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Ahmet Erkun

Ahmet Erkun

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  • Adventuring Down Under
    Mural by Jackson Harvey in Northam, WA.
    Part of the farm scene mural by A. Ashman & Northam Town Team — Northam, WA.The new generation painting the old generation of students ... by J. Harvey — Northam, WA.Amok Island's swan mural covers the facade of the flour mill — Northam, WA.Mural in Northam, WA.Sculpture in front of the visitor center — Northam, WA."Infinity" by E. Moody — Northam Visitor Center, WA."Spherical Thoughts" by K. Schonell — Northam Visitor Center, WA.Part of a mural by K. Ferguson & N. Cowie — Northam, WA.Silo Art by Phlegm — Northam, WA.Silo Art by Phlegm — Northam, WA.

    Off-the-Road: Caravaning … Day 16

    February 25, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 66 °F

    Northam to Forrestfield
    Distance Traveled: 63 Miles

    Traveling the last little bit from Northam to Perth, we are now off the road!

    If you want to be technical about it, we are in Forrestfield, a suburb of Kalamunda … about 15 miles southeast of Perth. Regardless, we are done caravaning … having driven 2,770 miles to get here from Melbourne, Victoria.

    Before leaving Northam this morning for the wet drive — plenty of rain from ex-Cyclone Lincoln — to get us here, we took a detour into the Northam CBD. Quiet … everything closed down. Sunday after all. But we did find some of the public art I had read about. We even picked up a map from the Visitor Center to walk around and look for more art, but the sprinkling of rain turned into a soaker and put paid to that plan.

    Thus we called our sightseeing quits and moved on, hoping to find dry weather near Perth. We did … for a while. Now it is raining again … on and off. No worries. The rest of today is supposed to be R&R anyway.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Comfy in site 47 at the Northam Caravan Park — Northam, WA.
    1Pretty fancy ladies room ... next door to our site — Northam Caravan Park, WA.

    Campground Camping in Northam

    February 24, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F

    We’re parked up and settled into site 47 at the Northam Caravan Park … a last minute booking made on the road after we finally decided where to overnight.

    Very nice, quiet, and with all the typical amenities of caravan parks in Australia.

    The on-and-off rain is on again … continuous, but so light that we can’t hear the drops falling on the roof of the motorhome. I guess we won’t be falling to sleep to the sound of the rain on the roof tonight.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    "Have Cassette ... Will Travel" ... Mui dumping the black waste before we get on the road
    Passing a 175-foot (53.5 m) long road train — on the Great Eastern Highway, WA.The water pipeline that runs along the Great Eastern Hwy reminds me of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.It takes 5 days for the water to travel 351 miles through the Golden Pipeline.Memorial Cemetery preserving some of the original headstones — Southern Cross, WA.Memorial Cemetery preserving some of the original headstones — Southern Cross, WA.Memorial Cemetery preserving some of the original headstones — Southern Cross, WA.The brown signs list the names of those buried in the original cemetery — Southern Cross, WA.Oversized indeed ... carrying a dumpster truck to one of the mines — on the Great Eastern Hwy, WA.The fence that was built to keep rabbits (and emus later) out of WA's agricultural regions.Silo Art ... part of the 620-mile+ long Silo Art Trail — Merredin, WA.Photography Museum in Meckering, WA.

    OTR: Caravaning … Day 15

    February 24, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 84 °F

    Kalgoorlie-Boulder to Northam
    Distance Traveled: 305 Miles

    Rain bands from ex-Cyclone Lincoln reached us on the road today. Not the deluge on the state’s Gascoyne Coast, where the storm came ashore, but enough raindrops for the auto-sensored windshield wipers to work … on and off.

    We are now on the final leg of our RV trip … heading to Perth. We still have several days in the motorhome, but once we reach Perth tomorrow, we will be off the road.

    This morning, we left Kalgoorlie-Boulder a little after 8:00a. All we knew at the time was that this would be a driving day … no particular mid-point overnight stop in mind. The interesting — sometimes quirky photo ops — were all along the highway, requiring no detours. Thus, we actually made more progress than expected.

    What was it that made the decision to stop in Northam tonight? An article that mentioned there was public art in the city. I guess we’ll see what all that entails tomorrow.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Super Pit Public Lookout — Kalgoorlie, WA.
    Old tires from mine machinery repurposed as planters ... Super Pit Public Lookout — Kalgoorlie, WA.PC800 Face Shovel Bucket ... a popular photo op at the Super Pit Public Lookout — Kalgoorlie, WA.PC800 Face Shovel Bucket ... a popular photo op at the Super Pit Public Lookout — Kalgoorlie, WA.Painted pink in support of breast cancer care ... and still in operation at the mine.The Pink Blast ... in celebration of International Women's Day in 2019.HeArtWalk Mural — Kalgoorlie, WA.HeArtWalk Mural — Kalgoorlie, WA.HeArtWalk Mural — Kalgoorlie, WA.HeArtWalk Mural — Kalgoorlie, WA.HeArtWalk Mural — Kalgoorlie, WA.HeArtWalk Mural — Kalgoorlie, WA.HeArtWalk Mural — Kalgoorlie, WA.HeArtWalk Mural — Kalgoorlie, WA.Patrick Hannan Memorial Fountain ... to honor the discovery of gold at Kalgoorlie in 1893.Lunch spot ... on the terrace at the historic York Hotel — Kalgoorlie, WA.A nice place for an al fresco meal — York Hotel in Kalgoorlie, WA.Wide roads ... historically so that camel caravans could make a u-turn since they could not back up.Kalgoorlie Train Station ... we'll be back here on the Indian-Pacific on March 3 — Kalgoorlie, WA.

    Kalgoorlie: The Rest of the Story

    February 23, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 84 °F

    After our interesting insider tour of the Super Pit, we were free to do as we wished in town. My haircut appointment was at 3:20, so we had plenty of time to while away.

    First up … lunch at the historic York Hotel. It was just opening up when we arrived at 11:30a. We placed our order for food at the bar and headed upstairs to the terrace to have lunch with a view.

    Afterwards, we hopped in the motorhome and drove the 2 miles or so to the Super Pit Public Lookout. A different perspective across the big hole from where we had gotten out of the tour bus. Lots of information and a shovel bucket for a photo op. There is a nice place from which to look out over the pit that doesn’t have a mesh safety fence.

