The Nullarbor.
Well our wishfull thinking re a drop in temperature for today has been realised. At 8:30am as we departed Norseman the temp was a mere 16 degrees C. The Eyre Highway has certainly received it's fair share of upgrading since our last crossing. From Norseman to Balledonia, a distance of 193km the road is a very wide 2 lanes with minimum bends. As we moved east the Nullarbor beckoned with its timeless landscape engulfing us with one breathtaking vista after another. Vast salt lakes, which are believed to be relics of ancient river systems are situated on both sides of the highway. Traffic is minimal so we are able to cruise along comfortably at the speed limit, consequently the huge distances between civilization are quickly gobbled up. The highway has now narrowed a little, but is a dead straight ribbon of ashphalt stretching as far as the eye can see.
A further 182 km to Caiguna where we had a picnic lunch stop under the shade of a picnic shelter adjacent to the roadhouse. Temperature is a mere 23, 20 degrees below yesterday at the same time. We swapped drivers back at Balledonia, with Gail taking over from me for her two hour stint. After lunch, Jim took a turn at the wheel for the next 100km, then Kevin again for the final 50km into Madura. Along the way we had to stop for some bushcraft roadside running repairs. A forward facing thin fibre/plastic cover had become dislodged under the tailshaft and every now and then dug into the road surface and sounded as though the arse end of the Subaru was about to explode. The inner front guard had also lost a retaining clip and flapped frantically in the wind at speed above 80km/h. A bit of wire picked up from the side of the road and my trusty Swiss Army knife solved the problems.
Arrived Madura around 4:15pm Central Western time and checked into the Madura Oasis Motel/Caravan Park/Roadhouse. A swim in the salt water pool went down very well, followed by dinner in the snack bar for Gail & I, the restaurant for Jim & Chris.
Tomorrow our target destination is Streaky Bay, south east of Ceduna, a distance of 750km.
Kevin & Gail.
http://kevinandgail.blogspot.com
A further 182 km to Caiguna where we had a picnic lunch stop under the shade of a picnic shelter adjacent to the roadhouse. Temperature is a mere 23, 20 degrees below yesterday at the same time. We swapped drivers back at Balledonia, with Gail taking over from me for her two hour stint. After lunch, Jim took a turn at the wheel for the next 100km, then Kevin again for the final 50km into Madura. Along the way we had to stop for some bushcraft roadside running repairs. A forward facing thin fibre/plastic cover had become dislodged under the tailshaft and every now and then dug into the road surface and sounded as though the arse end of the Subaru was about to explode. The inner front guard had also lost a retaining clip and flapped frantically in the wind at speed above 80km/h. A bit of wire picked up from the side of the road and my trusty Swiss Army knife solved the problems.
Arrived Madura around 4:15pm Central Western time and checked into the Madura Oasis Motel/Caravan Park/Roadhouse. A swim in the salt water pool went down very well, followed by dinner in the snack bar for Gail & I, the restaurant for Jim & Chris.
Tomorrow our target destination is Streaky Bay, south east of Ceduna, a distance of 750km.
Kevin & Gail.
http://kevinandgail.blogspot.com
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posted by KevinH | 1:24 PM
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