Ceduna to Esperance

On Friday we left Ceduna and headed to Eucla. We had a great run-no wind, and less than 20 road trains passed us heading east, two overtook us heading west. We stopped for fuel at Penong and paid $1.35, then again at Nullabor roadhouse where we paid $1.73! We were travelling with no cash, and discovered the phone lines were out as a fencing contactor had cut the cable-lucky we have a large slush fund of gold coins or we might still be sitting at Nullabor roadhouse!

Eucla Caravan Park isn’t a bad overnighter-plenty of space, nice ocean views, and off the highway. We have to pay $1.00 for 5 minutes in the shower. After we unhooked the van, we drove down off the escarpment to the old telegraph station (where we were almost carried away by March flies) then on for a walk around the really spectacular sand dunes.




There isn’t any point setting up the antenna and TV tonight, so after our dinner of spaghetti Bolognaise, I think I’ll beat Russell at Scrabble then go to bed. We are in Central Time now, so 45 minutes behind of Adelaide and 45 minutes ahead of Perth (or it might be the other way round!) but whichever, I’m hungry and getting tired.

Saturday April 1st
This morning we were woken at 6.30am by Devi barking at the caravan door. I opened it to find 9 fat geese waiting there to be fed. The only goose I think is good is a dead one on my dinner plate-I hate the big noisy aggressive things.

Russell won the Scrabble last night, but only by the tiniest amount!

We drove from Eucla to Fraser Range Station Caravan Park (about 600ks) along really good roads (apart from 57ks of road works that slowed us quite a bit). Every road train that was having yesterday off was out there today though. We passed heaps and heaps of them. Most of the way we had a tail wind, so it was pretty easy to get along at 100kph (or more).


FRCP is beautiful. The renovations are only 2 years old and it is situated on the flat almost completely surrounded by the ranges. It has 24 sites, a small motel section and a small backpaker’s. Tonight there is one other van (which was in Streaky Bay when we were there) and 3 motel rooms occupied. The BBQ’s camp kitchen and toilets are all so new and shiny and spacious. This is the first park I’ve been to I’d give 5 stars. I wrote too soon-a 5th wheeler is just pulling in at 5pm Perth time! The couple in the other van (Pam and Peter (Pam is Andy Graham’s niece)) is away for 12 months with 3 children, 2 are receiving distance education while they travel.

Russ just informed me it’s only a 4 ½ star park because of the bindi eyes! (nasty little 3 sided burrs or prickles that stick to the bottom of your shoes, feet or paws!)

Sunday April 2nd
Last night we used the beautiful new barbies to cook our dinner, then went over to the out door dining room to have a few drinks with the owner of this place and a few other guests. We were in bed by 9.30 as our body clocks are a bit out of sorts, so were up bright and early this morning.

Today we headed to Esperance. We’d planned to travel further, but it was raining, we had a head wind and 300ks seemed about far enough to go. It’s nice to have the phone and computer working again. Tomorrow we’ll head to Wave Rock which is somewhere out there in the middle of Southern W.A.