THE PINNACLES at Nambung National Park near Cervantes in W.A.
Lots of water laying around as we approached the Nullarbor Plain after heavy rains overnight. This is at Mundrabilla Roadhouse at dawn
Streaky Bay in S.A.Wednesday 19th
Packed up and left Port Denison. This is the last of our API accommodation now.
We took off down the coast road, through Jurien Bay and down to Cervantes where we had a picnic brunch on the waterfront.
Then it was another 17km's down the road from Cervantes to the Nambung National Park to view the PINNACLES.
We did not know what to expect when we got there, but there was a Parks Ranger at the gate and we had to pay $11 for the car to enter. The Pinnacles are in a desert environment and there is a track around the national park that you can self drive around and view the Pinnacles. It was totally well worth the trip and the $11 fee to get in, we thought that there would only be a handful of Pinnacles to see in a small area, but, there must have been over 200 acres of them that we could drive around and look at, and get out and walk at anytime we liked. They were really awesome, highly recommended!
Then we turned the car east for the first time since the 1st of May. Across country to Moora where we had a picnic snack and an ice cream. Back in the car again and off to our next stop - NEW NORCIA - This little town out in the middle of no-where is owned by Benedictine Monks. The achitecture is totally awesome, you can stay there in the caravan park or at the hotel, go for tours of the cathedral and join the monks for prayers. As long as you are there before 4.30pm. Unfortunately it was 4.45pm when we got to the town. We didn't know where we were staying that night, the options were Toodyay or Northam.
Toodyay didn't look too friendly so we continued on to Northam. It got dark just as we arrived in Northam, we followed the signs to the caravan park hoping to get a cabin as we didn't relish the idea of putting the tent up in the dark. We had been on the road since 9am and it was 6.15pm by this time. Along the way we saw a pub that had accommodation units behind it, so thought we could go back there if we couldn't find anything else. We drove through the centre of town and it was looking very feral. There were a few pubs in the middle of town offering accommodation, but there was no off-street parking, and we had 4 weeks of clothing and gear in the vehicle which we didn't feel like leaving parked in a public place over night.
We found the caravan park but office hours closed at 6pm,. I rang the bell but no-one came , while I waited, I was getting an increasingly bad feeling about the caravan park, it looked like a shanty town with permanent residents, there were no tourist cabins that we could see. So we gave up and went back into the town again. We found a proper motel, but they had the no-vacancy sign out. By the looks of the vehicles there, it seems that the place was full of tradesmen staying there. So, we went back to the first pub we had seen on our way into the town. The units at the back were converted 'demountable' buildings. (simply a motel room with an ensuite in each) The good thing was that the units were surrounded by high fences with razor wire on top and a heavy lockable gate. We went to the bar to see if they had any vacancies, the girl said there was one room left but unfortunately there was no TV in the room. We thought that was fine as we would go out for a meal in the town and then have an early night. The bed was comfy, the room was clean, there was not more else we could ask for.
We went to a Chinese restaurant for dinner. We were given complimentary prawn crackers while waiting for our meals. The good thing was that the serves were so generous, they put our left overs in a takeaway container which we could take away and re-heat for tomorrows lunch!.
THURSDAY 20th May
Left Northam around 8am after a quiet night at the Avon Bridge Hotel units. Destination: KALGOORLIE today.
Along the way we stopped at a huge roadhouse at Tammin for petrol, then after Southern Cross we pulled into a roadside rest spot where we got the BBQ and Wok out and re-heated our left over Chinese from the night before for our lunch.
When we got to Kalgoorlie we drove around and got lost a few times, checked out the Miners Hall of Fame, then went up to the Super Pit. There was a sign there saying that they would be blasting in the pit at 5pm. So off we went and found Viann's work, then got lost trying to find Micks work. Then it was back up to the Super Pit to watch the blast. Well, every tourist in Kalgoorlie must have known that blasting had been re-scheduled for 5pm (normally they blast at 1pm) We managed to find a parking spot and pushed our way in amongst the crowd at the viewing platform. What happened next was really awesome, right on 5pm the ground under our feet shook violently (even though the charges were in the pit below, almost 2km's away) At the same time we could see the lights/flash of the charges going off around the base of the pit before we heard the bang. Then there were some puffs of dust where the blast had taken place, this gradually rose and got bigger as the dust cloud spread. Next the smell of the explosives hit. So it was a real mixture of senses. You could Feel the blast, See the blast, Hear the blast and Smell the blast.
