Notes from the Road

     So I put my sister on a plane on Friday and left the same day to return to Alice Springs. I had about 2500kms ahead of me, over 1000kms of that was bush roads, so I knew it was going to be a bit of a challenge, but since I had already driven that same bush road just a few weeks prior, I wasn't real worried. I was prepared for the journey, and packed everything I needed and set out Friday morning about 8am. I managed to make it as far as Leonora and was pretty tired that night, so parked the car in a powered camping site and crawled into the back where I'd arranged the foamies into a bed. To hell with setting up the tent yet again, I couldn't be bothered. All I wanted was to stretch out and watch some Survivor that I had downloaded the night before.
     I managed a few winks and set out again the next morning about 7:30am and once I was past Laverton, I was back on the Great Central Road, which is a dirt/sand/gravel bush road. The road was in good condition and I made good time. I knew I could make it from gas station to gas station without running out, but had filled a jerry can just in case, and was lucky I did. The roadhouse at Warburton was closed by the time I got there, so I simply filled up on my own and kept on going. I was even more tired by the time I got to the Warrakuna Roadhouse, and dark was upon me for the last 50kms, but I took my time, kept my eyes peeled for kangaroos and camels in the road, and made it safely. I crawled into the back of the rig again and watched more Survivor and some Big Bang Theory before settling in for some much needed sleep. The rain started throughout the night and was loud enough on the roof of my car, and all I could think about was, dammit, what is the rain doing to the bush road. I only had about 3 hours left on it, but if it was a mess of mud and floodways, it could take me much longer. Thankfully it did little more than dampen down the dust and with just a few puddles here and there, the road was just fine. I finally connected to pavement again when I reached the park where Uluru/Yulara is, and I was off and running. I stopped briefly in Yulara to get some lunch, gas and a t-shirt - new line they are carrying that mimic the Hard Rock Cafe shirts - Big Rock, no Cafe...
     Then I was on the last leg to home, pedal to the metal, despite the continuing rain, and made it into Alice at about 3pm, so thankful to finally be HOME! I stopped off at a friend's birthday party that was in progress and then drove home to a very needy kitty! Dundee has mauled me continuously and meowed endlessly, giving me shit for leaving him. I did have a friend housesitting, but he missed me, that much was clear. I took only the basics out of the car as it continued to rain, and settled in on the sofa for some American Idol catching up, a meowing Dundee at my side.
     I've been told that driving the Great Central Road is a real feat, particularly for someone to do on their own, so I'm rather proud of myself. Plenty of people talk about driving the road, but never do, and I have my father to thank for inspiring me to challenge myself. The road was somewhat of a challenge for sure, but I conquered it, TWICE! Thanks Dad. Your thirst for the open road and adventurous spirit continues to inspire me.

beach at Lancelin off from the Pub

fishing boats at Lancelin

beach at Green Pool

Green Pool

sis overlooking the beach

sunset at Gracetown

sis watching the sunset at Gracetown

such nice color with the clouds at Gracetown

and then the sky went pink

     My sister made it home before I did, but thankfully with no hitches in her flights this time. I had a wonderful time with her, and was sad to see her go. We enjoyed tumbling at the many gorgeous white sand beaches and turquoise waters Australia has to offer, shared many laughs, while exploring the great state of Western Australia. We made new friends in Perth, and have so many terrific memories from the journey we took together. Thanks sis!

Sister Tales from the Road

cave at Uluru

The Olgas

beach at Lucky Bay

Canadian Pride

sunset at Uluru Campground

cave at Uluru where men gathered for important talks

Kangaroo at Lucky Bay beach - so tame!

this is a view looking up at Uluru...

the beginning of the Great Central Road across Western Australia

Uluru in the morning

salt pond in WA

recycled vehicle...now the garbage truck

beach kangaroo at Lucky Bay

Sorry for the lack of posting but I've been busy! My sis and I left Alice Springs on the 2nd of April and headed straight for King's Canyon where we spent the night, and went for a short hike in the morning. It was much too hot to hike the rim, so we just did the canyon floor hike in overcast skies. No really remarkable photos, sad to say. But I'd seen the canyon from the rim last year, and captured some amazing photos.

my sister took this at Uluru - amazing!

