Last night was really cold! We woke to frosts and the outside temp at 0 degrees. Our van bottomed out at a balmy 4.7 degrees before the diesel heater went on. We were on the road by 9 for our 14th day on tour. Along this part of the drive there were lots of really interesting trees lining the road. They are called gimlet trees and are a type of eucalyptus that only grow in the wheatbelt and goldfield regions of WA. They have…
We are continuing our one night only stays as we keep moving west. This morning we left our free camp and stopped at Caiguna for a hole of golf and some fuel. I really think had I not strained my right forearm I may have won the hole….but the figures do disagree! Scores were 6, 6, 7, 9, 9 and 12 with Jase and Sue sharing honours. A quick stop at a blowhole that wasn’t blowing before embarking on the 90 mile straight. This…
Today we woke up to rain and high winds (as expected). We all decided to press on towards WA and as per previous days, the weather went between sunny, cloudy and rainy (but always windy). We only headed a few km down the road and headed in to our first sight seeing opportunity – a large sink hole. Once again, Mav with her low clearance did superbly traversing the 4wd track getting in. Then the west traverse started in earnest. First stop was…
This morning we left our free camp at 830. The sun didn’t rise until around 745 so as someone that rises with the sun it felt much earlier to me. It will be much easier after tomorrow when we cross the border into WA and the time moves back 1.5 hours. First stop today was at the Head of Bight. This is a whale nursery where we watched southern right whale mother and calf pairs slowly swim past. So majestic and quite different to…
This morning we all took over the kitchen shed at the camp ground and completed one of Tani’s PT sessions. It was cold and windy but heaps of fun. Then Karen rode the 20km or so back to the highway while the rest of us threaded our vehicles back out of the camping area. We only moved another 50km or so down the road to Fowlers Bay where there was yet another jetty. After lunch the squiders went out and the rest of…
Today was a day that far exceeded my expectations…partly because I had no expectations and partly because even if I did, the day was so good! We started at Haslam after the windiest night I’ve ever spent in a caravan in 25 years. 830 was the designated meeting time in our van to discuss how to navigate the upcoming weather. Another front is coming through from WA tomorrow night and we need to make sure we aren’t in the firing line if…
Day 3 of sunrise walks this morning – which was lucky as it has turned out to be the only exercise we have done today. We decided to pop into the bays dotting the western coast of the Eyre Peninsula before a beachside free camp this evening, however the weather has degenerated significantly. There have been periods of heavy rain leading into consistent gale force winds while we were travelling. The rigs have bumped and swayed their way north – quite challenging…
Well today I excelled myself and got up for a morning walk two days in a row! And it was so worth it. I don’t get many points though cause sunrise isn’t until 730 here, and we are half an hour behind home in time zones so it was sort of like walking when I usually start work in the office at 8am….. Regardless, the morning colours were magic. We walked to the jetty in Cowell and then did the mangrove walk before stopping…
This morning we all headed out for a sunrise walk/run to Point Lowly lighthouse. It was so mild compared to the last few days. The temperature was 14 degrees in the van when we woke this morning compared to 5 degrees yesterday! It was a really lovely sunrise and nice to be able to head out without a big travel day ahead of us. Today was our first organised tour for the trip. Sue coordinated a Giant Cuttlefish tour a few months ago…
Well today we finally had that morning wake up where it actually feels like we are on holidays. No early starts to hit the road as we only needed to travel around 200km today. Bob and I enjoyed the frosty start to the day looking out the van window with the diesel heater pumping while Karen and Kieran headed out running and walking in the cold. Karen got some beautiful photos while she was out. We didn’t rush to leave and hit the…