Two hard days of driving. Time to cross the Nullabor. It is so amazing. Yes, the roads are mostly pretty straight and the landscape does not change that often but I enjoyed watching the shrubs go by. The colours (mostly greens) are captivating. The coolest part was knowing that the sea was just a stones throw to the left - most of the time just beyond our vision. Every now and then we'd catch sight of the top of a massive sand dune (which looked like strange white clouds peeping over the horizon) or cliff face, and occasionally a stretch of ocean.
Another great thing about this part of the trip has been the people we've met and chatted to. We have met so many people, most of them considerably older than us, who have been or are going to the places we are travelling through. Everyone is so friendly and this makes the journey more worthwhile.
Day 6: 23rd April
Streaky Bay to Eucla
We knew this was going to be a long hard day, as was the following day so we decided early on that we wouldn't try to set up the camper; that instead we would stay in a motel when we arrived in Eucla. This was an excellent idea as it saved us setting up the camper at night and having to pack it up before the 720km trip the next day. A lowlight was that the motel room was just one room, with beds and linen. Everything else was shared with the campsite - bathrooms, laundry etc. However, this did mean that I (Libby) managed to make friends with a little three year old, called Finn, who then ran over and gave me a hug when we stopped at the Belladonia roadhouse for lunch the next day, and who was very excited to see me again in the IGA at Norseman. Susanne and Darren - this treasure was (my nephew) Ned's doppleganger (alhough he wasn't wearing a Wiggle's t-shirt) which is probably why I was so taken with him.
Highlights: The start of the
world's longest golf course - Penong (Janine, I couldn't help thinking of my holiday with you here - although the scenery is quite different!).
Head of Bight - amazing place - which was closing as we left at 4pm - so make sure to time your trip right if you ever plan to drive this way. Having a
dingo run across the road a distance in front of our car and seeing it join it's pack, feeding on the other side of the road. Crossing the border between SA and WA.
Lowlights: Not seeing any camels, despite all the warning signs! Liam was quite disappointed. The bedroom at Eucla - although it did have a powerpoint to charge our camera batteries!
Day 7: 24th April
Eucla to Norseman
Highlights: Wedge tailed eagles sharing the road kill with the clean up crew - thousands of crows - early in the morning. Ninety Mile Straight - I insisted on driving this part - very odd, especially when using cruise control - not much to do...except stay awake. Storms across the Nullabor, an amazing rainbow - which the camera just could not capture properly. Gaining time - arriving in Norseman after a long day and having extra time. This journey would be much harder in the losing time direction!
Take plenty of non-fruit/vegetable/honey food as everything is very sparse and very expensive! Fruit, veges and honey have to be thrown out at the WA/SA border.
