27/3/26 Across the Nullabor

 

    We woke and got organised for a long day . As you cross the Nullarbor , you gain one and a half hours as you cross into WA at Border Village .  The scene out the front windscreen is large , flat ground disappearing into the distance , everywhere you look .

    We refilled at Nundroo , last fuel stop before the Nullarbor and a lot cheaper than the roadhouse . We did stop at the roadhouse , but that was for lunch . We got onto the eastern end of the plain and just kept driving , a lot of the free camps along the way have been closed to prevent people getting to the Bunda Cliffs . They've even removed the lookout signs - there are 3 of them .

We stopped at the 2nd & 3rd lookouts , this is the 2nd .

And here's the 3rd , it's at the western end of the Bunda Cliffs , and not far from the border .

    We breezed through quarantine and headed to Eucla for another top up in fuel . Fellow travellers were communicating fuel prices along the way . Mundrabilla roadhouse was the next one along and fuel was 30 cents a litre cheaper there !! $3.38 at Eucla , $3.08 at Mundrabilla . Shame it was only 70 kms away , but we stopped anyway and topped up again . We gained another 45mins as we travelled , wind was still blowing behind us , so we just kept going , taking advantage of great driving conditions . We finally pulled into a free camp we've stayed in before - Boolaboola - making our way down the back a few hundred metres from the highway . Surprisingly , there were still plenty of cars/ caravans going both directions . Sunset wasn't too bad and we had it to ourselves till a small zippy van arrived at about 10pm .

What a day , here's a map link :- https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=12xLeB_CnBov1feGaN7Fq1mVihpBc_V0&usp=sharing

26/3/26 To Ceduna & Penong

 

    Leaving Yumburra Park , we head back to the highway at Yaninee , a small site with grain silo's and some houses , onwards to Ceduna . As we continued , the ground was gradually turning green with grass appearing in some of last seasons wheat fields . Canola was also resprouting and flowering .

Here's some of the green .

   We arrived at Ceduna around lunchtime , so parked out beside the bay & jetty . I went for a stroll in the wind as lunch was prepared . It was one of those days when Lyn decided it would be easier for me to go by myself . As I walked the wind was gaining strength and coming from the south , wasn't very warm !!

    Making it out to the swimming enclosure was enlightening - I didn't notice the condition of the piers support structures - there are all steel/iron and some have no cross supports left at all !! the uprights also didn't look great either - wonder how long that will last before it's closed down .

    making my way to the end of the pier , I took some shelter from the wind at the seat . The wind was cutting straight through me , so it was time to head back .

    We still had plenty of time in the day , so after lunch we headed up to Penong , where we stayed for the night . Fuel was still plentiful , which made our decision to head back , much more reassured . Penong is famous for its windmills - they're across the road from the caravan park , so we had to go for a walk around . The wind from Ceduna was still there as well - hadn't warmed up at all .

    Winds look favourable for our Nullarbor crossing , so that's our next move tomorrow . Here's a map link :- https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1XNpaEw00Tj73YCj7xC0hKekMFtkxcM4&usp=sharing

24/3/26 Port Augusta & Storm near Kimba

 

    Left Port Pirie for the short drive to Port Augusta , so we can wash & shop , and get some food ready for the crossing into WA . We arrived at Stirling North , we're we've stayed a few times now , and had some lunch before heading over to shop - washing machine was already going ! The salt lakes beside the highway didn't have a lot of breeze , so it was prime for photo's . This is looking back over Stirling North and the southern Flinders Ranges . Nice also that there was some green grass - it's not usually green over here .

This is looking north with the Flinders Ranges disappearing into the horizon .

    Next day we were off again westbound , nothing remarkable with the traffic , but we were approaching this storm cell . Hadn't seen one like this in person before - it had a pronounced shelf cloud underneath it .

It was certainly letting a lot of rain out , we drove past where it had been raining when we continued down the road .

  Continuing down the road , we found a free camp at a pony club about 8klms from the highway , and better still had it to ourselves . 

  I'll skip the map today and include it next time . Cheers

23/3 Port Pirie

 

    Leaving Peterborough , we head to Port Pirie , so we can get the ute serviced before we cross the Nullarbor . We managed to get a service done on Monday at KJ Automotive , Kelli was a standout , she knows her stuff and is an experienced mechanic . Not only that , she is a great person and offers great service , dropping me back at the van after I left the ute with her , and picking me up afterwards as well . If you're in Port Pirie and need your car serviced , definitely look her up , and it was well priced !!

