Well you know you are really heading west across the Nullabor when you get to see the iconic road sign depicting camels, roos and emus for the next however many k’s. The road is actually really well maintained and well trafficked by campers / caravans and huge B-triple road trains.
We have really enjoyed watching the decorated trees along the Nullabor. Suddenly appearing along the side of the road will be a tree festooned with a certain theme of decoration. No doubt added to by travelers on their way past. SO far we have encountered trees decorated with: shoes; undies; hats; bottles; cups; kitchen utensils; kettles; ties; ties & rubber gloves (almost stopped to donate one of my very special rubber gloves I received at the Pane ‘vino send off – but couldn’t part with it!!)
It is very flat – except for the Madura Pass. There are many limestone caves and sink holes across the Nullabor, we stopped and looked at one of the blow holes (no not water but air which blows out at up to 72k per hour. It was really amazing. Apparently the Nullabor gets only around 250mm rainfall per year. It is not surprising the country is dry – no water to be seen. Roadhouses will sell you petrol (at $1.79/l) but will have signs up that say “don’t ask for water”. But, true to form, it rained on us! I wouldn’t be surprised if we have had half their yearly rainfall fall on us on the way across. Actually not just rained but stormed. Huge rush to try to set up camp at a roadside stop (along with numerous other travelers), as the night sky lit up with a spectacular lightening display and pouring, pelting, teeming, driven rain and high wind started. For the first time ever, the rain was driven into the tent through the zips, and we had to try to stem the flow of water with towels. And this is the Nullabor….. who gets rained on in the Nullabor??????
Travelled the longest straight stretch of road in Australia 146.6 k’s long……… yes I can confirm - it was straight.
There was a huge Police op in Belladonia targeting trucks and drugs. Seemed bizarre in the middle of nowhere. Large mobile police command post van, dog squad, 4 cars and around 20 officers involved at the time we passed.- mind you they were all in the roadhouse eating a big breaky when we chatted to them! (luckily we got through okay ….lol)
Also, must mentioned we passed a guy (and his support team) walking across the Nullabor pushing a wheelchair to raise money for charity. Reminded me of that “running gag” in Pricilla.
Next stop – Esperence and hopefully and end to the rain for a while.
