Friday, May 04, 2012

Road trip: Western Australia (bonus)

An unexpected windfall of days off for the lad meant a bonus road trip was hastily planned and we once again loaded the car and set off. 


View WA bonus roadtrip in a larger map

This time we headed north towards Perenjori and a farm on the edge of the wheat belt where Hamish used to work. We oohed and arghed at the big tractors and harvesters and marveled at the small (36,000 acre) farm. The boys were busy waiting for the first rain of the season so that they could start planting. 



Leaving them to it, we set off to set up camp at Camel Soak, a watering spot for camels, livestock and people as they headed east towards the goldfields. This was another hole cut out of a granite dome that collected rainwater runoff, although it was pretty much empty and populated by frogs which wouldn't be that helpful if you were a thirsty camel.




The dawning morning revealed that we were camped next to the Rabbit Proof Fence No. 2, which was the second fence built to try and prevent the westward movement of rabbits after the first fence failed. The second fence failed too but is apparently quite useful for keeping emu out of the wheat fields. 



The scenery was the archetypal Australian countryside; red soil, gum trees and long road disappearing into the distance.  It was pretty nice.


Driving off into the distance, we came across a huge salt lake - 182 km long and up to 7 km wide.  The edge of the wheat belt is characterised by natural salt lakes and this one was a monster. 


Being the end of the dry summer season, the lake was completely solid salt and perfect for a jaunt out into the saltiness.  It was quite surreal, walking out across the solid surface of a lake.  Anything on the surface was covered in salt crystals and we even found some perfect salt cubes. 

  

From the salt lake, we headed west towards to the coast to check out the surf and test the water temperature.  Once again the surfboard accompanied us on our roadtrip,  unused and taking up unnecessary space in the back of the car.  And once again, it remained unused as the surf was rubbish.  But the water temperature was perfect for a spot of swimming.  And the warm evening perfect for a picnic on the beach, watching the sun set over the Indian Ocean.


Heading south the next day, we did a driving tour through Lesueur National Park.  This was country we had seen on our 2011 Aussie road trip but it was totally worth doing again. 


The highlight of this tour was a flock(?) of wedgetail eagles that were feeding on a dead kangaroo on the side of the road.


These guys are big!  And pretty impressive birds.  I wouldn't want to be a small child out there in the desert all by myself.  


My slight fear of wedgetails was forgotten after another swim and a pleasant night camping at the beach. 


And then we headed off to the Pinnacles at Nambung National Park to once again enjoy the geological marvels.  


And then it was homeward bound to Perth for a few days before I had to head back home to do some real work.

 

But not before a quick 70km jaunt out to Fremantle on the bikes to stretch out the legs after all the driving!


But don't fret, we're already planning the next roadtrip and I get the feeling it's going to be a doozy!  Will keep you posted.....







No comments: