Once we got to Norseman (beginning or end of the Nullarbor depending on whether your travelling east or west) we took a very short drive around town (it couldn't be a long one as the town is so small).
When we came over we were so early that nothing was open, well we know now it wouldn't have made any difference as there is not much to have open. Unbelievable really the first town you see after 1200 kms and the last town you'll see for 1200kms and there is really nothing here! The photo below is the main street...
Dave drove us to Norseman and then once we were on the Nullarbor it was over to me! We set the GPS for home and this is what it showed - first turn in 1199 kms - we have a long straight drive ahead of us but looking forward to it
I hadn't been driving for long and the road trains were coming thick and fast and the really big ones - the ones that take up all of their side of the road and part of yours (I really don't like these ones), then there's the ones that whip past you and make your mirrors snap in and smash against the glass (I don't like these ones either) - come to think of it - I just don't like the road trains at all!!!!!
This is the mirror all smashed in next to the car - makes a loud noise which makes me jump each time!
Had forgotten how long and flat the road is and how endless. Its also amazing just how far ahead you can see - you can see the road trains and other cars coming over a km away, so different to driving at home.
Hit the longest bit of straight road in Australia and had to stop for the obligatory tourist photo, driving the straight road is a different experience to being a passenger. It really is very straight, there are no turns and its quite odd not having to turn for that length of time - a little boring after a while.
We stopped at Dobblegabby (I love all the funny names) and free camped the night.
When Mum and Dad came over last year they left us a message on some rocks at the back of the camp. When we originally came over we looked and looked and couldn't find the message. Well with a little help from Dad with regards to where the message had been left I managed to find what was left of it, if you look really hard you can just see the KO, the rest of the message has worn off - looks like permanent marker is not so permanent when left out in the weather!!
Didn't get the clear night that we were hoping for to check out the stars but did get a lovely sunset - beggars can't be choosers...
Kms travelled today 595.3
Kms travelled total 11 328.2
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We cross the border back into South Australia today and loose 2.5 hours so we changed our clocks when we went to bed last night to make the day a little easier.
Packed up and on the road again but not too early otherwise it would have been too cruel to the body clock!
It was me behind the wheel again - had to finish the straight bit of road and who knows I might drive all the way - I am into endurance events after all, although me driving does seem to be a little harder on the wild life than Dave - driving along this morning minding my own business when a massive eagle decided to fly off from the side of the road into the front of the car. He hit with a thud and flew up and over the front windscreen, over the roof of the car and landed very dead in the middle of the road. I was very disappointed I've been wanting to see and take a photo of these beautiful fellas for days - didn't expect to see one quite so close and certainly didn't want him dead! Saw lots of emus today also - thankfully didn't hit any of them!!
Stopped in at all the lookouts again on the way past. One of them we noticed has been closed since we crossed in early December. The views are still amazing and the rugged coastline is so beautiful. The flatness of the ground and the way it drops off to the sheer rugged cliffs is something you just have to see for yourself, its not something you can really "get" though a photo!
Again we were amazed at how cold and windy it is on the Nullarbor at the lookouts. We were expecting it to be very hot making the crossing back but fortunately we have been blessed with fairly still 20 - 28 degree days - very pleasant travelling.
Here we are staying at 164K peg (164kms from the WA border). We have our very basic setup here but have all managed showers - Dave is having his whilst peeking from the en suite tent (cheeky bugger) and its amazing how much better just a small splash of water can make you feel.
Funnily enough though here we are in the middle of nowhere with no water, no power or anything remotely civilised although we do have internet access and very limited reception on the telstra phone.
Feeling a little tired but incredibly proud of myself tonight - I took on the big boys and their very big toys today and won, even managed to reverse the caravan into our spot for the night!
Kms travelled today 572
Total Kms 11901
Tomorrow we are off to Fowlers Bay, hoping for our last couple of days by the beach before hitting Broken Hill and then home. Kids a bit home sick now and ready to catch up with their friends before school, won't be long now and we'll all be back in our own beds and planning our next adventure....
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