    Returning to town, we stopped at Coles to pick up some more water. And then meandered a bit, finding a few more of the murals from the now-defunct HeArtWalk program. We also checked out the Kalgoorlie train station where we will stop on the Indian-Pacific for our off-train experience on 3 April.

    We still had some time on our hands, but there was nowhere else for us to go. So, we found the barbershop I spotted yesterday, and while Mui got a haircut, I sat in the shade outside on the sidewalk. Then we reversed positions. I went to the salon for my haircut and he sat outside on the sidewalk … comfy thanks to a nice breeze.

    It’s interesting how amidst the rundown or closed shops there are new, modern ones. The salon — Ahead of Time — fit the latter description. The hairstylist, a young woman who has lived in Kalgoorlie all her life and has no desire to move anywhere else, did a great job cutting and styling my hair.

    A pretty busy day overall.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Super Pit — Kalgoorlie, WA.
    Super Pit — Kalgoorlie, WA.Super Pit — Kalgoorlie, WA.Super Pit — Kalgoorlie, WA.In full safety attire at the Super Pit — Kalgoorlie, WA.Super Pit — Kalgoorlie, WA.Super Pit — Kalgoorlie, WA.Super Pit — Kalgoorlie, WA.SAG (semi-autogenous grinding) mill ... the first stage grinder of the ore — Super Pit, Kalgoorlie.Crushed ore is transported to a coarse ore stockpile before being treated at the processing plant.Small section of the 2.5-mile long conveyor belt that takes the crushed ore to the proccessing plantHigh grade ore ... these rocks are filled with gold — Super Pit ... Kalgoorlie, WA.A Komatsu PC8000 shovel scoops 80 tons of ore in one scoop — Super Pit ... Kalgoorlie, WA.The ore is so hard that you can see how it erodes the teeth of the scoop — Super Pit.It takes 3 scoops to fill a truck, which can carry 230 tons of rock.Headframe at the only operational underground mine at the Super Pit ... Mt Charlotte — Kalgoorlie.

    Kalgoorlie: Super Pit Tour

    February 23, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 75 °F

    The Super Pit along the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Golden Mile is one of Australia’s largest open pit gold mines.

    To get the insider’s perspective, we had to take a tour … the only one in the area that actually takes visitors around the operation. Not into the pit itself, mind you, since this is still an active mine operation. But we did get to see the dump trucks and other equipment working the operation … looking like tiny Tonka trucks way down in the deepest part of the pit. While blasting prep work was underway in the pit today, there was no actual blasting done.

    Before we set out, I wanted to have a comparison picture in my mind. Many moons ago, we had visited the Kennecott Mine — a super pit outside Salt Lake City, Utah and remembered that it was, to put it in a single word, immense. So, I Googled the 10 deepest open pit mines. According to a 2021 article in “Science & Technology,” this one — also known as the Fimiston Open Pit — is the sixth deepest in the world (600 m deep/3.2 km wide). Kennecott is still the deepest pit in the world (1,200m deep/4 km wide). Of course, both have grown since the article was written.

    We met up with our group at the downtown offices of Kalgoorlie Tours & Charters. Here we were issued safety glasses and orange high-visibility vests. Our attire — long sleeves; long pants; shoes and socks — passed inspection, so we did not need to purchase coveralls. As we drove to the mine, we watched a safety briefing. All entry requirements to the mine thus satisfied, we began our tour.

    It was an immensely interesting tour that took us everywhere but down into the pit. Our driver/guide was a former mine employee who knew the operation intimately and gave us lots of information. Wish I had thought to record her.

    The tour took us to see — in no particular order — the grinder; the coarse ore stockpiles; the processing plant; the conveyor belt (2.5 miles in length); the high grade ore filled with gold … waiting to be pulverized; carbon-in leaching tanks; the floatation tanks; and the elution columns. Nope, didn’t see the gold pour, but our guide did point out the warehouse where the gold ingots are made and stored until the armored cars take them away to the mint.

    A few take aways from the tour and the material I have read online or on the panels at the public lookout …

    * Annually, about 900,000 ounces of gold is taken out of the mine. (I’ll let you figure out the value of that based on current market prices.)

    * Though gold was first found here in 1893 (nuggets free for the taking back then … referred to as free gold), the mine has been in operation since 1989 … with 50,000,000 ounces of gold harvested during that period.

    * The Golden Mile, which marks the location where Paddy Hannan first struck gold … which brought on the gold rush of the late 1800s, is now part of the Super Pit.

    * The operation here includes the Super Pit, the Mt Charlotte underground mine (the only remaining one still in operation); and the processing plants.

    * A growth project is being undertaken at present that will extend the life of the mine to 2034 (and perhaps beyond).

    * Reclamation of the waste rock piles is already underway, though it will take many years for the plantings to take hold and grow since the area receives very little rain.

    * President Herbert Hoover, briefly worked at the Hannans Brown Hill Mine (where the inside overlook is located).    Read more

  • Fall & Winter 2024
    A late-in-the-year westbound TransAtlantic ... shorter, too.

    NCL TransAtlantic Back Home

    February 22, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 88 °F

    Moved north from Esperance to Kalgoorlie today ... still in Western Australia. What a difference 235 miles makes.

    Where Esperance is known for its turquoise waters on the coast of the Great Australian Bight, Kalgoorlie is known for its gold ... specifically for its Super Pit mining operation. We'll be touring the mine tomorrow.

    In the meantime, we put another logistics ✓ on our fall/winter travel plans ... this time to get us back to the USA.

    Fly or cruise? Quick or slow? We prefer to do a TransAtlantic cruise when possible, so slow is our usual modus operandi.

    But I had a dilemma this time.

    We had already stolen time away from our family visit in Türkiye by booking a river cruise in mid-October. Would we be able to find a westbound TransAtlantic leaving later than the usual October-November time frame?

    As it turns out, there were several from which to choose.

    After a lengthy debate, we settled on Norwegian Cruise Line's [NCL] 12-day sailing on Encore ... from Southampton, England to Miami, Florida … departing on 3 December.

    The ship is much bigger than what we prefer for cruising port-intensive itineraries. But it will work for a TransAtlantic with just a few ports of call. This particular itinerary has just three stops — Vigo, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; Ponta Delgada, Azores (Portugal).

    It’s been ages since we were last on an NCL ship, so I really don’t know what to expect … except perhaps that there will be a lot of nickel and dimeing. Anyway, we booked a category BB veranda, so we’ll have someplace to hunker down if all the activities around the ship get to be too much.

