Perth

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We drove to Mackvilles where we stopped and had showers there which were free.

Tues 12th
We made our way to Sydney but made it 91k away where we stopped for the night. Its so funny as we started playing eye spy. I was rubbish at it. Nath had me guessing for ages.

Wed 13th
We finally arrived. We went into the transport office as we wanted to know how we had to have to sell the van etc. The lady we spoke to didnt make much sense but we did understand the part where she said this could cost you alot. We havent go the money to sort the van out here and also we might not sell the van for another week or so and we would be wasting money and time here in Sydney. So thats it, we decided to go to Perth, driving.
We spoke to a trcuk driver and asked him how long it would take us to get to Canberra and then to Adelaide. He said 3 hours to get to Canberra and the (he huffed) 14 hours solid driving and just stopping for petrol to get to Adelaide. Our aim was to get to Adelaide but didnt think we would make it all the way as we set off at 12pm. We stopped off along the way and had FREE showers. I mentioned to Nath that we should really check the oil and water as we have not done it since we got the van. OMG I have never seen an engine that low before on oil, in fact it was bone dry!!!!! The water was fine. So, we then checked the tyres, just in case and yes the back two were half of what they needed to be.
It was about 8pm and the heavens opened. We both, have never seen rain like it before, I had to slow down as I just couldnt see out of the windscreen as the wipers could not keep up with themselves. then a lorry went passed and because they were doing road works there was mud everywhere, so the lorry covered us in mud and stones, well they sounded like bull dosers to me.
We stopped for petrol and the lady advised us not to keep driving because the kangaroo's and all the other wildlife come out at night which makes it dangerous, so we stopped for the night on the side of the road at the rest area.

Thurs 14th
after waking up at 6 we headed off about 6.45 to get an early start.
I hadn't written the blog since 7th Oct, so trying to rememberwhat happened and because of this I had totally lost my days and thought it was Thursday y'day and if it wasnt for my friend texting me I wouldn't have been any the wiser, so actually it was nice because we gained an extra day. whoop whoop.
It's now 7.05pm and we have been travelling for just over 12 hours. We started in New South Wales, went through Victoria and we are now in South Australia, I bet, that not alot of people can say they have been through 3 states of OZ in one day.
Poor Nathan had a Migrane for the first time ever, he actually looked really sick. Not a good look.

Fri 15th
Sing it ' We're on the road to Perrtttthhhh' Yeah!
Started today, later 7.30 but as we did sucj a long drive y'day we said that half an hour in bed wouldnt have done us any harm.
We got on the AA1 and saw a Sign for Perth, what a nice feeling that was!
the winds were incredible, and there were warnings on the radio about them.
Spoke to my friend Baillie and he said that we had covered 1.500k and we still had another 2,300 to go. My aim is to get there by say night but reallistically I dont think we shall get there until Sunday.
I am so excited about getting to Perth and meeting Nathan's other two cousins that I have not met yet, I have met Lucia and his auntie and uncle a couple of times now. Also ready to set base now until March. This will be home. It was so cold today, it was like a cold winters day in Plymouth ( no word of a lie) we had to have the heaters on and I had a blanket over my legs.
We were going through South Australia and getting towards Western OZ the time zones were changing. By the time we got to Western OZ we had seen 4.45pm 3 times. This was a bonus as it gave us 3 hours extra. There were so many kangaroos (dead) on the side of the road and we saw 3 massive eagles munching away on themWe turned back to take a picture of one but it flew away, just as we were near it.
Ha ha every time we turn off the engine it back fires, well we are sying it huffs at us and says ' blooming hell, what are you doing to me'
Well I know when our parents read this they will give that look and dad will say, 'Corrine' in the most meaningful way coz you should know best......
Well, this is the way the story ....... we had just over half a tank of petrol when we saw a sign for the next townwhich was 141k awa, so I turned to Nath and asked if he thought that we should fill up as every other time when we have seen a petrol station we have filled up just in case we dont have enough to get us there. Then we pass a sign 2 k down the road that says, that was the last petrol station until you get to the next town. Anyway we both thought and said it should be ok. So after doing 121k and looking a the gage every minute worrying that we wouldnt have enough to us there, the dial was on the last white line before the red. Now we were both worried, both of us saying we should have topped up and next time we will but please, please make it to the station in time. By this time we had though of our options, option 1 to flag someone down to take us to the staion and then flag someone else down to get back to the van, option 2 to ride our bikes with the jerry can and then back or option 3 to get soome one to tow us. 5k away, the dial is fully on the red mark, oops!!! Well..... it got us there just in time. We were not taking any chances again so we filled the tank all the way and the jerry can.now we have thought about it its quite funny really because our phone didnt work (no reception) and we were in teh middle of now where with all the snakes and spiders.

