Getting Slack

Oh dear I forgot to do the final entry for this trip. We arrived back home to Echuca in time for lunch. Now its time to unpack, do the washing and get used to the colder weather again. In total we did 10875 kilometres (living in Echuca saves us about a 1000 Kms). We were fortunate to only have to replace one tyre and the only other problem was our windscreen washers stopped working (fixed that already – just a blocked filter), other than that the vehicle behaved flawlessly.

So that’s it for this trip … now where to next?

On The Road To Manangatang

The Mount Mary Hotel in all its glory

Oh what a night… well we had a great time at the Mount Mary Hotel last night, top food, just about any drink you could imagine, even Chocolate Port that we had to have considering we first tasted it 13 years ago at this very pub. Mind you the hospitality this time was a vast improvement – last time the publican couldn’t be bothered letting us a room or providing a bar meal and we ended up cooking a meal ourselves on the Hotel barbecue and eating our meal in the bar.

Smokey BBQ Pork Ribs, Mount Mary S.A.
Crumbed Sausages and Gravy, Mount Mary HOtel S.A.

We headed off this morning and stopped for morning tea at the Renmark Patisserie before moving south and finally re-entering Victoria before making our way down to Ouyen then across to Manangatang where we have set up camp in the RV Stop here

Desert and Chocolate Port

Tomorrow we will be back home in Echuca, having done just over 10500kms

Mount Mary Hotel For Dinner

Harvest Moon rising over the Georgetown Bowling Green.

We’ve achieved our goal and reached Mount Mary after leaving Georgetown and travelling through the Clare Valley, admiring all the stone houses. Arrived at Mount Mary at lunchtime so a quick bite to eat and we will just relax for the rest of the afternoon before taking on the nightlife at Mount Mary Hotel. It’s only taken us 13 years to get back to here!

Our campsite at Mount Mary before the hordes arrive.

To Georgetown

The old Anglican Church built circa 1877 Georgetown S.A.

We set out this morning for the relatively short drive from Kimba to Georgetown (287kms). We’ve clocked up 10,000 kms so far so this was just a jaunt down the road. They have a free RV Camp here with toilets and coin operated showers. We decided to stay here as it leaves us another short run to Mount Mary where we plan to have dinner at the hotel tomorrow night, some thirteen years since we were last there. Coincidentally, that was on the return trip from Western Australia in our slide-ons.

The Georgetown Hotel as pretty as a picture.

Georgetown was settled in the 1870s but by the end of the Second World War its grandeur had faded as farming practices changed and the population dwindled. The hotel is for sale ($500,000 so Ive been told) but I’m guessing with opening hours limited to 4.00 pm to 10.00 pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday you wont want it to be your main source of income. The other historic buildings are all in need of some love and attention, even those converted to private dwellings are showing signs of deterioration. There goes history once again.

Nothing to See Here

Cold, who said anything about cold? Kimba S.A.

We left Ceduna and headed east toward Kimba. We had a morning of intermittent rain but it cleared after lunch (which we had at Wundilla). We reached Kimba at around two and set up camp at the showground. Unfortunately, the cool wind returned so after dinner it was a quick drink and back inside ion the warm. On to Georgetown tomorrow.

Back to Ceduna

Our ghostly travelling companions, 222 k Peg Rest Stop S.A.

Well we’re well and truly back into South Australia, got blown most of the way to Ceduna although this time it wasn’t all in the right direction. Passed through the quarantine station and then the compulsory IGA shop to restock on fresh fruit and vegetables. We will stay in Ceduna tonight and continue east tomorrow.

The brilliant moon over our freecamp 222k Peg Rest Area S.A.

Over the Border

The wind blown Great Australian Bight S.A.

We left accompanied by a tailwind that really improved our fuel economy (20% less fuel, I’m liking it). This section of the trip can be a bit monotonous, especially as we had overcast skies all the way. We called into Eucla to refuel (and so Bob could check on his missing caravan step – nothing to see here). We did a brief call in to have a look at the Great Australian Bight, but the wind won so there was only time for a quick photo shoot before back into the vehicles and moving on.

