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Published: September 8th 2013
Our friends Alan and Sylvia identified the pretty birdie from the last blog. It has been declared a "Southern Scrub Robin" and the email came with excellent documentation. When I went back to my books there is no way I would have been able to identify our victim from the illustration in the book but their photos were spot on. Next time I am in Adelaide I will take my book with me and discuss it with them.
We left the roadside stay near Boorabbin and headed off towards Coolgardie. Visited the Coolgardie cemetery so that we could photograph Ernest Giles headstone. Many years ago we were at one of the roadhouses on the Nullabor and the fellow behind the bar was trying to convince people that EG was buried out the back of the roadhouse. As I pointed out to him it may have been someone called Ernest Giles but the famous explorer was buried in the Coolgardie cemetery as he lived out his final years as the Mines Warden in the area. I don't think he was happy with me.
Whilst there we also visited the graves of my mother's sister Mary and her husband George. Aunty
Mary was a character I loved her to death.
Just outside the cemetery we found more wildflowers and lo and behold in Coolgardie the most incredible pink race car. As we are heading east the number of wildflowers in bloom is increasing. There were rustlings from the back pack as the boys were whining wanting to get and play with it. I think they were interested in a little bit of stealing myself.
Then on to Kalgoorlie where we went straight to Mieke's house and arranged with Mary to come over for dinner that night. We could only spend one night there, as we really needed to get home. We all had a lovely evening and I took lots of photos of Mieke's house and garden for friends who have not yet visited her. I finally managed to get a great photo of Fred the wonder cat. He is so big he could frighten the post man.
Headed off the next morning and fueled up at the BP in Norseman. The owner was yelling at a couple of the workers there because someone had skipped out on paying a $17 gas bill. She was so rude and
demanding that they pay it from their pockets, all in front of the customers. The number of people waiting to be served for food who left without ordering was interesting, but I don't think she noticed. Unfortunately I had already ordered.
We overnighted at a camp area called Newman Rock about 1 km off the highway itself. Not a bad place to stay and once more lots of wildflowers.
On the road again and we stayed overnight at a large camp another 400 kms on then next day the Bunda Cliffs lookout again. At this stay we realised we had not been making good enough time so stepped up our pace a little driving close to 500 kms for the next couple of days. The last night on the road was spent in a layby 25 kms outside of Port Augusta and then it was just a 200 km coast home the next day arriving on Friday 30th August.
Our house and garden are incredible. I think if my Mother were alive she would like to get rid of me and claim Sally as her daughter. Every thing was immaculate. Sally and Chris have moved to the
Clare Caravan Park for 4 weeks before they go to their next house sitting job. They hope to settle around Auburn.
The Princess deigned to allow us to touch her luscious body but did not show any marked enthusiasm to see us. I think she has been spoiled even more than we indulge her. Sally kindly framed the watercolour painting she did of Fray and it is proudly displayed in our computer room. Just how did Sally know that this is the room we use most? We love it.
We have our own giant turnips but ours area a mere 800 - 900 grams unlike Hans' 1.569 kgs.
We have been trying to explain to Bartholemew Otis that he has to return home to Waikiki. Not going down well. They are having a great time playing in the vegetable garden and teasing the Princess. They were both in her basket yesterday. Hope they get fleas.
Since being home we have succumbed to the very heavy head cold which we picked up at Charlies birthday party and had been fighting off. Chris finally went to the Dr and got antibiotics on Thursday and has been able to
lift her head from a pillow for the first time in four days today. It is day 24 and still going strong. Someone told me yesterday theirs lasted 10 weeks!
We hope to be able to function appropriately by the end of the week and can get to many of the things which need doing including ensuring that we see Sally and Chris and return their vegetable peeler, you know how personalised these things are.
On our trip we did 17,147 kms. Spent less than $5,000 on fuel, averaged 16.85 litres per 100 kms at a cost of 29c per km. Far better figures than we expected.
We saw so many wonderful things and even though all did not go to plan we had the bonus of seeing the family in the west and getting darn wet a lot over there as well.
We actually hit a lot of things on our bucket list. Oodnadatta Track, Pink Roadhouse, Gibb River Road, Bungle Bungles, Ropar Bar, Wave Rock.
We hope to complete the second half of our planned trip next year after the croquet season finishes, so come on 23rd April 2014.
Till next year.....
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Sally
non-member comment
Vegetable peeler?
Hi Chris and Graham Thanks, we're so attached, we can't actually remember it but would like to catch up with you regardless....when you're better of course, don't want that bug. It sounds nasty, hope you're feeling much better soon. We'were actually only in the Clare caravan park for a few days and are now at the house-sit in Rostrevor until the 10th Oct when we will return to the Clare park (very pretty) and work out where Chris is mainly shoeing and then look at renting in that area. He's been getting more calls. Now he has to travel back up north! Thankyou also for acknowledging the house and garden. Didn't mind the house-work, really enjoyed the gardening (as I mentioned before, beautiful soil) and Chris did the whipper-snippering, planted vegies and made beer and green tomato chutney. Chris wonders if Graham enjoyed the Irish stout? And did you find the lemon marmalade, I sterilised those jars according to your instructions, so that's safe. The lime marmalade didn't kill us so that must have been ok. When and where are Sheryl and Shane tying the knot? I'd love to see your outfits. Otherwise photos would be good. Please send our regards.