am.
We were on the road by 7:30. We stopped in Southern Cross to buy the weekend newspapers and then pressed on homeward.
We had a coffee break near Kellerberrin, at a 'Rabbit Proof Fence' stop.
We carried on, using the bypass around Northam town for the first time. We usually travel across country from here but decided to head towards the city and then travel north.
We had another coffee break in Mundaring and then drove into city traffic and arrived home around 4:00pm.
A fabulous trip with lots of interesting places, meeting old friends and testing the performance of the van in extreme heat - all good.
Overall we travelled 8,983 kms
we spent $1,780 on fuel
we spent $1,290 on accommodation
(46 days in caravan parks, 10 days with friends and 4 nights free camping)
Until the next time......
No comments:
Post a Comment