Week 14: Across the Nullarbor

The week so far:  Port Lincoln – Frenchmans Beach (Coffin Bay) – Davenport Creek – Balladonia (WA) – Israelite Bay – Esperance – Cape Le Grand.

Venus Bay Heads, SA

Well there has been a lot of time in the car this week.  WA and western SA offer stunning beauty but everything is a bloody long way to everywhere else.

We have also learnt that some roads are better than others in terms of covering miles.  We spent a couple of days in the car getting places, both long ten-hour days.  The first, we travelled across the Nullarbor a total of 1,000kms.  The next, a backbreaking 180kms (yes, in 10 hours) over some pretty gnarly roads (I use this term loosely) down through Cape Arid National Park.

 

 Venus Bay, SA

The little Navara has served us well despite the very rough treatment.   WA and SA have offered some great 4WDing.   The little trooper has not skipped a beat despite the corrugation being pretty severe.  Having said that, these roads might provide us with a useful strategy down the track if we need to induce Kelly.

The travels this week have also taken a toll on the budget (going over our fuel allowance by a factor of four).  Unlike my leftie mates who just seem to incessantly complain (and even attend protests) about Australia’s current budget situation, we have taken matters into our own hands and simply become more efficient. 

Our latest innovation to get the most out of our meagre budget (as unemployed people who are not accepting welfare), is found in aquatics and leisure centres.    These wonderful places not only provide us with exercise, and some time for Kelly to get the weight off her back, we also get to shower all for $5 each!  So long overpriced caravan parks!   

Lucky Bay, Cape Le Grand

We are now off to Albany (pronounced ‘AL-bany’ not ALL-bany for those in the Eastern states) for a few days chilling around this beautiful coast line. 

See you next week.

Matt and Kel