2016 Holidays - Days 42 to 49

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 2^nd 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 1^st lookout – 1^st whales. Checked out the 2^nd and 3^rd 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 1^st 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 5^th 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.