We were lucky, this was a larger than normal blast today. Mick's workshop is not far from the Pit and he said he normally can't feel the blasts but todays shook his building. BONUS.
FRIDAY: 21st May
This morning we went to visit an underground mine. We went down a shaft in a cage (similar to what they use at Beaconsfield) It was scary, but also exciting to do. We went down around 35 metres underground and were shown around by an old miner by the name of Jim. We got to walk around the tunnels and Jim explained how they used to extract the gold in days goneby.
After we were safely delivered to the surface, we went to view a gold pour. They melted the gold in a furnace and poured an ingot.
Then we did some gold panning and found a few minute pieces of gold which we could keep.
Then we went to visit Mick and Beanie at the workshop before we went and got some lunch down town. Then I received a phone call on my mobile from the manager of the Avon Bridge Hotel we had stayed at on Wednesday night asking us what we had done with the TV in the room we had stayed in last night.
1: We didn't stay there last night, it was the night before last.
2: The girl informed us before she gave us the room key that there was no TV in the room.
He took a bit of convincing and I rang him back again a couple of hours later to confirm with him that he had spoken to the girl that checked us in on Wednesday that she already knew that the TV was missing before we got there and that they were not going to add any extra charges to our credit card. GRRRRR.
That night Viann and Mick took us on a guided tour of a bordello (Langree's on Hay Street) Very interesting.
Then we met up with Cathy and Chris and went to the York Hotel for dinner. We all had seafood and it was yummm!
Then they took us for a drink in a Skimpy bar. Some of the girls working behind the bar were not wearing tops but when the police raided the place they covered up. Before we went back to the car we walked through Paddys Bar and the same police were in there, apparently they have to sign a book at each bar they visit to verify that they had done checks on the premises that night (in the interests of public safety I think)
SATURDAY: 22nd May
Left Kalgoorlie by 8am this morning, headed out through Boulder (lots of damage to their old pubs in the recent earthquake there, some of the buildings will need to be demolished) Then it was out to Kambalda for a quick look on our way to Norseman. Refuelled at Norseman and got some lunch to eat on the way across the Nullarbor.
We made it to Balladonia by lunchtime so stopped for a picnic and to stretch the legs a bit. Then the next stop was Cocklebiddy to refuel. A white Hummer had passed us before Cocklebiddy and they were there refuelling too. They soon overtook us again after leaving Cocklebiddy. About 40 km's up the road there was a crashed Toyota Ute with Vic number plates on one side of the road and on the other side there was an enclosed trailer laying on its side. Just as we did a U-turn to go and check to see if there were any bodies in the Ute, the guys in the Hummer turned around and came back too. They checked the cab of the Ute but there was no one there. Peter felt the engine and it was cold, so it must have happened earlier in the day. The Ute had flipped end to end, the trailer must have jack knifed and come un-hitched,. There was also a gas BBQ and fridge in the back of the Ute but they had been dumped when the vehicled rolled. Their personal effects were strewn all over the place. The vehicle was a write off by the looks. It was not a very nice sight to come across on the hway. Mobile phones don't work in that area and the nearest satellite phone was back about 10kms if we needed to call for help. We didn't hear anything on the news tonight so we assume the occupants got out ok.
We continued on to Madura Pass where we got a room at the inn. To our surprise the guys in the white Hummer had checked into the room next door. They had left Kalgoorlie this morning too. AND, they are aiming for Streaky Bay tomorrow, just as we are.
Tomorrow will be another huge day on the road and the weather forecast is not looking good. Either way we will stop for a couple of days down Streaky Bay way (on the coast past Ceduna) We will be able to by-pass a lot of the Nullarbor/Eyre Hway as the road goes in from Ceduna and you can go right thru to Port Lincoln if you want to (We probably won't, we will most likely get back on the main road near Port Augusta.