    The bonus to this TransAtlantic is the price. Less than airfare in economy ... and much, much less than business class tickets. Yes, it will take longer to cruise back than it would to fly. But we are retired … we have the time to dally.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Discovery Parks Kalgoorlie Goldfields Campground — Boulder, WA.
    Campsite with ensuite ... Discovery Parks Kalgoorlie Goldfields Campground — Boulder, WA.Tired-looking en suite, but clean ... Discovery Parks Kalgoorlie Goldfields Campground — Boulder, WA

    En Suite Camping in Kalgoorlie

    February 22, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 86 °F

    We’re at the Discovery Parks Kalgoorlie Goldfields Campground … here for two nights.

    This is an older campground with amenities similar to the other caravan parks we’ve stayed in during this trip … spacious; power, water, sullage point at the site; central black tank dump point. But our site has something extra. Something they call an en suite … a small building that encloses a toilet and shower. I imagine this comes in handy for long-term campers … of which there looks to be quite a number. They don’t have to worry about dumping tanks every few days.

    The en suites look big from the outside. Until you open the door and realize that you only have half the building … the other half belongs to the site behind you. The facilities are a little tired-looking … reminds me of the bathrooms of the old motels along highways. But they are clean, and they come with amenities like washcloths, soap, shampoo, etc.

    Oh, and we were welcomed to the campground with a box of chocolates … a sweet treat.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    The Ivanhoe headframe serves as the entrance to the Museum of the Goldfields — Kalgoorlie, WA.
    View from the top of the Ivanhoe headframe ... super pit in the distance — Kalgoorlie, WA.Irregular masses of gold and spongy gold in fractured quarts ... from the Munarra Gold Mine.An interesting factoid ... Museum of the Goldfields — Kalgoorlie, WA.Camel water tank & saddle frame ... Museum of the Goldfields — Kalgoorlie, WA.Skull of a dromedary ... a "ship of the desert" in Australia ... Museum of the Goldfields.A Vajen-Bader gas mask (used b/w 1890-1932 to rescue men overcome by carbon monoxide fumes).Wooden plaque; Drone tube; carved rabbit ... Museum of the Goldfields — Kalgoorlie, WA.A trade union banner ... Museum of the Goldfields — Kalgoorlie, WA.A trade union banner ... Museum of the Goldfields — Kalgoorlie, WA.Miner's cottage (c. 1933) ... Museum of the Goldfields — Kalgoorlie, WA.Interior of the miner's cottage ... Museum of the Goldfields — Kalgoorlie, WA.De Bernales Building ... Museum of the Goldfields — Kalgoorlie, WA.Police wagon ... mounted on a railway flatcar for easy transportation with the moving settlements.The York Hotel ... one of the beautiful historic buildings — Kalgoorlie, WA.Streetscape ... the tower is the Town Hall/Info Center — Kalgoorlie, WA.

    OTR: Caravaning … Day 13 👉🏻 Kalgoorlie

    February 22, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 86 °F

    We arrived at today’s destination — Kalgoorlie-Boulder — around 12:30p. By 1:00p, we knew where our campground was located in Boulder … knew which site we’d been assigned to. But as early as it was, we decided to do a bit of sightseeing first and then get settled in.

    Kalgoorlie is a city in the heart of Western Australia’s goldfields. It is referred to as Kalgoorlie-Boulder, because the urban area includes the historic townsite of Boulder.

    Our train trip on the Indian-Pacific, is going to bring us to Kalgoorlie. But the stop is going to be late at night. We expect that except for what Journey Beyond Rail has planned for our off-train experience here, everything will be closed up for the day. Hence our decision to come up this way to see what we will be missing then.

    The town, which was established during the Western Australian gold rushes of 1893 has a definite old-west vibe. A number of buildings dating back to that period line the streets. Sadly, they are all covered in advertisements and sign boards for the shops and such they now house.

    Since the temperature was getting on towards 90F, we decided to head to the Museum of the Goldfields where there was much appreciated A/C to keep us cool. We arrived to find the 128-foot high Ivanhoe headframe serving as the gateway to the museum. We used the elevator to access the platform at the top for an aerial view, which included the Super Pit we’ll be visiting tomorrow.

    Inside we found exhibits covering the “… rich Aboriginal culture and glittering history of the Eastern goldfields.” In the basement we visited the vault … “it’s real gold,” the volunteer greeter told us. On the grounds, we found a number of buildings dating back to the gold rush period … still a work in progress was our impression.

    Though small in size, the museum’s exhibits were interesting and informative. A good introduction.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Rigs parked up ... waiting for the Eyre Highway to open — Norseman, WA.
    Bushfire emergency warning and aerial view of the gas station where we fueled up — Norseman, WA.

    OTR: Caravaning … Day 13 👉🏻 Bushfire

    February 22, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    As we were leaving Esperance, we saw an electric sign board indicating that the Eyre Highway was closed due to a bushfire. Since, we weren’t planning on driving on the Eyre today, we made note of the sign and kept going.

    It wasn’t until we arrived in Norseman, the mid-way point for today’s drive, to top off our diesel that we understood the serious nature of the closure.

    The clerk at the cash register explained that the highway was closed from Caiguna all the way west to Norseman … some 225+ miles … the section we crossed on our last day on the Nullarbor … the area covered with the trees of the Great Western Woodland. The closure is expected to last at least three days. That news explained why there were so many road trains parked up in Norseman … the Eyre is the main east-went road in and out of Western Australia … really, the only feasible one for these road trains.

    We have since learned that, the bushfire was initially reported on 7 February. In fact, we sensed the distinct burnt wood smell as we were passing the area on the 18th. We were told then that the fire had been contained. Unfortunately, the extreme heat and winds of the past couple of days caused it to flare up. The fire has now jumped the Eyre Highway and both sides have gone up in flames. The Balladonia Roadhouse, where we visited the museum, is under threat. The order has been given to “act immediately to survive.”

    This is not the only bushfire in Australia at the moment … the news tonight reported major fires in the states of Victoria and Tasmania as well.

    Being fire-aware in Australia — especially at this time of the year — is the key to safety.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Pioneer Park — Scaddan, WA.
    Pioneer Park — Scaddan, WA.Pioneer Park — Scaddan, WA.Pioneer Park — Scaddan, WA.Pioneer Park — Scaddan, WA.Pioneer Park — Scaddan, WA.A few of the mosaic panels embedded in the walk path @ the Pioneer Park — Scaddan, WA.