From King's Canyon we headed to Uluru for the night and saw the rock at sunset in the middle of a magnificent thunder and lightening storm. The rain poured down over the rock while I shot photos, and captured some amazing video of the rain pouring down over the rock. My sister shot the amazing shot posted here. I missed every time, so was a bit pissed about that, however proud of my sister's photo. We went off in the morning to check out the rock up close and did a couple of hikes there, It was still pretty hot so we were glad to get back into the air conditioned car! We then went for a tour of the Olga's and I opted out of any hikes and instead enjoyed the view from the shade while my sis walked a bit. Then it was time to push on towards Western Australia.

     We made it to Docker River over some fairly rough roads, and took one look at the campground there and said um, no friggin way. No one was there, it was just a few sites with two toilets and very close to the community. Unsafe all the way around, so we kept on going for Warrakuna and camped at the small campground at the Roadhouse there. They were infested with ANTS so Kimm nearly shit bricks, and I was also miserable dealing with ants, flies, and mozzies. She couldn't handle the ants crawling into her tent so slept in the car that night. I slapped several away, but managed some sleep and woke up with bites from something. I'm not sure what, but I was scratching all over...

   Packed up there and headed west, and made it to a roadhouse in Tjirrkarli for the night. Nicer campground, less ants, and an awesome lounge with two plump recliners - we moved in for the night and didn't even bother setting up the tents and slept in comfort and air con. The drive was eventful with a thunderstorm that moved in and out of the roadway, leaving the bush road slick in places so we had to decrease the lead foot and try not to spin off the road into the bush. We saw hardly any traffic at all. We had the forethought to fill a jerry can with 20 litres of fuel, which turned out to be a good idea as when we left the roadhouse, the next town had one gas station and it was closed for Good Friday. We made it to Lenora and gassed up there before heading out for Kalgoorlie for the night.

     Kalgoorlie was just another dusty town, but the Super Pit was pretty amazing, right in the town and HUGE! We went for a looksee at the rim and took photos. They have been mining gold here for decades. After Kalgoorlie we headed for the ocean!! We managed to make it to Esperance, but discovered all campgrounds full, including our chosen destination of Lucky Bay. Thankfully they had an overflow campground at the ballfield so we camped there for a couple of nights and headed to the beach the next day at Lucky Bay. It was simply gorgeous there and we couldn't wait to get into the ocean and bob in the waves. The water was heavenly and we were in for a few hours before drying out on the beach and chilling with some books. It was rather windy so sis sat in the car. There were some kangaroos that came down to feed and were so tame I could pet them! So very soft, I want a pelt...

     We departed Esperance and headed west to Hopetoun. We had planned to camp in the National Park there, but it was closed for renovations, so we were forced to camp at a caravan park in town, which was nice enough, but not real tent friendly. We left the next morning and headed west again, hoping for better beaches than we found in Hopetoun. On the way we saw a kangaroo jumping across the road, and marveled at the fact they were out in the daytime, just in time to have a very close encounter with one who was apparently not far behind the first one, and narrowly missed him with the car...he was so close he could knock on my window...phew...

     We have now landed in Denmark, which is a sleepy little beach town with marvelous white sand beaches and just what we were looking for. We have decided to stay for 3 nights at least as the campground is fantastic, lots of mature shade trees, and just minutes from the beach. We've been in the water both days since our arrival, body surfing in the crashing waves. This morning we visited a local chocolatier and tasted some marvelous homemade chocolates before heading back to Albany for a few hours - left my credit card where I had bought a table yesterday, and had to fetch it back! Thankfully I remembered where I left it, and they had kept it for me. Had some lunch in Albany and then back to Denmark for the beach. We will head into town tonight for a meal, and hope it doesn't rain from the ominous looking clouds nearby. We set up the shade tent over our campsite so hopefully it keeps the worst of it out, should it rain. We're not sure where we will head after this, but it will be at the beach!

yes, you could pet them! so soft...I want a pelt...

the Super Pit at Kalgoorlie

she was so cute