Nullarbor nymphing

Hi everyone!
We are currently in Geraldton, about 400km north of Perth. Next we are going up to North Western Australia, probably the part of the trip we have been most looking forward to.
The weather has turned ugly and we are holed up in a cabin in a caravan park.
No matter though, because the car is having an intermittent loss of power problem that we want to sort out before we go into remote Australia for the next two months. Our mechanical knowledge has exploded exponentially but no mechanic can work out the problem yet... next stop the Toyota dealer.

Off we go! Graceland by Paul Simon... amazing driving album

The Nullarbor

Head of Bight. In winter here, up to 70-80 whales can be seen nursing their young. We didn't see any though.

The Nullarbor, home to the longest golf course in the world, The Nullarbor Links. 18 holes over 1365km. This hole was named after the world famous hoax in 1971. A PR bloke and the town of Eucla decided to get some tourist interest, so made up that there was a nude, blonde, caucasian woman who had been spotted living with Kangaroos somewhere along the Nullarbor. The world press descended to Eucla, population 8.

This photo of Min, inspired by the above story.

Thistle cove, Cape Le Grand NP, east of Esperance.

At the top of Frenchman peak, Cape Le Grand NP. Min says she gets nervous of heights but refusing to open her eyes at the top seems ridiculous. It made getting up and down the peak very difficult.

James thinks Min misheard "Give me blue steel" for "Give me a look like there is something is up your bottom".

James 'schooling' Min at Elephant rocks, William Bay NP.

With practice, you will go far grasshopper.

Climbing down the Glouchester tree, Pemberton. Min didn't come up... see previous photo referring to heights.

With our friends Sarah and Muz at Cottesloe beach. We stayed with them over Anzac day and had a ball! Thanks for having us.

The Pinnacles, just south of Cervantes. Odd limestone rock formations with no definite geological explanation. If Min and I were in a band together (trumpet + double bass), this would be our album cover.

Sunset at Sandy Cape Reserve

Min 'made' me a cooked breakfast for my Birthday. Dehydrated beef bacon, yum.

As part of his yearly ritual, James insists on a Birthday bald spot progress photo. Concerning...

The stone welcome arch (meant for Batavia, now current day Jakarta) carried by the Batavia (ship) in 1629. The Batavia sank near the Albrohlos islands on the way from Holland to the East Indies. 322 survivors from the shipwreck on the islands and then mutiny and murder followed. Excellent story and we were enthralled (by we, James means himself).

Personal safety is somewhat important when camping when there are severe storm warnings. However, preventing hail damage to the car is the number one priority.

8.30pm and sitting in the tent with howling winds and torrential rain outside, we decided to make the sensible decision and retreat to a cabin (by we I mean Min).

We thought changing our spark plugs might fix our car troubles... it didn't.

South Australia rocks!

Hi.

We are about to jump on the Nullarbor across to WA so thought we should give a little update.
South Australia has been a lot of fun. Unspoilt Kangaroo Island, the outback of the Flinders and the clear blue water of the Eyre Peninsula.

Driving the sand dunes of Little Dip conservation park, just south of Robe.

Across the Backstairs Passage to Kangaroo Island. Min didn't budge from this position the whole 45 minutes even though it was dead calm.

We just can't understand why Clifford's honey farm didn't make the latest KI advertising campaign (you know the add where Eddie Veder sings that song Rise. James sure does... Min played it about 6 times a day while we were on the Island).

Seal Cove at Kangaroo Island. A ranger takes you down to the beach and there are hundreds of Seals baking in the Sun.

Min either being 'fully sick' before going sandboarding or having some sort of seizure.

Surprising Min. She had to take back I was totally unco and admit I am only partially unco.

Where Mick Jagger and the like stay for $2000/night. We settled for our $8 national park campsite.

Poo is very educational.

Camping at Emu bay, Kangaroo Island.

The remarkable rocks

"This is where the penguins were...last night". This phrase was uttered 200 times by our guide. Boy... when they said penguin tour, we didn't think it would be so literal. We saw one freaking penguin!

Constantly camping, there are some comforts we do miss at times. Our own bed, flushing toilets, no flies and wine flights in the Barossa with matched cheeses

Inaurgural James vs Min see how many flies you can get on your face and get a photo. 6 here.

This one is controversial. You can count 8, but 5 aren't technically on her face. Disqualified?

No secret really. Just technique, testosterone and timber (+ jiffy firelighters).

First use of our camp oven. Beautiful Damper at Rawnsley park station, Flinders ranges.

Chinese bush chicken. Goes great with damper.

Brachina Gorge, Flinders ranges NP.

Ridgetop tour, Arkaroola, Northern Flinders ranges. A 4hr 4wd tour through the amazing wildness sanctuary of Arkaroola.

Echo camp backtrack, Arkaroola, self drive 4wd tour. Min walking the hill and mapping her route. Good skills (must be genetic Andrew). It was much steeper than it looks!

Gammon ranges, Northern Flinders.

The western edge of the Flinders ranges.

Memory cove, Lincoln NP, Eyre Peninsula. Accessed via a 4wd track and through a locked gate 19km from the cove. Not a place where you would want your car battery, which was on its last legs, to go completely dead. Whoops.

 

A 3 hr wait for people to turn up, a jump start, a new battery from Repco, Port Lincoln and we were away!

Camping in Coffin bay NP. Top spot.

The only drawback of South Australia is washing in 'hard' water. It really shortens the life of clothes.

The waters of Streaky Bay, on the North West of the Eyre peninsula.