    OTR: Caravaning … Day 13 👉🏻 Scaddan

    February 22, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 66 °F

    Esperance to Kalgoorlie-Boulder
    Distance Traveled: 250 Miles

    Yes, eagle-eyed readers, I’m jumping from Day 10 on the road to Day 13. That’s because we took a few days off from driving to enjoy the lovely beaches and scenery around Esperance. Today, we left the coast behind for the interior … heading up north.

    Planned as a day of driving to get us from Point A to Point B, we were on the road by 7:15a. Even with the temps dropping from 3-digits, the high at our destination was forecasted to be in the 90F range … better than the 113F they experienced yesterday!!! Still, hot is hot and we wanted to get off the road early.

    The first half of the road — from Esperance to Norseman — was a retracing of the same route we followed on our way south to reach the coast on the 19th. The only “sightseeing stop” we made was in Scaddan. Specifically, at the Pioneer Park where I had spotted murals (by artists Irene Osborne and Elaine Morcombe) on the way down. Mui delivered on his promise to stop there today on the way up.    Read more

  • Fall & Winter 2024
    DEN-YYZ on United Airlines; YYZ-IST-ADB on Turkish Airlines.

    Airfare: USA to Türkiye via Canada

    February 21, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    We've moved on from Tasmania to mainland Australia.

    At present, we are camping at the Bathers Paradise Caravan Park in Esperance, Western Australia. We spent today at Cape La Grand National Park ... words fall short of describing this amazing place. (Look it up if you don't believe me. Or check out this footprint that I published earlier today ... https://findpenguins.com/8pccjefaitoru/footprin….)

    But our sightseeing today is neither here nor there. At least with regard to our future plans.

    Instead, let me write about what we worked on this evening ... airfare to get us to Türkiye for the first part of our fall/winter trip. Didn't anticipate making a purchase. But a good deal on business class tickets changed that pretty quickly.

    We will once again fly to İzmir, Türkiye via Toronto, Canada as that gateway offered the least expensive fare. As always, there will be a layover in İstanbul before we reach our final destination.

    This time, however, we will be flying to Toronto on the same day as our Turkish Airlines [THY] flight instead of the day before. Makes sense actually ... and saves money. TK18 isn’t scheduled to depart from Toronto until 8:40p. Our United Airlines award tickets from DEN [Denver International Airport] will get us to Toronto by 3:11p. Plenty of time to make the connection.

    Plans for fall/winter are starting to take shape!    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Lucky Bay — Cape Le Grand National Park, WA.
    Lucky Bay — Cape Le Grand National Park, WA.Lucky Bay — Cape Le Grand National Park, WA.Lucky Bay — Cape Le Grand National Park, WA.I'm happy to dip my toes ... Mui heads in for a dip at Lucky Bay — Cape Le Grand National Park, WA.Lucky Bay — Cape Le Grand National Park, WA.Lucky Bay — Cape Le Grand National Park, WA.Panorama of Lucky Bay — Cape Le Grand National Park, WA.Whistling Rock @ Thistle Cove — Cape Le Grand National Park, WA.Thistle Cove — Cape Le Grand National Park, WA.Thistle Cove — Cape Le Grand National Park, WA.Thistle Cove — Cape Le Grand National Park, WA.Thistle Cove — Cape Le Grand National Park, WA.Heathlands covering the dunes @ Thistle Cove — Cape Le Grand National Park, WA.Hellfire Bay — Cape Le Grand National Park, WA.Hellfire Bay — Cape Le Grand National Park, WA.Hellfire Bay — Cape Le Grand National Park, WA.Hellfire Bay — Cape Le Grand National Park, WA.Frenchman Peak ... so named due to its resemblance to the French tricorne hat — Cape Le Grand NP, WACape Le Grand NP, WA.Here you have to watch out for echidnas, snakes, lizards, and skinks — Cape Le Grand NP, WA.

    Esperance: Cape Le Grand National Park

    February 21, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    On the last day of our break from the road, we headed off to explore Le Grand National Park, located about 30 minutes east of Esperance.

    What a lovely day we enjoyed!

    For one thing, the temps were very comfortable … a high of 83F … wonderful after yesterday’s three-digit temps. It was quite breezy. In fact, as we were scrambling over the rocks at Thistle Cove, Mui had to stand behind me so that I wouldn’t get pushed over backwards while I was taking photos. Hey, not complaining.

    Cape Le Grand NP is billed as possibly being “the most spectacular of the Southern Coastal National Parks.” Can’t compare, but can categorically say that the scenery here was simply magnificent — white sand beaches; waters ranging from turquoise to navy blue; green heathlands; boulders with a tint of brown, orange, and red. The water really was the color you will see in the photos … the beaches that white … the sky that blue … the sun that brilliant.

    We started our day very early — on our way by 7:00a — hoping to see kangaroos on the beach at Lucky Bay … recognized as the best beach (worldwide) in 2023. Alas, no marsupials of any kind. But we were amongst the few on the beach at that hour, which was a definite plus. By the time we had walked the beach, and Mui had taken a dip or two in what I would consider frigid waters, the action was starting to pick-up … including the number of vehicles coming down to drive the beach. Definitely time for us to leave.

    From Lucky Bay, we meandered our way back, making stops at Thistle Cove and Hellfire Bay. The water being deeper in Thistle Cove, it was quite cold. And terribly windy. So, Mui skipped taking a dip there. But he could not resist going in the water for one more dip in Hellfire Bay.

    The one thing about beaches in Australia — at least the one’s we’ve been to or seen — there is no natural shade. No umbrellas or lounge chairs for rent either. If you don’t have your own shade shelter, there is nowhere to seek relief from the sun. So, much as we wanted to have a picnic lunch on the beach at Cape Le Grand, we opted to sit in the cockpit of the motorhome and watch the view through the “windscreen” (as they call windshields in Australia).