Our camp at 222k Peg Rest Stop S.A.

We reached our destination at 222k Peg Rest Stop and set up camp among the bush to try and escape the wind. It looks threatening , we may have rain tonight. Certainly no fire as the wind is to blustery especially in this bush setting. Hasn’t stopped the grey gonads next door from lighting their fire. Some people just don’t think.

Another group of morons on the road are those that stop at rest areas, urinate and then just leave their toilet paper strewn around the rest area. Put it in the bin you idiots! Today we came across one area where people have urinated into milk bottles and just dumped them on the side of the rest area. It’s just so moronic its unbelievable. Sadly they wont read this blog (they probably can’t read anyway).

Getting Serious Now

Stargazing at Newman Rocks W.A.

We’re definitely on the homeward journey now. We left Newman Rocks and headed east to the longest stretch of straight road in Australia (so the sign says 146 kms). Travelling was pretty easy today with a nice tail wind for the majority 0f the trip. We rocked into our free camp at Moodini Bluff in 35 degree heat, certainly a turnaround from our trip over when we had skiffy rain all day and went to bed early as it was chilly. I’m guessing we might sit outside tonight once the flies go.

Redback under a bright moon and sparkling stars Newman Rocks W.A.

Return to Newman Rocks

The only wildlife I saw at the waterhole, Newman Rocks W.A.

We left Coolgardie and headed off to Norseman to refuel and have lunch before setting out for Newman Rocks where we free camped on the way over. This time we made it into camp quite early so were able to explore the rock formation a bit more. Natural depressions provide waterholes after rain periods and some pastoralist had even built a concrete wall on the last soak to make it a semi-permanent water hole.

Another beautiful wildflower at Newman Rocks W.A.

Apparently the area teems with wildlife but, as I was cooking dinner< I couldn’t go down to catch any wildlife at dusk . It will be a rather hot night indoors tonight as the temperature reached 33 degrees today with a blustery wind. The wind has gone now and its very pleasant sitting out under the stars

The Australian Bush at its best Newman Rocks W.A.

Yeah but are we safe at Coolgardie?

We left camp at nine and headed up to the local Foodworks to do some restocking before heading down to the town oval for the Yirgan Agricultural Show. The oval was immaculate and there was a steady stream of attendees although a lot more were waiting up the street for the 10.30 parade, obviously the highlight of the social calendar in Southern Cross. We checked out the arts, crafts and cookery exhibitions at which the local schools had made great entries. Lyn Price (whoever she may be) dominated the craft and floral sections and no doubt the conversation around the CWA meetings for the next few months.

The Crux Australis over Southern Cross W.A.
The grand Club Hotel at Southern Cross W.A.

We refuelled and headed just out of town for a cuppa and to peruse the memorial signs at the old cemetery (open from 1881 to 1898 before the town’s cemetery was relocated) which recorded the names of the dead and their cause of death. Sad to see so many infants dying of what we would consider easily treated illnesses today – diarrhoea, gastroenteritis and the like. Particularly poignant we’re to infant girls, twins, who died at 6 weeks due to marasmus. This is a protein form of malnutrition often caused when mothers themselves have insufficient food leading to reduced quantity and quality of breast milk.

Students’ artwork at the Show

We hit the road again this time with a tailwind and travelled as far as Coolgardie where we have stopped in the less than pretty RV Stop to freecamp overnight before heading back to the Nullarbor Plain. Telephone service will be pretty hit and miss for the next few days so don’t know when the next update will come. I have to say I’m impressed with Apple’s new SOS satellite service available on their iPhone 14 Pros that allows you to log your location via satellite when out of normal mobile phone coverage and in the event of an emergency allows you to text 000 with details of your emergency along with your location.

Sideshow alley at the Show