Adelaide/Nullarbor

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Day 8 (9/3/2019)



Up early to get some washing done. Around lunch time headed out to Hollywood Plaza in Salisbury to pick up the last of what we need for the next 4 days. Was about to reverse into a car park when a woman reversed out into us without looking. Exchanged details as while our damage is a scratch & a dent in the aluminium bull bar, it hit around the sensors & indicators.



Returned to get the van ready for the journey ahead over the next few days & re-prep everything. Headed out for dinner with our lovely nieces Danielle & Rebekah at the Avoca Hotel before getting as much sleep as possible.



Day 9 (10/3/2019)



Departed Adelaide at 5:25AM. Stopped for breakfast & a cuppa at Pt Wakefield at 6:30AM, before continuing on at 6:50AM. Arrived in Pt Augusta at 9:25AM after some horrendous side winds impeded our progress. Read a paper & had a cuppa before continuing on at 9:55AM.



The side winds continued as we passed Iron Knob before stopping for lunch at Kimba at 12:10PM. Had a short rest before departing at 12:30PM for our expected stop at Pildappa Rock just outside of Minnipa. We got there at 3:00PM to find strong swirling winds kicking up red dust & making things unbearable. Decided to leave there at 3:15PM & headed for Ceduna for the night, arriving at the Airport Caravan Park (the only one with vacancies) at 6:10PM.



After a happy hour drink we were out like a light before 7:30PM.



















Day 10 (11/3/2019)



Departed Ceduna at 7:20AM, picking up Diesel on the edge of town at BP. Made good time, stopping at Nundroo for a cuppa break at 9:45AM. Back on the road at 10:00AM again made good time reaching Head of the Bight Whale Centre to take some pictures & have some lunch. No whales at this time of year, but $5 entry for seniors ($12 in whale season) to read all about the whale breeding & take some great pictures of the rugged coast was worthwhile.



Departed at 12:40PM & started the arduous Nullarbor crossing. Up to 200KM between roadhouses & miles of little in the way of scenery seemed daunting. But along the way there are good photo opportunities of Bunda Cliffs at the 3 lookouts, plus numerous other tracks into the coast.



Reached the SA/WA Border at 3:25PM SA time to be inspected immediately with no waiting. Took some photos, adjusted our watches & departed at 1:05PM WA time, gaining a bonus 2 ½ hours.



Stopped at Mundrabilla for lunch #2 at 2:00PM. Fuel quite expensive, but worse to come on the road ahead. Departed Mundrabilla at 2:35PM. Got to Cocklebiddy to fill up & the blood pressure rose at the $2.00 L price tag. Put a small amoiunt in hoping Caiguna would be better. It was, but still $1.98 L! As it was getting dark & the kangaroos were coming out in their droves, stopped at a rest area just out of Caiguna at 6:45PM.



After a quick drink it was in bed early again as another long day ahead tomorrow.



Day 11 (12/3/2019)



Departed the rest area at 6:00AM. Balladonia was no better for Diesel at $1.98L but we had to fill up. Made really good time, arriving at Norseman at 10:20AM to top up at a more reasonable price. Intention was to stop here for a cuppa, but no parking areas for caravans saw us keep on going.



With the temperature rising & travelling quite uncomfortable, we stopped for a pub lunch at the Denver City Hotel in Coolgardie at 12:35PM. Nice people & damn good food at a decent price. Left there just as a heap of old time bikies arrived at 1:35PM.



Deb saw a caravan dump point, so it was left to Bob to empty the toilet cassette which was quite wonderful after that pub lunch!



Arrived at Southern Cross hoping to stay in the caravan park but was not enthused by the park or it's owner, so headed to a rest area down the road at Bodallin. This got quite noisy with highway trucks echoing quite loudly & 2 goods trains passing by with loud horns blasting. Ghastly temperatures made sleeping difficult as we sweltered. But needed some sleep before Day 4 of our crossing to a more pleasureable stop.



Day 12 (13/3/2019)



After a lousy nights sleep thanks to the trains & trucks, we departed Bodallin at 3:10AM to get a head start over the trucks. Rarely had anything pass us by the time we reached Northam at 6:00AM for breakfast. Another read of the paper & 2 cups of tea each & we were on our way again at 6:40AM with the target of Geraldton in our sights where we would park up for a few days.



One thing we found as we headed up the coast is that, unlike the Nullarbor, fuel is decently priced. At a little one horse town called Regans Ford, we paid $1.41 L.



The trip up is quite decent despite the heat. Where the coast highway from Jurien Bay rejoins the Northern Highway, there is a huge cool breeze greets you & it was heavenly!



Arrived at Geraldton at 1:50PM, setting the van up. Far too windy for the awning but we could relax knowing we had a few days to kick back. Had some Sweetlip for dinner which was quite tasty, along with some salt & pepper calamari. Add in a few drinks & it did not take long to fall asleep!

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