    An early start to our day = an early end to our day. It was nice to be able to sit out in the shade of the motorhome back at the caravan park. We even had to put on jackets this evening … woo hoo!    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    "Ocean's Karma: Underwater Observer" by H. Palmer — Cannery Arts Ctr; Esperance, WA.
    "Unleash the Kraken" by E. Merceron & C. Poole ... metalwork by G. Ling — Cannery Arts Center."A 'Kraken' Good Recycler" by S. Waideman — Cannery Arts Center ... Esperance, WA."Cod Clopps" by L. Kindma — Cannery Arts Center."Surfer" by T. Phoebe — Cannery Arts Center."Exquisite Blue" by T. Andrews — Cannery Arts Center.No attribution — Cannery Arts Center."Seahorse Sirens" by K.C. Obschonka — Cannery Arts Center.Mui paints a quick piece to leave behind — Cannery Arts Center."The Ten Mile Collection" — Cannery Arts Center, Esperance, WA."The Ten Mile Collection" — Cannery Arts Center, Esperance, WA.Painted fence behind the Cannery Arts Center — Esperance, WA."Happy Home of the Whale" ... Aboriginal artist A. Grey — Cannery Arts Center ... Esperance, WA.Mural in town ... by E. Nogy — Esperance, WA.Mural in town ... by E. Nogy — Esperance, WA."The Old Tanker Jetty (1934-2015)" by P. Shelton ... assisted by C. Brewer — Esperance, WA.

    Esperance: Art Around Town

    February 20, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 100 °F

    The first stop on the Great Ocean Drive is the Cannery Arts Centre. It was closed when we left Esperance to do the drive. Instead, we added it to the end of our sightseeing day.

    “The 10 Mile Collection” is a marine debris exhibition. The “Sirens, Selkies and Sea Monsters” invites visitors to venture into a world where myths come to life … and marine conservation takes center stage.

    We also found a few more murals around town for me to photograph. Happy camper here 😊    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    "Whale's Tail" in the St James Precinct ... as we head out on the Great Ocean Drive — Esperance, WA.
    West Beach from the rock clamber at Dempster Head — Great Ocean Drive, WA.Another beach from the rock clamber at Dempster Head — Great Ocean Drive, WA.West Beach from the overlook on the road — Great Ocean Drive, WA.Panorama of West Beach from the rock clamber at Dempster Head — Great Ocean Drive, WA.West Beach from the rock clamber at Dempster Head — Great Ocean Drive, WA.Beach at Chapman's Point — Great Ocean Drive, WA.Trees on the Great Ocean Drive, WA.Fourth Beach ... our snack stop with a view — Great Ocean Drive, WA.First glimpse of Twilight Cove — Great Ocean Drive, WA.Ready for a dip @ Twilight Cove — Great Ocean Drive, WA.Mui braves the cold water at Twilight Cove — Great Ocean Drive, WA.This rock formation at Twilight Cove looks like a beached whale — Great Ocean Drive, WA.Twilight Cove — Great Ocean Drive, WA.Panorama of Twilight Cove — Great Ocean Drive, WA.Sensor buoys off-shore at Twilight Cove trigger the sirens — Great Ocean Drive, WA.Dolphin Cove with Observatory Point in the distance — Great Ocean Drive, WA.2Observatory Beach — Great Ocean Drive, WA.Eleven Mile Beach — Great Ocean Drive, WA.Eleven Mile Beach — Great Ocean Drive, WA.Pink Lake ... hasn't been pink in 14 years — Great Ocean Drive., WA.

    Esperance: Great Ocean Drive

    February 20, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 84 °F

    Not to be confused with the Great Ocean Road in the State of Victoria.

    This drive is much shorter … only about 25 miles. It is also a circuit, so the start and end is in Esperance. It follows the coast for half the loop and then returns via an inland route.

    When we set out for the drive, we were disappointed that the overcast from yesterday was still lingering. In hindsight, so glad to have had the natural shade for much of the day. By 3:00p, the temperature gauge was reading 106F. Yes, you read that right … 1-0-6! If we’d had sunshine all day, the temperature would have far exceeded that number.

    The good news is that by 5:00p, it was cool enough to sit in the shade of the motorhome … with a light breeze aiding our comfort level. Cooler weather is in the forecast starting tomorrow. Who knew that I’d be happy for temps in the 85-90F range!

    Anyway, we were lucky that when we set out it hadn’t warmed up yet. Thus, we managed to do a short clamber over the rocks for views of West Beach from the Dempster Head Lookout. Fantastic colors … even with the sun in hiding. From there, we continued the loop road, making frequent stops to enjoy the scenery.

    When we got to Twilight Cove, it was time to don our bathers and head to the beach. I was happy to just dip my toes … the water was frigid. Mui went all in. He had not one, but two swimming opportunities today before we got to the section of beaches that required negotiating some steep steps to get down to the sand & surf. It was too hot to even think about going down since none of these beaches had any shade … no relief from the increasing temps.

    A lovely day on the Great Ocean Drive today.

    By the way, just read that Carnarvon, up on the west coast of Western Australia, was the hottest place on the planet yesterday … 121F or 49.9C!!! So glad we are nowhere near there.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Our site for three nights at Bather's Paradise — Esperance, WA.
    One street over from the caravan park is a lovely beach — Esperance, WA.

    Campground Camping in Esperance

    February 19, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 81 °F

    Esperance was always a “must stop” for us … to chill for a couple of days.

    We were hoping to do so not in a caravan park in town, however. No, we had our heart set on doing so in Cape Le Grand National Park. Alas, the sites there are booked six months out. No last minute cancelations. Believe me, Mui’s been checking.

    So, we booked ourselves into Bather’s Paradise … a caravan park just one street over from one of the many beaches that line the coast here. And in a residential neighborhood … away from the craziness of the CBD. Not that the campground isn’t crowded. It’s sold out … campers are here for anywhere from one night to one week or more. We’re here for three nights.

    Our site is pretty typical of the caravan parks we’ve stayed in thus far, so no need to go into all that again. The woman who operates the park runs a tight ship and everything is as expected.

    Arriving around noon, we settled into our site; had a quick bite; went for a stroll down to the beach and up a couple of blocks. As I noted in the previous footprint, you really need blue skies and sunshine to appreciate the loveliness of the scenery. Today, Mui wasn’t even tempted to go in for a swim.

    No matter, we have a couple of days here for Mother Nature to show her other face. In the meantime, the laundry is done … we have books to read … not to mention some logistics to deal with. All’s good.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    In recognition of the hard work and spirit of the pioneers — Mallee Memorial Park, WA.
    Lest We Forget ... Wallee Memorial Park, WA.Around here you have to be aware of horses running across the highway — En Route to Esperance, WA."Dolphins" by V. Schultz / "Family's Journey" by A. Thomas — Esperance, WA."Dolphins" by A. Thomas — Esperance, WA."Family's Journey" by V. Schultz — Esperance, WA.

