The Nullarbor-ing Days 66-68

Day 66 - Perth to Coolgardie -
545km today

So, we've decided to make a run for it in between weather systems. Just to perspective this, we haven't seen rain since Alice Springs some 7 weeks ago, and haven't had a temperature under 15, even over night since the same....... Until Last night!!! Far out it was cold! The last thing we wanted was to be stuck in the pouring rain for the next week! So we point East and run for it. Todays target: Coolgardie. Why? Because its about 500ish km away. Makes for a not too long a drive.

The blue line is our Track today - all 545km of it - click to enlarge

We arrive in Coolgardie about 1600, and start looking for the 2 alleged Caravan Parks in town. We find one: essentially a gravel carpark, looks a bit like it used to be a drive in movie theatre. in the 50's! Anyway. it's only $30, and we get to pick where ever we want. Find somewhere flat and not too far from the "facilities", which, whilst they have seen better days, are clean and functional.

Tomorrow : plan to Caiguna - we think. About 550km......

Day 67 - Caiguna to....... Cocklebiddy and the Wedge Tail Inn
Distance today 606km

As there is absolutely NO reason to stay here any longer that necessary and at least 550 km in front of us we get a move on. Nose pointed East as are going to hit the Nullarbor proper. We Stop in at Noresman for fuel and stretch. Interesting little town, with a declining population. We head for the "supermarket" but the shelves are pretty bare. The Truck is due in this arvo. grab a bag of lollies and an Iced Coffee and get going.

loooooooooong straight road - thank gawd for the hills

About 180km in to the trip we get to Balladonia. Site of a Road house and not much else, although they do have a WA Ambulance Service Volunteer station. The only thing of note here; The longest single stretch of Straight road in Australia: 146.6km of DEAD straight road. Booooooooooooring. thankfully it's not flat as well as straight.  


Sam and his Favourite Animal
in the Whole World!

The up side to this long straightness is  that if the brown gooey substance ever hits the rapidly rotating blades, the RFDS can land near by. Upside! otherwise...... driving.... driving.......driving. watching the rear vision mirror for storm clouds. every time we stop its WINDY. Apparently it gets windy when the sun goes down. Awesome! Oh, and its only 20 degrees in the middle of the day..... Brilliant :(

Day 68 - Cocklebiddy to Penong - Where the hell is Penong?
Distance Today 690km!!!!! Bloody Hell!

I'm confused.........

So saddled up for the day after a windy and cold night (Glad we packed the fan heater!!! :) ) we get a wriggle on again, we once again turn right out the driveway of our overnight stay

Madura Mundrabilla and Eucla  pass by and we roll into Border Village on the SA/WA border.

Border Village being some many hundred Km from the next fuel we grab 100 odd litres to give us options Also grab some snacks and a loo stop. Consulting the maps as we eat, we look towards Nullarbor Roadhouse (182km)and Nundroo (332km) as possible stops. We decide on Nundroo. Had we not been trying to out run the weather, I was going to suggest a northerly detour to Maralinga. Always been fascinated with this part of our military history. Not saying I'd camp there. but interesting to visit.....much in the same way Wittenoom wold have been.

We arrive at Nundroo and OMG what a total DUMP. There is a gale blowing in off the Bight and the only sites for Tents are in the open and on shade cloth. While we are here, the local Constabulary arrive to deal with some "locals" who are inside the shop. Toilets are disgusting. It's called CLEANING people. Try it some time.

Some Wedgies grazing on the side of the road.
Working Smarter, not harder. Why kill it, when a car can do it for you?

Straight back in the HiLux  and decide to drive west until it gets dark. Its raining now on and off. Looking at the maps we decide on Penong, another 80 km. Never heard of it. We find a great little caravan park, tucked away off the main road about 1700. $35 a night!!! Its getting dark now. And COLD. Care taker offers us an INDOOR site, in a shed, to keep us out of the wind. Sadly, we need to drive pegs into the ground and have to say no. He instead puts us into a  group of sites behind some trees and screens. It's actually not too bad over night. Predicted rain is there, but not too windy, given what we thought it could have been. Cold overnight, but sunny in the morning. Woo Hoo :) Only 1700km from home now!!!!!!!