Beyond the Nullabor

Did a big drive today, about 620km. Lunch at Ceduna, walk along the jetty, then got into Kimba Roadhouse past a sea of canola crops, windmills, emus and kangaroos just on a beautiful sunset. Off again in the morning after a quick stop at a big galah! Kimba's claim to fame is to be the town halfway across Australia. Port Augusta saw a change of caravan tyres after Mark noted one was down to metal in one spot (oops!). We pull up at Port Wakefield for the night. It's a lovely little historical fishing town with some buildings dating back to the 1840s. 

STILL crossing the Nullabor...

Heading on, we make it by late arvo to the Nullabor Roadhouse and set up camp. Planned to drive to the Head of the Bight from there. That is where the Southern Right Whales come in calving season and stay until the calves are old enough to head back out to sea. In keeping with the pace of this trip we find out we have just under an hour to drive there and check out the whales before the gates shut! (who knew there'd be gates!)

We are literally running down the path to the viewing platform and are stopped in our tracks by the amazing sight of 6 whales and their calves (50m or so offshore). Not really a sight you can rush, just awesome.

Crossing the Nullabor

We get to the Balladonia Roadhouse and somehow we've chosen a roadhouse with a big screen TV (all the better to watch Pies v Eagles on...)

Next day's drive is about 6hrs to Eucla, the roadkill is just awful, one long stretch has a dead kangaroo at least every 100m. Interesting to note about 3 RFDS emergency airstrips within the Eyre Highway we are on. We stop at the Caiguna blowhole....inland? it is a hole in the rocks leading to a cave system which has cold air blowing out of it. We amuse ourselves for awhile throwing leaves down it and watching them float up again...

Leaving Eucla we check out the ruins of the old telegraph station (1877) and the huge sand hills. Samuel's boogie board is our toboggan and we have great fun racing down them. They are a sight to behold.

Leaving Esperance

Mark FINALLY finds his ideal wave (with time on his hands and a surfing buddy in tow). He gets out for an early morning paddle, duck dives under his first wave and snap! there goes his leg rope..He finds himself 100m offshore, alongside a rip, with his board 50m away about to smash onto some rocks, luckily his new BFF retrieves his board. Mark dejectedly makes his way back to the car to find...a near flat tyre! It is a slow trip back to Beaurepairs and his time is up.....I, on the otherhand, enjoyed a lovely walk along the esplanade. We pack up and check out the beautiful beaches one last time, then it's off along the Nullabor!

Esperance

Esperance is cold, wet, foggy and windy! We just have to imagine how good the beaches are through the haze...spend the first day having a long lunch at the Pier Hotel..

Day 2 is better, our park is on the Esplanade and the view of the water from our van is a ripper! We have some sunshine today and have a coffee while watching a pod of dolphins playing. Samuel and I skateboard and walk down the Esplanade while Mark drives the sports equipment and other two to a great foreshore park, bball court, a whale shaped climbing frame, maze, miniature railway etc.

We stop at the Tanker Jetty where “Sammy” the seal is meant to frolick, I see people having coffee on the foreshore and watching something, so we get closer and see what we think is a big dead seal laying on the seaweed....uuummm we aren’t sure, but he moves a flipper and he is very alive! Gorgeous, huge and lazy, gets up every now and again to move a metre or so, then lays back down with the effort. We are only a few metres away up on the bank and watch him for ages.

Samuel and Mark clash (literally) on the bball court later and we are fearful he (Samuel) has hurt his collarbone again. Bit of ice and he is on his way, lucky...no time for injuries on this trip.

A bit alarmed at a potential gas leak in the van but hopefully all is ok, c’mon van not long to go now, hang in there...

Wave Rock

Have just worked out we have travelled over 14,000kms in 77 days.

We got into Wave Rock Caravan Park (near Hyden) and were greeted with cold wind and rain! Not meant to be part of our trip...

The rock is amazing, a 15m high granite cliff, erosion over time has undercut the base and left a rounded overhang. Rainwater has dissolved minerals, adding to its colour.

Someone had kindly left a banged up surfboard for a “surf” shot. It’s the best wave of the trip for Mark so far..

Perth and a bit more Freo..

We waved goodbye to the Deed family as they headed off on their travels and we drove into Perth. Had lunch at Cottlesloe Beach (didn’t see any sharks) then went to Kings Park and checked out the view over Swan River back to the city from there. 

Had a last look at Fremantle today and a tour of the Fremantle prison. It was built in the 1850s by 10,000 convicts they shipped in for a labour force in the colony. It only closed in 1991 as a maximum security facility. It was well worth the visit, all three kids were asked to participate as the tour guide gave his commentary and they were very compliant! They were amazed at the tiny cells and the gallows. Also to hear 5 schools in Perth still use the cane for discipline!!