    OTR: Caravaning … Day 10

    February 19, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F

    Norseman to Esperance
    Distance Traveled: 130 Miles

    Honestly, not much to say about the short drive that brought us to this seaside town “where the water lies like a boomerang” … as the tourism brochures proclaim.

    This is an area of amazing beaches. A great place to chill for a while, but to properly enjoy the colorful nature of the scenery, one needs blue skies and sunshine. Both of which were noticeably absent today … and may be ‘missing in action’ tomorrow as well. But hope is eternal and our fingers are crossed.

    After an uneventful drive, we arrived in Esperance; stopped by the Visitor Center in town to purchase a Western Australia National Park Pass; did a quick pass through town … jam packed with visitors this time of the year … the crowds coming as a shock to the system after the very solitary nature of our time crossing the Nullarbor; picked up some groceries at Woolworths; and boogied out of the CBD to find our campground.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Proof of our Nullarbor Crossing — Norseman Visitor Center, WA.
    Norseman is the horse that is credited with pawing up the gold nugget that led to the goldrush hereKurt Hotker's "Tin Camels" — Norseman, WA.Kurt Hotker's "Tin Camels" — Norseman, WA.Kurt Hotker's "Tin Camels" — Norseman, WA.Kurt Hotker's "Tin Camels" — Norseman, WA.Visitor Center Mural by B. See — Norseman, WA.Red Kangaroo ... part of the B. Lee mural at the Visitor Center — Norseman, WA.Emu ... part of the B. Lee mural at the Visitor Center — Norseman, WA.Wedgetail Eagle and Western wispy spider orchid ... part of the B. Lee mural — Norseman, WAAustralian Ringneck & Malleefowl ... part of the B. Lee mural at the Visitor Center — Norseman, WA.Lynn Webb is a reknowned photographer — unfortunately her Gallery of Splendid Isolation is closed.Aboriginal silhouette sculpture — Visitor Center ... Norseman, WA.A part of the K. Wicker mural at the Visitor Center — Norseman, WA.

    Norseman: Off the Nullarbor

    February 19, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 79 °F

    That’s right. We’ve crossed the length of the Nullarbor … and we have the certificate to prove it!

    The town was dead quiet yesterday when we arrived in Norseman. It was Sunday, after all. So, this morning, we stopped in at the Visitor Center to pick up our crossing certificate and some maps and information for Western Australia.

    The bonus? Murals and metal-cutout sculptures in the garden of the Visitor Center … and camels!!!    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    We're in site 27 at the Gateway Caravan Park — Norseman, WA.

    Campground Camping in Norseman

    February 18, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 100 °F

    Although Norseman is an RVFT — RV Friendly Town — the three-digit temps didn’t make dry camping very attractive. So, we booked ourselves into the Gateway Caravan Park.

    Assigned to Site 26A, we asked to move to 27 because it had more shade … most welcome on a day like today.

    This is a typical site and campground. The one surprise? No black water dump in the campground. All the other amenities, yes. Dump … no.

    No worries. We’ll survive one more night without dumping the cassette. At least the dump point — at the free campground — is just a bit down the road from where we are, so we won’t have to go out of our way tomorrow.

    Since it was just 2:00p when we arrived at the campground, we quickly got hooked up to the power stand and cranked on the A/C. The unit struggled a bit to cool things down, but we’re now comfortable.

    We spent the afternoon jiggling our plans a bit. But I’ll leave what is coming up next as a surprise.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Starting Australia's longest stretch of straight road — Eyre Highway near Caiguna Roadhouse, WA.
    On the "90-Mile Straight" stretch of the Eyre Hwy, WA.And, the first place where we turn a corner after the 90-Mile Straight — Eyre Hwy, WA.Pre-WWII boiler ... once used in a mine ... transported for use in the first Balladonia Roadhouse.Afghan camel teamsters came to the area during the goldrush ... later used to haul wool to ports.It's not the sky that fell but Skylab — Balladonia Museum, WA.Wreckage from Skylab — Balladonia Museum, WA.Our only camel sighting on this trip ... supposedly there are 200,000+ feral camels in Australia.I like this philosophy — Balladonia Museum, WA.Yup, we did this! — Balladonia Museum, WA.Looking down the "asphalt waves" — Eyre Hwy, WA.Finally remembered to take a photo of Mui driving on the left — Eyre Hwy, WA.Road trains are very common here ... the longest we've seen is a rig pulling four containers.Australian Magpie

    OTR: Caravaning … Day 9

    February 18, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F

    Cocklebiddy Roadhouse to Norseman
    Distance Traveled: 275 Miles

    It was 7:45a when we left the caravan park at the Cocklebiddy Roadhouse. Twenty minutes into our drive, having left that teeny-tiny bit of Australia that has its own time zone, we had to set our watches back to 7:00a … regular Western Australia time.

    Why did we leave so early? Partly because we were up and ready. And partly because we wanted to beat the heat … the forecast for the day was for the temperature to steadily rise from 65F to 102F. And it did. Luckily dry heat … but hot is hot.

    This was another “drive from Point A to Point B” kind of day. This time, though, we stuck with the plan. No jiggles to Point C or beyond. But we did do a bit of sightseeing along the way.

    Once we reached the Caiguna Roadhouse — about 40 miles from Cocklebiddy — we hit the straight and narrow! Literally! We were now on the “90-Mile Straight” stretch of the Eyre Highway … Australia’s longest straight road with not even a wiggle along the way.

    It was towards the end of this stretch that our noses were assaulted by the distinct smell of fire. Turns out that there was a bush fire here just six days ago. Luckily, it was quickly contained … though it did, at one point, threaten the Balladonia Roadhouse, which was our next stop.

    Aside from topping off our diesel here, we visited a small museum. The heritage museum is small, but has an eclectic collection of exhibits … including a camel and a piece of space debris. Back in 1979, this roadhouse suddenly found itself in the headlines when parts of NASA’s Skylab “dropped in on Balladonia” … as the sign in the parking lot described the event. Turns out that bits and pieces of Skylab were scattered within a 90-mile radius around the roadhouse. In jest, the local shire fined NASA $400 for littering 😁

    As we continued our drive, we left the low-vegetation covering the ground on either side of the highway. In its stead, we entered the Great Western Woodland … billed as the biggest acreage of uninterrupted trees … covering an area larger than all of Tasmania.

