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ADELAIDE     -     STREAKY BAY     -    CROSSING THE NULLABOR  II

 
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25-08-2007    -    Day 1

We managed to finish loading the van and move off from home by 10am, stopping at the local service station to double check tyre pressures before heading up the Main North Road past Gawler to the Clare off ramp. We then headed north through
Tarlee, Clare, Gladstone and Laura where we stopped for lunch at the 'Info' bay on the edge of town. We then passed through Melrose, and Wilmington before turning west down Horrocks Pass to Pt Augusta and the Shoreline CP where we set up for our first night of our trip to South West Australia.  We did some final shopping for some items for the van at the local Big W and then had a quiet night watching a DVD and some local TV.

26-08-2007    -    Day 2

Sunday morning and woken up early by movement at the CP as overnighters packed up and left one after the other.  We took our time and moved off at 9am  the last to leave .  On to the Eyre Highway and Kimba, Kyancutta, Wudinna and Poochera where we diverted and headed to Streaky Bay CP for a couple of days layover before the big push across the Nullarbor.  The CP was busy for this time of year. We could not get our previous site on the shoreline as the sites were being kept clear so that the electrician can maintain the power points.  It was a beautiful warm day  with the temp around 30c .  I tried out my new TV aerial which should improve reception of local stations. Changed into shorts and T shirt as it warmed up.  

27-08-2007    -    Day 3

This morning we had a lay in and late breakfast.  The wind had come up during the early hours and this was shaking the van occasionally.  The usual movement of overnighters leaving kept us entertained for a while. We were expecting a cold front to move in from the west and the accompanying strong winds from the north in front of it threw up the dust.  About mid-morning we decided to roll up the awning as the wind became stronger.  We then headed into town and bought a thermos flask and some fishing gear for the big fishing expeditions we planned to take.  Afterwards we drove around the scenic route to Cape Bauer stopping to look at the 'Whistling Rocks' and 'Blow holes' where the limestone had weathered away to make small tubes that air  and water were forced through by incoming waves. We watched as a small seal  played in the surf as the waves pounded the shore.  We then headed back to the CP to relax and watch the incoming brigade of Caravaners after lunch. Temp around 27c today. Happy hour at 4:30pm.  Going to try out the 'Dolce Rosso' (Lambrusco) that we bought today.  Cheers!

28-08-2007    -    Day 4

This morning we woke to a foggy day.  Overnight low cloud had moved in from the ocean and blanketed the landscape with fog.  Visibility was down to about 100m.  Today was another rest day, spent  shopping for a deep wok  pan as we discovered that we had left ours at home. The fog lifted about 10:30am and then the rest of the day was sunny with the temp around 22c.  We had a coffee at the local bakery and bought some more items for the van. (never ending!)  In the afternoon we sat under the awning watching the rest of day go by.  At 4:30pm it was 'happy hour' so we broke out the 'Dolce Rosso' and the peanuts and listened to the music.   After dinner we ventured outside to watch the 'Lunar Eclipse' unfold over Streaky Bay. The next 'eclipse' won't be seen for another 4 years.  Tomorrow we set off across the Nullarbor.

29-08-2007    -    Day 5

We packed up and left the Streaky Bay CP by 9;00am.  Whilst winding up the front right stabiliser  the winder decided to cease to work just as it reached the top.  It just continued turning with no up or down movement of the leg. I think a cotter pin must have given way.  Something to fix in Kalgoorlie.  We had morning break outside Penong and lunch at Nundroo.  Because we have done this part of the trip before it went quicker because we didn't stop to look at whales this time nor go to every coastal lookout.   We topped up with LPG at Nullarbor (99.9c per l tr) most expensive so far.  There were lots of interstate trucks on the road including a few road trains that managed to wiggle the old tail and frighten the navigator as the back end of the rear trailer whipped across the centreline.    
Onward to Border Village and the WA Quarantine stop .  We thought we would help the situation at the border by preparing all the vegetables and potatoes at Nundroo but when the officer went through the van she found more vegies and a bag of Kiwi fruit right at the back of the fridge.  Straight into the bin, sorry too much!
We decided to stay the night at Eucla CP so we headed off in that direction and managed to get a site before the whole CP filled up.  It is unbelievable the number of 'Nomads' on the road  this time of year.    We counted  close to a hundred in the trip between Streaky Bay and Eucla today.

30-08-2007    -    DAY 6
Everybody was up early this morning to continue their journey either east or west.  We packed up and moved off by 8:15am Eucla time and drove to Mundrabilla  where we topped up with ULP because they didn't sell LPG.  Stopped for morning coffee at Moodini Bluff rest area just east of Madura (Cmp3# 9).   More LPG at Madura Pass then on past Cocklebiddy and on to Caiguna.  Had lunch at the Caiguna R/H car park.  We then continued west to Balladonia where we stopped for the night.   Of interest to some, there is no mobile service between Eucla and Norseman.  We rang the

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