Packed up and left Port Denison. This is the last of our API accommodation now.
We took off down the coast road, through Jurien Bay and down to Cervantes where we had a picnic brunch on the waterfront.
Then it was another 17km's down the road from Cervantes to the Nambung National Park to view the PINNACLES.
We did not know what to expect when we got there, but there was a Parks Ranger at the gate and we had to pay $11 for the car to enter. The Pinnacles are in a desert environment and there is a track around the national park that you can self drive around and view the Pinnacles. It was totally well worth the trip and the $11 fee to get in, we thought that there would only be a handful of Pinnacles to see in a small area, but, there must have been over 200 acres of them that we could drive around and look at, and get out and walk at anytime we liked. They were really awesome, highly recommended!
Then we turned the car east for the first time since the 1st of May. Across country to Moora where we had a picnic snack and an ice cream. Back in the car again and off to our next stop - NEW NORCIA - This little town out in the middle of no-where is owned by Benedictine Monks. The achitecture is totally awesome, you can stay there in the caravan park or at the hotel, go for tours of the cathedral and join the monks for prayers. As long as you are there before 4.30pm. Unfortunately it was 4.45pm when we got to the town. We didn't know where we were staying that night, the options were Toodyay or Northam.
Toodyay didn't look too friendly so we continued on to Northam. It got dark just as we arrived in Northam, we followed the signs to the caravan park hoping to get a cabin as we didn't relish the idea of putting the tent up in the dark. We had been on the road since 9am and it was 6.15pm by this time. Along the way we saw a pub that had accommodation units behind it, so thought we could go back there if we couldn't find anything else. We drove through the centre of town and it was looking very feral. There were a few pubs in the middle of town offering accommodation, but there was no off-street parking, and we had 4 weeks of clothing and gear in the vehicle which we didn't feel like leaving parked in a public place over night.
We found the caravan park but office hours closed at 6pm,. I rang the bell but no-one came , while I waited, I was getting an increasingly bad feeling about the caravan park, it looked like a shanty town with permanent residents, there were no tourist cabins that we could see. So we gave up and went back into the town again. We found a proper motel, but they had the no-vacancy sign out. By the looks of the vehicles there, it seems that the place was full of tradesmen staying there. So, we went back to the first pub we had seen on our way into the town. The units at the back were converted 'demountable' buildings. (simply a motel room with an ensuite in each) The good thing was that the units were surrounded by high fences with razor wire on top and a heavy lockable gate. We went to the bar to see if they had any vacancies, the girl said there was one room left but unfortunately there was no TV in the room. We thought that was fine as we would go out for a meal in the town and then have an early night. The bed was comfy, the room was clean, there was not more else we could ask for.
We went to a Chinese restaurant for dinner. We were given complimentary prawn crackers while waiting for our meals. The good thing was that the serves were so generous, they put our left overs in a takeaway container which we could take away and re-heat for tomorrows lunch!.
THURSDAY 20th May
Left Northam around 8am after a quiet night at the Avon Bridge Hotel units. Destination: KALGOORLIE today.
Along the way we stopped at a huge roadhouse at Tammin for petrol, then after Southern Cross we pulled into a roadside rest spot where we got the BBQ and Wok out and re-heated our left over Chinese from the night before for our lunch.
When we got to Kalgoorlie we drove around and got lost a few times, checked out the Miners Hall of Fame, then went up to the Super Pit. There was a sign there saying that they would be blasting in the pit at 5pm. So off we went and found Viann's work, then got lost trying to find Micks work. Then it was back up to the Super Pit to watch the blast. Well, every tourist in Kalgoorlie must have known that blasting had been re-scheduled for 5pm (normally they blast at 1pm) We managed to find a parking spot and pushed our way in amongst the crowd at the viewing platform. What happened next was really awesome, right on 5pm the ground under our feet shook violently (even though the charges were in the pit below, almost 2km's away) At the same time we could see the lights/flash of the charges going off around the base of the pit before we heard the bang. Then there were some puffs of dust where the blast had taken place, this gradually rose and got bigger as the dust cloud spread. Next the smell of the explosives hit. So it was a real mixture of senses. You could Feel the blast, See the blast, Hear the blast and Smell the blast.