    Yes, we added to our stash of unusual road sign photos again.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Can't get under the tree for shade, but it does provide a screen for the living area — Cocklebiddy.
    The caravan park at the Cocklebiddy Roadhouse on the Eyre Hwy, WA.Sunset on the Nullarbor — Cocklebiddy Roadhouse on the Eyre Hwy, WA.

    Roadhouse Camping @ Cocklebiddy

    February 17, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 90 °F

    We hung up our hat, so to speak, at Cocklebiddy tonight.

    This is a much smaller roadhouse. Nonetheless, it has pretty much everything the Nullarbor Roadhouse offers.

    Same set up — electric only; empty the grey water into the soil; no dump point for black water. The cell signal is only 3G. Good enough for social media, but frustratingly slow for online research needs!

    Oh, how spoiled we all are when it comes to our connectivity. No worries, we’ll be in a town tomorrow and service should improve. In the meantime, we managed to verify that the campground where we want to stay tomorrow night has a spot for us, so all’s good.

    One more difference from yesterday’s caravan park. This one has a tree. Just one. But we were glad to snap up the site where it stands. With the temp reaching 104F today, even the tiniest bit of shade was welcome.

    Things are heating up now that we are away from the coast. Methinks an early start may be a good idea tomorrow. We’ll see.

    Oh, and with all the time changes, sunset tonight was around 6:30p. Two and a half hours earlier than yesterday.

    Very confusing time changes, by the way. A tiny bit of Western Australia is UTC +8 hours and 45 minutes. And they don’t follow DST. Twenty minutes from here, we lose the 45 minutes to go on Perth time, which is UTC +8 … again, no DST. Not only is my brain confused, so is my phone, as it doesn’t recognize the special time zone we’re in!    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Sunrise on the Nullarbor — Nullarbor Roadhouse on the Eyre Hwy, SA.
    This is what Nullarbor (the Treeless Plain) looks like — Eyre Hwy, SA.Nullarbor ... not vegetation free; but no trees — Eyre Hwy, SA.Emergency landing strip/runway for the Royal Flying Doctor Service on the Nullarbor Plain — Eyre HwyWalking to the first Bunda Cliffs Lookout — Eyre Hwy, SA.Bunda Cliffs Lookout — Eyre Hwy, SA.Bunda Cliffs ... in B&W since there was a lot of glare — Eyre Hwy, SA.Have to admit this lizard gave me a scare ... I thought it was a snake when it peeked out its head.Bunda Cliffs at the second lookout ... looking west — Eyre Hwy, SA.View of the Great Australian Bight — Eyre Hwy, SA.Memorial Cairn in one of the rest areas on the Eyre Hwy, SA.We're prepared! Finished up the fruit ... no other contraband — Eyre Hwy, SA.Rooey offers us Vegemite — Bordertown, WA.Thanks, but I'll pass on the Vegemite — Bordertown, WA.Rooey and the signpost — Bordertown, WA.Representing an aerial view of the Nullabor Plain, salt bushes, rock holes, & the Head of the Bight.Time to face the quarantine agents — Bordertown, WA.Wombat replaced with emu ... no sign of any of the animals — Eyre Hwy, WA.Lest We Forget Memorial, Eucla, WA.

    OTR: Caravaning … Day 8

    February 17, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    Nullarbor Roadhouse to Cocklebiddy Roadhouse
    Left South Australia for Western Australia
    Distance Traveled: 296 Miles

    Today was planned as a driving day to get us from Point A to Point B — the Nullarbor Roadhouse to the Mundrabilla Roadhouse. But then we pushed on to Point C — the Madura Roadhouse. And again to Cocklebiddy Roadhouse. Why? Thanks to leaving South Australia for Western Australia, we went through a time zone change that put us at Point B a little after noon. Way early to get off the road.

    Our drive today took us through the Nullarbor Wilderness Protection Area … not much to see, really. We did make a couple of stops along the way to add fun to our day — short strolls at lookouts over the Bunda Cliffs … first to the east and then to the west; a visit with Rooey, who offered us some Vegemite … no thanks, once was enough; and a “Lest we Forget” Memorial in Eucla. We also went through the quarantine checkpoint at Bordertown as we entered Western Australia … we had no contraband, so easy peasy.

    Oh, and we again stopped for interesting signs along the way … adding to our collection the one that alerts drivers to the use of the Eyre Highway in certain sections as an emergency runway for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. No landings today!    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Welcome to the Nullarbor Roadhouse — Eyre Hwy on the Nullarbor Plain, SA.
    Nullarbor Roadhouse — Eyre Hwy on the Nullarbor Plain, SA.Mui uses the whale mural to point out where we are ... Nullarbor Roadhouse — Eyre Hwy, SA.2Nullarbor Roadhouse — Eyre Hwy on the Nullarbor Plain, SA."Admiral, there be a whale here,"... or so Scotty said to Admiral Kirk!The all important diesel ... Nullarbor Roadhouse — Eyre Hwy on the Nullarbor Plain, SA.Road trains on this stretch are quite common ... Nullarbor Roadhouse — Eyre Hwy, SA.Nullarbor Roadhouse — Eyre Hwy on the Nullarbor Plain, SA.Mural in the restaurant ... Nullarbor Roadhouse — Eyre Hwy on the Nullarbor Plain, SA.Mural at the Nullarbor Roadhouse — Eyre Hwy on the Nullarbor Plain, SA.1Mural at the Nullarbor Roadhouse — Eyre Hwy on the Nullarbor Plain, SA.Cartoon mural at the Nullarbor Roadhouse — Eyre Hwy on the Nullarbor Plain, SA.Cartoon mural by P. Armstrong ... at the Nullarbor Roadhouse — Eyre Hwy on the Nullarbor Plain, SA.The back of the cooking shelter is decorated with murals ... Nullarbor Roadhouse — Eyre Hwy, SA.Mural in the pub at the Nullarbor Roadhouse — Eyre Hwy on the Nullarbor Plain, SA.Nullarbor Roadhouse ... after traffic quiets down — Eyre Hwy, SA.

    Roadhouse Camping @ Nullarbor

    February 16, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 72 °F

    A mere 9 miles brought us from the Head of the Bight to the Nullarbor Roadhouse, where we’d made reservations for the night.

    There are several of these roadhouses along the highway. They provide all the services road trippers might need … truckers too. A place to stay — motel or caravan park; fuel; food and drink; facilities … including showers that are metered by the minute. And cell signal … but only if you have Telstra service! Wi-fi is provided as well.