Sat 16th
We had our alarm set for 6am but we were both wide awake at 4am and it was starting to get a little light. We both jumped out of bed and got in the campsite showers and got in the road by 5.15am.
We drove along Australia's straightest road - 146k.
When we got to Norseman quite a few hours later I put the van into 3rd and it started making a noise. We tool it to the local garage and he said it was the gear box going and to drive the rest of the way in 4th. We arrived at 9pm.

Sun 17th
The house is lovely and I just cannot wait o get into the swimming pool. We had a chilled day by catching up with our washing and Kathy and Kev tool us to Layton beach where were sat for an hour or so in the sun. Now that was bliss.
Roast lamb for tea and we got to meet Matt, his Girlfriend and Luke's girlfriend but not Luke as he is in Bali.
Mon 18th
As it was a beautiful day we layed in the sun and .......... chilled.

Tues 19th
We went to see Matt, Emma and OWen. Nathan used to go to school with Matt in England.
We sat and talked for ages after being shown around their beautiful big house and then we went to Scarborough beach, where Nathan and Matt went in body boarding and Emma and I played with own in the shallow water. Well actuallu Owen played by himself and Emma and I just talked the time away. Uh that was hard, yeah right! Owen is 3 in December.
We stayed the night and had something to eat with them.

Wed 20th
We took a ride to the RTA office as we needed to find out exactly what we needed to do to sell the van. It is so easy to sell a vehicle over here, you dont need to have it serviced or anything!!!
As it was Kevins b'day we bought him a cheesecake from the cheesecake shop and bought a singing candle.
Why do I break everything I touch??? I cut the cheesecake but I broke Kathy's wedding cake spatchular thing, the handle just snapped off. I felt so bad!!!
Its like having xmas day every time we have a family meal here because there are 10 of us everytime.

Thurs 21st
I went out for my first run in a few weeks. Man it was hot at 8am.
As Luke was coming home from Bali today we picked him up from the airport.

Sun 24th
We met my friend Baillie for a drink, this was nice to catch up with him.

Mon 25th
Nathan walked into a a boat yard and asked if they had any jobs, he had the trial there and then for 3 hours and just like that he got the job. This is to put customer boats in and out of the water.

Tues 26th
Nathan's first real day of work for 5 months. When turned up he said everyone was looking into the water, so he rocked up over there and saw a boat in the water, upside down that he and the boss put in the day before. Uh oh! Kale, the boss said to him the day before, 'whatever you do always make sure you out the bung in the boat, even if you not sure if you did we shall take the boat out and check as the last thing we want to happen is the boat to sink'. Well, by lunch time the boss came up to him and said he knows it wasn't Nathan's fault because when they took the boat out of the water they had to unscrew the bung. Also Kale had told the owners that something wasnt quite right with the boat anyhow. So all panic stations over!!!

Thurs 26th
Finally the van had been sold!! Its fantastic as we bought the van for $5,700 and we sold it for $5,500.

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Comments

[Gail Clark]

OMG
Wow what a journey and guess what I am in Perth in January visiting my niece it would be soooo good if we could meet up. Love Gail