Day 42 -
Kalgoorlie – Super Pit Tour
Had to be in town by 9:15 to go on the Super Pit Tour so
headed off at 8:45 for the 10 km trip to town. But we found out on a Saturday
morning at that time there is very little traffic so arrived well before we
needed to. At about 9:00 we booked in and prepared for the Super Pit Tour. When
we had been in Kalgoorlie in 2014 we had booked for the 2 ½ hour tour but it
was cancelled due to rain. The only tour they were running this weekend was the
1 ½ hour tour and it was overcast so we were worried this one might get
cancelled. Found out later that a few had been cancelled during the week due to
rain. The tour takes you to see the big trucks (from within a coach) and the
equipment behind the scenes. They then take you for a drive around some of the
roads along the top of the pit and to 2 lookouts within the mine precinct which
gives a different view than from the lookout for the general public. We could
see how muddy it was and are not surprised they cancel the tour when it is wet.
We even saw one of the huge tip trucks sliding in the mud.
Joy was glad to get the chance to ask questions about how
they organise what trucks go to what diggers down in the pit, because when we
were here in 2014, she couldn’t help but notice how inefficient it was (once a
business analyst, always a business analyst) – there were multiple trucks lined
up at one digger and no trucks at another digger. Turns out that isn’t supposed
to happen – they have people sitting in a hut up the top directing the trucks
around, with the main aim of making sure they go where they are most needed.
(no photos from the tour yet as we need permission from KCMG who own the mine before we can publish photos from the tour. What this space!!)
After the tour we picked up fresh bread rolls for lunch and
back to the cabin for morning tea and lunch.
Then to Harvey Norman for an external disk as Joy’s laptop
is getting close to being full. Next stop was the Kalgoorlie Museum which had
the Australia Geographic Wildlife Photo Competition photos on display. Some
very amazing photos. Also looked around the museum’s normal displays about gold
and Kalgoorlie. The Museum is free but they ask for a $5 donation which we were
happy to pay.
Last stop before heading back to the cabin was the Super Pit
Lookout (the one for the general public) to take some photos to compare with 2
years ago. Very cold and windy by now so glad to get into the warmth of the
cabin.
 |
Super Pit from Public Lookout - Top photo 2014, bottom photo 2016
You can see how much rock has been removed in the 22 months since we were there last. |
Day 43 –
Kalgoorlie – Rest Day
Today was a day of rest so it was a late start. We walked to
the Blaze Café in Boulder which was a 2 kilometre walk each way. Had scones,
jam and cream with coffee/milkshake.
Checked out the lolly shop, which was very basic, before
walking back to the caravan park. Spent the afternoon packing, reading, writing
blog, sorting photos, etc.
Day 44 –
Kalgoorlie to Cocklebiddy
Back on the road today as we start the trip back to
Bathurst. Another long day with 622 km planned so on the road at 7:30 as we
also lose 45 minutes as we pass through a time zone change today. Most
Australians know there is an hour and a half difference between Western
Australia and South Australia, BUT most DON’T know that when crossing the
Nullarbor you actually have 2 time zones, each with 45 minutes change – so there
is Western Australian time and Central Western Australian time.
Left Kalgoorlie in the rain after finishing the packing in
the drizzling rain. As we had refuelled 2 days ago we did not need to do so
today so it was out of town straight away. We passed through a location called
“Widgiemooltha” which Joy thinks is a great name for a place (at least she is
consistent, as last time we came through here she liked it to. Les took a photo
of the sign). The tavern there is the Widgie Tavern (and other than the caravan
park is about the only building in town). Had to pull off the side of the road
to allow a wide load to pass by which was 2 trucks with the Dump Truck Bucket
(the thing the soil goes in) of the huge trucks from the Super Pit. These ones
were however painted pink and we do not know why. They took up the whole width
of the road.
 |
| Wide, wide load. |
Stopped at “Café on Roberts” in Norseman. We have had
morning tea there before and it was great so we gave it another try and we were
not disappointed. The prices are very good and Les’ milkshake filled one of the
take away milkshake containers and with very little froth and only $5.
Refuelled (or actually just topped up as it was less than $20 in fuel but out
here you fill up when you can and Norseman is cheaper than on the road
east). Norseman is at one end of what
everyone calls the Nullarbor but in fact the Nullarbor is actually only a very
small part of the trip across Australia.
We had been travelling through on and off showers and this
continued as we headed east.
 |
| Preparing us for the 90 Mile Straight! |
About 30 km west of Balladonia we passed a
motorbike that was towing a boat!! There was also a support vehicle so we think
it might be a charity thing. We have been seeing quite a few Wedgetail Eagles,
some being very large (they are all large, being Australia’s largest birds, but
these were very large). These are
magnificent animals and we are glad to see so many as they were endangered at
one stage. We drove the 90 mile straight with Les doing the first part and
after lunch Joy did the second part. In 2014 Joy did the first part and Les did
the 2nd part but in the opposite direction so Joy has done the
eastern part twice and Les has done the western side twice. Need to rectify
this next time. We stopped at a rest stop for lunch and there were 3 caravans
there. One had a couple travelling back to Western Australia and they had their
Ragdoll cat travelling with them. It had a harness and lead and normally they
let it have a run but as it was wet and muddy it only had the run of the
caravan, but had its eye on the birds in the rest area. Heard of taking dogs on
holidays but never cats!! But then this cat seemed to be pretty much like a
dog…
Arrived at Cocklebiddy Inn at 4:00 pm (Central Western
Australian time) and checked in and had afternoon tea. The rain had cleared but
it was still overcast. Relaxed before heading into restaurant for tea. Les had
Seafood Basket and Joy had Chicken Parma with chips and salad.
