Day 102: Sat 31 Jul - Free camp to Kimba Recreation Reserve, 526 km; total towed: 11 321 km

8-17 degC, overcast and drizzly all day, quite miserable really

We were up before the sun this morning and after a cuppa, on the road by 7 am! Early we know, however, driving conditions could not have been better (rain had not yet arrived). We arrived at Penong about 8 am and had breakfast whilst gazing at the vast array of windmills.  They’ve done a lot of work on the collection since we were there last.  Onwards we travelled to Ceduna, where we topped up the Cruiser and had lunch on the side of the road. We were going to have a stroll on the jetty, however, the wind and the rain had just arrived, so we decided on lunch instead.

We arrived at Kimba Recreation Reserve, a lovely donation camp not far from the centre of town. No power, but they do have a water point where you can fill up if required. Free toilets and paid showers as well. Our first task was to walk to the pub (Kimba Gateway Hotel) to make a dinner reservation. Walked back to the van in light drizzle. After an afternoon cuppa, we set out for the pub again for dinner. Greg had the barra special, and Wendy had chef’s special rissoles. Both meals were absolutely scrumptious and we walked home very satisfied.   Really nice atmosphere in the dining room too.  Actually we do like Kimba very much, it’s a great place, clean as a whistle and neat as a pin as they say it the classics.  

We’ve decided not to dilly dally in SA, one - the weather is atrocious (well it is winter) and two the whole of SA is a declared hot spot by Madam QLD.  We’ll need at least 14 days in the NT before we can get back into QLD, so time in SA is time wasted.  Although we love SA and have enjoyed it many times, not this time of the year.  There are some places in the NT that we missed last time we were there so that’s where we’re heading.  

Beautiful green crops

Another nice road today

"Bruce" the Comet Windmill 35' 'B' Pattern

Horwoods Sectional Windmill 16'

Mornos

Lunch stop

Peter's Humpy

The Australian Farmer Stylised Human Form

Not such nice weather for us, perhaps good for the farmers though

Mural at Kimba Recreation Reserve (close-ups below)

Motel reception of the Kimba Gateway Hotel

Dining room

Silo art at Kimba

Day 101: Fri 30 Jul - Free Camp WA to Free Camp Yalata SA, 610 km; total towed 10 795 km

 10-24 degC, lovely and sunny with an annoying westerly wind

The free camp last night was excellent, dark, quiet and all to ourselves apart from one other van some distance away through the bush.  

There was a good and bad side with the wind today; it made for great fuel economy and driving conditions as it was directly behind us, but bad because once you stepped outside it nearly blew you away.  The rig absolutely cruised along, 98-100 km/h at 1 750 revs.  Coupled with the fact that the Nullabor is pretty flat, it was a good day to keep driving.   Apart from comfort stops, mornos and lunch we just pointed the rig East and kept going.  However we couldn't go past the Great Aussie Bight without taking a look over the edge, although it was good to get back in the truck out of the wind.   Apparently gusts were up to 68 km/h.  Looking at the shadows of the clouds just about passing us, we reckon it would be over 100 km/h higher up.   Over 600 km is a big day with the van on the back but again we did it pretty easy.  

Another great free camp about 5 km from Yalata, although this one is a little closer to the highway.  

Nice road today

Pretty flowers at Great Australian Bight Marine Park

Great Australian Bight

Interesting - bicoloured ocean

Camp near Yalata

 

Day 100: Thu 29 Jul - Kalgoorlie to Free Camp near Caiguna, 561 km; total towed: 10 185 km

6-23 degC, much warmer today as soon as we turned to the East; the stiff breeze is still there though

Yay, we made it to day 100 on the road.

Up before the sparrows and after a coffee we were on the road by 6:45 am.  Refuelled ourselves (brekky) and the tug (diesel) at Norseman about 9:30 am.  Had a quick look around town but due to the lazy wind we did it from the comfort of the truck.  Nice little place, and had scheduled an overnighter here on this trip, however, due to the weather, we kept moving. So, we threatened to stay for a couple of days next time.  Back on Highway #1 and finally heading East.  The temperature in the truck started to climb almost immediately and it wasn't long before Wendy was reaching for the aircon button.   Only because she was sitting on the sunny side.  

Although we ended up with 561 km under our tyres today it didn't seem that far.  The recently serviced truck purred along nicely and with a stiff tail wind we sat on about 98-100 km/h effortlessly.   The smooth, wide WA roads make it a real pleasure to drive.  Lunch was taken in the middle of nowhere at a pullover stop.  Refuelled again at Caiguna about 5 km from our free camp for tonight.  Nice to start afresh in the morning with a full tank.  

We applied for our SA Border Pass when we had phone service (which was pretty good all day) and after only a few minutes received an approval email back.  We'll get another email tomorrow, the day we enter SA, with final instructions.  Our brains must not have been working well yesterday as we purchased some fruit and veg, completely forgetting that you can't take most of them into SA.  So as soon as we stopped this afternoon Wendy got to work and cooked/froze those prohibited items. We will have lunch just before we cross the border tomorrow and use up that which we did not eat/cook/freeze then. 

A few minutes of standing under the stars, then it was time for settling down for the night.

Leaving Kalgoorlie-Boulder

The sun came out very briefly

Horse statue at Norseman

Main street of Norseman

Dark and gloomy

Light and sunny

Free camp near Caiguna