    The Nullarbor Roadhouse is said to be the nicest one along the way. Can’t say one way or the other since this is our first roadhouse camping … ever. But our first impressions are good. That I found lots of murals here and there around the property … well, you know that makes me a happy camper.

    It was still early when we pulled in … only 3:00p. But we were good with that … time to relax a bit and get some work done. It was also getting hotter by the minute … luckily not into the three-digit temps they had here not long ago. The good news is that we’re in a desert environment and once the sun started going down, it cooled down to jacket weather.

    On the recommendation of the clerk, we took the site next to the “old museum” … a shack, really. The small building provides a welcome windbreak as it is a-blowin’ today.

    This is a powered site; no other hook-ups. There is a potable water spigot somewhere on the property … AUD $2 for 25 liters. Since our 80-liter tank is still ¾ full, we will top off tomorrow. No dump point here — or at any of the other roadhouses on the Nullarbor. Odd, but it is what it is. We can apparently dump at Bordertown when we cross into Western Australia tomorrow.

    Time to get this footprint loaded and call it a day.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Yes, the water was that color! — Head of the Bight, SA.
    Head of the Bight, SA.Head of the Bight, SA.1Bunda Cliffs at Head of the Bight, SA.Bunda Cliffs at Head of the Bight, SA.Bunda Cliffs at Head of the Bight, SA.Our only whale sighting today @ Head of the Bight, SA.Head of the Bight, SA.Interpretive Center at Head of the Bight, SA.

    OTR: Caravaning … Day 7 👉🏻 Head of Bight

    February 16, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    Our only real stop today turned out to be a short one … but amazing nonetheless.

    The Head of the Bight is the playground of migrating Southern Right Whales. It is billed as one of the best places to see whales. During the migration season up to 100 whales, including calves, congregate in the waters along the Bunda Cliffs. Before you get too excited, let me just say that we didn’t see any whales today … it’s not the right time of the year for that.

    So, what was so amazing about our stop here? The scenery. The azure-colored waters … rimmed by white sand dunes in the far distance and the limestone Bunda Cliffs where we were.

    We had debated skipping Head of the Bight because it is not whale season. So glad we didn’t … skip it, that is.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Mural on the side of a building at the school — Penong, SA.
    Lots of wombat sightings ... all roadkill. No kangaroos — Eyre Highway, SA.The scenery on the Eyre Highway before we enter the Nullarbor Plain — SA.Added camels to the mix ... no sightings yet — Eyre Highway, SA.Entering the Treeless Plain — Eyre Highway, SA.The Mirning are the traditional caretakers of the land — Eyre Highway, SA.

    OTR: Caravaning … Day 7 👉🏻 Nullarbor

    February 16, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    Penong to Nullarbor Roadhouse
    Distance Traveled: 169 miles

    WOW! Hard to believe we’ve been in the motorhome for a week already!

    Yes, I said in the motorhome not the caravan as I have been doing in the previous footprints. You see, I learned something from our campground host last night.

    A caravan in Australia is a trailer. A Motorhome is … well, a motorhome. A trailer is a pop-up camper. And of course, there is also the campervan. So, we might be in a motorhome, but what we’re doing is caravanning! Perhaps if I ever have time, I’ll go back and fix the caravan references in the previous footprints to reflect the correction.

    Anyway, with two of our sightseeing spots nixed, we moved out of the Penong area to continue our drive west. Fowlers Bay, our next planned stop, was a bust, too … for similar road conditions. Sigh! But no worries, we enjoyed the drive regardless, stopping to take photos of interesting signs … including the one marking our entrance to the Nullarbor Plain.

    As the name implies … this is the treeless plain. From Latin … NULLUS and ARBOR. The Aboriginal people know the plain as “Oondiri” … meaning waterless. Appropriate … the average rainfall here is about 8 inches per year. I took a short video clip before the Nullarbor today … will have to take another one now that we’re on the Nullabor for comparison.

    The plain, which was created about 25 million years ago when the land emerged from the sea, stretches some 450 miles east to west … and some 200 miles to the north from here. It’s a vast expanse of land. We’ll be driving the length of the plain and seeing a narrow strip of it on this road trip. We’ll see another narrow strip of it when we take the train back to Sydney in a couple of weeks.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Windmill Museum — Penong, SA.
    Windmill Museum — Penong, SA.This Comet is the largest windmill in Australia — Windmill Museum — Penong, SA.Windmill Museum — Penong, SA.Windmill Museum — Penong, SA.Windmill Museum — Penong, SA.Windmill Museum — Penong, SA.

    Penong: Windmills Museum

    February 16, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    We’ve noticed that the days around here are still dark even at 7:00a. That means that unless we have time-sensitive plans, we’re getting up a little later than usual. Which, in turn, means a slightly later start on the road. No worries though. It is also getting darker later … after 9:00p. Essentially, giving us about 11-12 hours of daylight for sightseeing and driving … should we choose to stay on the road that late. Which we don’t 😉

    We had three places in the Penong area that we wanted to check out before heading further west down the Eyre Highway. One of them worked out nicely. The other two … well, let’s just say that we decided to skip them due to road conditions — 12-miles of dodging deep pot-holes on unsealed surfaces each way. No thank you. Besides, we were advised that the Pink Lake wasn’t pink this time of the year due to water evaporation.

    Anyway, while Mui took care of a few breaking-camp-chores this morning, I headed off to check out the nearby Penong Windmill Museum. By nearby, I mean right across the road from the caravan park. The place is not a museum per se. More like a roadside display of a collection of windmills, including a Comet that the sign said is the largest windmill in Australia. And it still works to pump water out of the ground.

    I was so charmed by these rural windmills that when we left the campground, I had Mui turn into the driveway so he could see them as well.    Read more

  • Adventuring Down Under
    Our site at the campground tonight — Penong Caravan Park, SA.

    Campground Camping in Penong

    February 15, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 75 °F

    Penong is known for its windmills.

    We’ll see those tomorrow. Today, after topping off our diesel, we headed straight to the Penong Caravan Park.

    We’re in site 14 … a water/electric site. No sullage point for the grey water … “give the bushes a drink,” were the instructions from the owner of the campground when she checked us in.

    Once settled, we threw in a load of laundry and while that was going, sat down to re-jigger our remaining two weeks on the road. The extra day has been accounted for … we’re going to use it to relax a bit once we cross the Nullarbor.

    Speaking of relaxing … time to do that now.    Read more

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