Day 45 –
Cocklebiddy to Nullarbor Roadhouse
It rained overnight which was the rain band that we had
travelled through yesterday catching up to us again. Started to rain again as
we started packing the car but managed to get it done without getting wet.
After refuelling we checked out the aviary, where they have 2 Wedgetail Eagles
that have been injured and cannot be released into the wild. We heard the night
before that they spent $30,000 on the aviary. Naturally the symbol for
Cocklebiddy is the Wedgetail!!!
 |
| Glad we were not camping. Cocklebiddy. |
Arrived at Madura Pass at 9:25 and the temperature had
dropped to 11 degrees. Madura Pass is where you drop from the range down to the
lower part of the area. It is one of a few places where we can prove that the
trip is not flat all the way. Once you drop off the range the road follows the
edge of the range for a long way. At one point the road is very close to the
range and is called Moodini Bluff and we stopped at the rest area for morning
tea where a Grey Nomad was cooking something in a rice cooker on one of the
picnic tables.
 |
| Sunshine ahead, storms behind. |
Lunch was at the Border of WA/SA where we had to move our
watches forward another 45 minutes. After lunch we started looking for the
Lookouts over the cliffs and found the first one fairly soon but it is the
plainest of the lookouts as it is at the western end, and the cliffs are not
very spectacular. As we pulled up a lady told us the flies were bad but also
pointed out the whale(s) breaching in the distance (too far out to photograph).
So 1st lookout – 1st whales. Checked out the 2nd
and 3rd lookouts but no more whales.
 |
| Nullarbor Cliffs |
Arrived at Nullarbor Roadhouse and checked in at 3:45 and it
is a warm 23 degrees and we are still dressed for 15 degree type weather.
Afternoon tea and relaxing before heading in to the restaurant for tea. The
woman who we met at the 1st lookout ordered just before us and when
Les went into the restaurant he got waylaid by her and she asked us to sit at
her table which we did. She lives in Perth and is travelling to Sydney to go to
the Quilt and Craft Fair and catch up with friends. What some people will do
for craft stuff!!
Joy had Spring Rolls and salad and Les had Beef &
Guinness Pie with Chips and Peas. We have found that out here they serve LOTS
of chips.
Day 46 – Nullarbor
to Streaky Bay
Had rain overnight and woke to overcast skies this morning.
It started to break up while we were having breakfast and so we decided to do
the Head of the Bight and see if there were any whales about. Packed the car,
refuelled (at $1.71.5 per litre) and headed east at about 8:20 and arrived at
the Head of the Bight at 8:40. There were about a dozen whales that we could
see including 3 (?) calves. They were mostly just lounging around and not all
that active although some of the calves were doing some flipper splashing.
After about an hour watching the whales we were back on the road heading east
which is what we did for the rest of the day, headed east!
 |
| Kingfisher, Head of the Bight |
 |
| Whale tail, Head of the Bight |
 |
| Head of the Bight. The black mark in the water is a whale. |
 |
| Head of the Bight |
 |
| Head of the Bight |
 |
| Head of the Bight |
 |
| Mother and Calf, Head of the Bight |
Stopped for morning tea and met the man we had seen
yesterday cooking at the rest stop with a rice/slow cooker. Had a yarn with him
and his wife and what he was doing was cooking stews, etc to use the vegies and
then freeze them in his motorhome as you cannot take raw fruit and vegies past
the quarantine station just west of Ceduna. They had done a trip a few years
ago when they spent 2 ½ years travelling Australia in their motorhome!! And
they are still talking to each other!!!
Stopped for lunch at Penong and disposed of our left over
veg being a lettuce and a tomato (I know tomato is technically a fruit!!).
Passed through the Quarantine station with no issues and refuelled at Ceduna at
$1.21.9 per litre. I know it is and should be more expensive on the Nullarbor,
but 50 cents per litre (or 40% more)!! Most places on the Nullarbor are selling
fuel at about $.70 to $1.75 per litre.
New addition to the Road Kill tally today with a dead cat
(probably feral as was in the middle of nowhere).
Arrived at Streaky Bay at 3:30 and booked into the cabin,
unpacked, afternoon tea and headed out to do the shopping. Back to the cabin to
relax and had Twisties (Yes Anne! – Cheese Twisties) for pre-dinner nibbles.
Day 47 – Streaky
Bay – Rest Day
When we arrived yesterday the weather was fine but the rain
has caught up again as we had a storm with lightning and thunder but only 3 mm
of rain overnight. Even had a power outage for an hour or so. Was still
overcast this morning but as it is a rest day we slept in until about 8:00 and
then had Rolled Oats for breakfast as a change from cereal.