   We stayed at the CMCA RV Camp , which is beside the Port Football Club and ground . We are CMCA members , so could stay for $7 a night . It's also beside a shopping centre , which is handy . Shame about the semi trailers arriving at early hours though - can't have it all .

   Having a short drive around town later that day was interesting , we found the Church of Fish & Chips 

Downtown Port Pirie 

Port Pirie Railway Station

This is the Port area

Southern Flinders Ranges isn't far away .

A mural in town , presumably one of the towns fishermen .

And just for a change , here's a video of the port area , wheat silos etc .

   We filled the ute with diesel again while we had the opportunity - we are continuing to fill it when we can , it's not getting cheaper any time soon ! So far we've had no trouble getting fuel , which is reassuring for the next leg of our quick trip back to WA . The price was $3.09.9 - only going to get worse .

   That was our short stay in Port Pirie - seems to be the way we are going at the moment , short stays and get some kilometres up while diesel is available , so we can get back to WA and prepare for other ventures. Here's a map link :- https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1x0BmpWZxk8hCVlX2udWlAvP8JFVy-7U&usp=sharing

21/3 Peterborough

 

    From Burra , we make the drive up to Peterborough to stay with our friends there . It was an interesting drive , through fog & rain almost all the way , only breaking as we approach Peterborough . It was Thursday night , so that means going down to the RSL for dinner . We said hello to several people we've met before and enjoyed a $10 meal of chicken strips & wedges - very nice indeed! Leaving the RSL , we came out to this sunset .

    Next day we did some maintenance and assisted Frank with some repairs to the blinds in his van , before heading to the RSL again - it was hamburger night , and wow they were really good - like a hamburger used to taste . Back home again and another sunset from the verandah , with a couple of drinks.

     The bike came of the ute and I headed out for a spin around town to check out some of the buildings and whatever else took my fancy . This is the house across the road .

    Down to the main street and some more of the businesses

Peterborough Hotel is one of the great old pubs .

Not much room between these two - must have been the predecessor to todays small blocks .

Out on the edge of town was a transformation - things are green , we haven't seen it like this before .

And this definitely doesn't happen very often - water under the bridge 

    In reality , it was a large puddle in front of the welcome to Peterborough sign 😉 

 Peterborough has a strong railway heritage , and this was the main line into town .

     And finally some of the many roses that grow here - that's one thing SA does well - roses .

     That's another wrap , here's a map link :- https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1AXgBurMsSH6-RfW0wVXRxqbk60RMWwQ&usp=sharing

18/3 Burra

 

    

    Leaving Lake Bonney , it was overcast but no rain , which was good . The drive was interesting , we've always said we'd like to see this area when it's green , but it's always been dry and parched when we've come through previously . The countryside was turning green , large open spaces were green , there was water laying around in places and all the vegetation looked like it wanted to be here , just what we've wanted to see . Arriving in Burra , we made our way to the showgrounds to stay for a couple of nights . You can see how much rain they've had here , water still lying around and mud from previous vehicles . 

   Next day I got the bike out to get some exercise . Burra is a funny town , seemingly split into 2 sections . I rode around , checking out the beautiful old stone buildings and pubs .  

    The stonework in these buildings is quite impressive .

    A lot of these buildings were for the copper mine that was just over the hill in this photo .

Another great example of the stonework .

  Here's one of the old smoke stacks from the mine .

    The mine looked to be an interesting place , so I rode up the hill and into the old mine precinct . Some parts have been preserved , others , well not so much .

    This is the section of Burra we are in .

   And this is the other side of town , where most of the shops are .

    This preserved building - Morphetts Engine House - is also a museum , you can get a passport at the visitor information centre , that gives you a key to access inside here as well as other places around town - I had forgotten about that , and it was a bit late to go and get one - I just rode around the old mine site instead . The engine house has been rebuilt , as a fire did a lot of damage to the old one .

The stone work is still intact , the timbers are slowly disappearing .

Powder magazines are always interesting , the lengths they had to go to to make sure the were no sparks , and limited access was amazing . The stonework here impeccable still !

These are some of the old building remains perched on the side of the open pit .

    This is the side of the museum building that the key gives you access to , through the locked gate and door.

                                     Beside this building is an old smelter flue tunnel 

    Another view of the Powder Magazine on top of the hill and various levels of buildings beside the pit .  

   The weather looked like closing in again , so I did a tactical retreat back to the van , another day down in our trek back west . Here's a map link :- https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1oW2oaa5Y0yXbuMp642FGKYIKZkG6VQA&usp=sharing