We were lucky, this was a larger than normal blast today. Mick's workshop is not far from the Pit and he said he normally can't feel the blasts but todays shook his building. BONUS.
FRIDAY: 21st May
This morning we went to visit an underground mine. We went down a shaft in a cage (similar to what they use at Beaconsfield) It was scary, but also exciting to do. We went down around 35 metres underground and were shown around by an old miner by the name of Jim. We got to walk around the tunnels and Jim explained how they used to extract the gold in days goneby.
After we were safely delivered to the surface, we went to view a gold pour. They melted the gold in a furnace and poured an ingot.
Then we did some gold panning and found a few minute pieces of gold which we could keep.
Then we went to visit Mick and Beanie at the workshop before we went and got some lunch down town. Then I received a phone call on my mobile from the manager of the Avon Bridge Hotel we had stayed at on Wednesday night asking us what we had done with the TV in the room we had stayed in last night.
1: We didn't stay there last night, it was the night before last.
2: The girl informed us before she gave us the room key that there was no TV in the room.
He took a bit of convincing and I rang him back again a couple of hours later to confirm with him that he had spoken to the girl that checked us in on Wednesday that she already knew that the TV was missing before we got there and that they were not going to add any extra charges to our credit card. GRRRRR.
That night Viann and Mick took us on a guided tour of a bordello (Langree's on Hay Street) Very interesting.
Then we met up with Cathy and Chris and went to the York Hotel for dinner. We all had seafood and it was yummm!
Then they took us for a drink in a Skimpy bar. Some of the girls working behind the bar were not wearing tops but when the police raided the place they covered up. Before we went back to the car we walked through Paddys Bar and the same police were in there, apparently they have to sign a book at each bar they visit to verify that they had done checks on the premises that night (in the interests of public safety I think)
SATURDAY: 22nd May
Left Kalgoorlie by 8am this morning, headed out through Boulder (lots of damage to their old pubs in the recent earthquake there, some of the buildings will need to be demolished) Then it was out to Kambalda for a quick look on our way to Norseman. Refuelled at Norseman and got some lunch to eat on the way across the Nullarbor.
We made it to Balladonia by lunchtime so stopped for a picnic and to stretch the legs a bit. Then the next stop was Cocklebiddy to refuel. A white Hummer had passed us before Cocklebiddy and they were there refuelling too. They soon overtook us again after leaving Cocklebiddy. About 40 km's up the road there was a crashed Toyota Ute with Vic number plates on one side of the road and on the other side there was an enclosed trailer laying on its side. Just as we did a U-turn to go and check to see if there were any bodies in the Ute, the guys in the Hummer turned around and came back too. They checked the cab of the Ute but there was no one there. Peter felt the engine and it was cold, so it must have happened earlier in the day. The Ute had flipped end to end, the trailer must have jack knifed and come un-hitched,. There was also a gas BBQ and fridge in the back of the Ute but they had been dumped when the vehicled rolled. Their personal effects were strewn all over the place. The vehicle was a write off by the looks. It was not a very nice sight to come across on the hway. Mobile phones don't work in that area and the nearest satellite phone was back about 10kms if we needed to call for help. We didn't hear anything on the news tonight so we assume the occupants got out ok.
We continued on to Madura Pass where we got a room at the inn. To our surprise the guys in the white Hummer had checked into the room next door. They had left Kalgoorlie this morning too. AND, they are aiming for Streaky Bay tomorrow, just as we are.
Tomorrow will be another huge day on the road and the weather forecast is not looking good. Either way we will stop for a couple of days down Streaky Bay way (on the coast past Ceduna) We will be able to by-pass a lot of the Nullarbor/Eyre Hway as the road goes in from Ceduna and you can go right thru to Port Lincoln if you want to (We probably won't, we will most likely get back on the main road near Port Augusta.
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