Les did the washing and put them through the dryer and then
we had morning tea at the picnic table near the cabin with a view over Streaky
Bay. After morning tea we headed into town to get fresh bread rolls for lunch
and a Vanilla Slice for Les and Chocolate Caramel slice for Joy for afternoon tea!!
Joy has been hanging out for a fresh bread roll as she is sick of the Cruskits
that we have been eating for the last few days.
Spent the afternoon packing the car, reading, catching up on
the diary and sorting pictures. Also did a walk along the beach when the
weather turned out nice.
 |
| Pelican, Streaky Bay |
Day 48 – Streaky
Bay to Port Augusta
After a beautiful afternoon and sunset we settled in for the
night but overnight it rained again. At
least this time there was no thunder, lightning (that we know of) and no power
outage. Today is another driving day but only about 400 km so up just after
7:00 with rain falling. When we were preparing breakfast the rain stopped so we
quickly packed some more stuff in the car. After breakfast and boiling water on
the stove (as the water boiled in the jug tastes funny – we have been drinking
bottled water since we left Kalgoorlie, as the tap water across the Nullarbor,
and in Streaky Bay, tastes awful) we managed to finish packing the car without
any more rain.
 |
| Streaky Bay from Cabin |
Stopped at the bakery in town for bread rolls for the next 2
days and also some treats for morning tea and then headed back towards the Eyre
Highway. Just out of town and the rain started again so we were very lucky that
we got the car packed without getting wet.
 |
| Not all roads are straight |
Had morning tea at Wudinna at a covered picnic table in the
town park. We have been here before and it is a good park with cover and
toilets. Headed east again and reached Kimba well before lunch time. Kimba’s
claim to fame is the Big Galah, and the fact that it is ½ way across Australia (not
sure where the measurements are taken from ie Sydney to Perth, etc. Something
to research!) Kept driving and stopped at Iron Knob for lunch. Iron Knob used
to be a major mining town but whilst there is still a mine there now it is much
smaller and the town is dying with most stores closed.
 |
| Not sure what this building is...Iron Knob |
 |
| Seen lots of caravans but not many this old!!! |
We were thinking of spending some time at the Arid Gardens
at Port Augusta but the weather is still looking bad with lots of dark clouds
around so we checked and we can check in to our cabin already (at about 1:00
pm) so we headed straight to Port Augusta and checked in. We didn’t go to the Arid Gardens as we have
been there before – once in the rain, and once in the dry – so we won’t miss
much by not going again.
When we arrived at Port Augusta we passed the sign pointing
to Alice Springs. This then completes the “Big Loop” as on the 5th
May we had passed this same point but we were heading north towards Coober Pedy
and Alice Springs. So 34 days later we are back where we had started the “Big
Loop”.
 |
| Completed the "Big Loop" |
Joy wandered around the park taking photos and Les caught up on diary
and Trip Advisor reviews (he types them up in a Word Document and then copies
and pastes them onto Trip Advisor when we have access).
Relaxing afternoon reading and crocheting (Joy anyway!).
Day 49 – Port
Augusta to Broken Hill
Well and truly on the homeward stretch as we head to NSW
today. Woke to fog this morning as well as rain. But again managed to pack the
car without getting wet and left Port Augusta just before 9:00 after having
refuelled. We stopped at the Servo opposite the caravan park as a lot of the
people staying at the park do but as we drove through town found out it is
about 7 cents a litre dearer than the others in town. Live and Learn!!!
Just south of Port Augusta we turn away from the coast and
climb up the ranges heading east.
 |
| Ranges south of Port Augusta |
 |
| Ranges south of Port Augusta |
 |
| Ranges south of Port Augusta |
Stopped at Orroroo (another town name we
love!) for morning tea. We have been here before and knew of a nice little
picnic spot and it had a shelter shed although at this stage the rain had
stopped but still lots of threatening clouds. Did part of the walk along the
creek and saw some aboriginal carvings. Would like to do the full walk next
time we come back (Les has already started thinking about future holidays).
Stopped at Yunta for lunch with light drizzle starting half
way through lunch. So far the rain has been nuisance rain, just enough to need
wipers and then needing the normal wipers, then no wipers, then wipers, etc.
After lunch we had everything from wipers full speed to sunny and needing sun
glasses.
Have started seeing goats and emus and in one section saw a
group of emus (have to look up what you call more than one emu!!) with probably
about 100 emus over a few hundred metres – there were so many Joy thought at
first the shapes in the paddock were stock, as in sheep or cattle (she could
only glance at them as she was driving).
 |
| RAIN!!!! |
 |
| Strange Weather!! |
We also saw what looked like a small water spout in the
clouds. On the stretch from the SA/NSW border to Broken Hill some of the creeks
were muddy water while others were dry. So the rain has been spasmodic to say
the least.
 |
| Road near Broken Hill |
Arrived in Broken Hill at about 2:45 and settled into Jadan
Cottage (great place to stay). After unpacking and having afternoon tea we
headed off to Woolworths (just 2 blocks up the road) to do the shopping.
Back to the cottage for a quiet night.
