Geraldton Bore to Yulara

There were 3 old men or 'fossils' already at Geraldton bore. We set up and cooked dinner after looking at the bore with a beautiful sunset in the background.

We took our chairs and dinner and sat over with the men around their fire and had a nice, long, interesting chat. I excused myself and went to bed before everyone else.
The next morning we said good-bye to the men and mum, dad and Jack emptied and filled up all our water at the bore while I stayed in the car and read.
At the Everard Junction, mum signed a book and then swapped with dad and had a go driving.

We stopped at Mt. Everard and had lunch. I climbed up the rock face to get to the top. Dad was too chicken and went around the longer, easier way.

Mum drove to Mt. Beadell and on the way we saw about ten camels and we jumped out to film them and see them.
At Mt. Beadell, we looked at the theodolite that was placed there in memory of Len Beadell.

Thryptomine Hill Bore was where we were meant to stay for the night but there was water everywhere and it was gross. So we continued to Len Beadell's Tree where it was beautiful! Jack went off exploring while I read. Dinner was delicious that night!!

Mum, Jack and I had fun watching the videos on mum's camera. Then mum wanted to take a photo of us and dad got angry at me so I went to bed.

Jack and I found it very hard to get out of bed. We were too tired and cold.

We stopped for mum and Jack to wee and then as we were about to get into the car, dad said I could have a go driving. YAY!!! I suddenly got nervous though when I sat in the drivers seat. We were about to start when we saw a car coming over the hill so we thought we would wait. The car finally went passed and as it was coming, dad said just to wave and act normal. BUT! As the car went passed we saw it was a police car!! I froze and we were all tense wondering if they would turn around...but they didn't. Few! After they were over the hill I started. I got up to 45 km/h, went over a hill, did some turns in the middle of the road and stopped the car. It was awesome!

We stoped at Warburton and had a look in their art gallery. The paintings were really good!

We bought some clap sticks for Lisa and Stuart for looking after Jet.

On the way to Giles Station, there was a push bike rider who asked us how far he had gone because his odometer broke.
At Giles station, we saw an old grader. There was no one in the office but we still had a little look around. There was a really cute dingo outside that was very nervous about us.
We arrived at Docker River when the sun was setting. There were heaps of noisy aborigional kids playing on a hill and I really wanted Jack to come with meto see them but he was too scared. By the time mum came with me up there, they were leaving...
Jack spotted another dingo and chased after it. It was a boring night that night as we just ate dinner and went to bed.
In the middle of the night, we all heard heaps of dingoes howling. I thought it was cool!
We left for Yulara this morning! Yay!
We stopped at Lasseter's Cave and had no luck in find his reef...

Next was the Olga's! They were unbelievably massive! We did a long hike around and through them. It was beautiful but long and hot. I took plenty of photos!

YAY! We arrived at Uluru, finally! It all happened so fast. I didn't expect it. But we jumped out of the car and went straight into climbing it! I was very excited but also quite nervous. Jack was very scared the whole way. It was so steep and tiring!!! But it was so worth it! The view was AMAZING! You could see the Olga's all the way over on the horizon. I again took plenty of photos. I was really nervous about coming down and it was a bit scary. I was kind of pleased in a way when we reached the bottom.
We were very thirsty and all probably suffering from sun stroke.

We drove to Ayers Rock Resort to find all the cabins were book so instead we stayed in a 5 star motel! Wooo! Another real bed! We ordered dinner to our room and watched TV and all fell asleep.

Here is a photo I took at the Olgas (the Olgas in the background):

The Bunda Cliffs to Geraldton Bore

The Bunda Cliffs were amazing! It was a fantastic view and a massive drop down to the water.

I had some lunch and a cup of tea. It was very windy and cold and I just wanted to stay in the car.
Then, after more driving, we had to stop at the Nullabour Roadhouse to throw away all our fruit and vegtables. We also had a nice shower and Jack and I bought a toy kangaroo each.

We then drove to Eucla to a destroyed, old telegraph station. They were destroyed because of the rabbits. Yes, rabbits. The rabbits ate all the vegetation holding the sand dunes up and all the sand filled the buildings and buried them. Jack and I had heaps of fun playing forts in them. We didn't want to leave.
Rest stop 13 was quite pretty. I had fun climbing the tree near us. We quickly set up, ate dinner and joined a couple and their fire and had a nice chat before dissapearing off to bed.

It was not cold that night so I had a really good sleep. I woke up to the smell of bacon and eggs that dad was cooking.

After packing up we were on our way to the Bird Observatory. We had to dive on dirt road for a while and then we came to a sign saying to HF radio the people to see if the track was clear of people coming the other way. After getting the OK, we drove down a steep hill right next to the edge of a cliff. It wasn't that scary though. We then were driving on white sand and sometimes it got really bumpy. We thought it would be a lot of birds in cages and a bird show or something but it was nothing like that. The old couple who had volunteered for the job for 3 months were really nice. After a really interesting tour of the house and its history we had tea and buscuits. I was feeling sick and the biscuits were way too sweet for me. They did not have any birds in cages or anything like that. We went on a quick walk that we didn't really do properly. Dad was supposed to read out what all the numbered things were but we didn't seem too interested.

The old couple enjoyed looking at our car and I think Dad showing it off more.
We stopped at Caiguna Roadhouse for lunch and all I had was a bowl of hot chips that dad picked at aswell. I wasn't feeling well at all.

Soon after, we had started the longest straight road in Australia. I fell asleep. I thought I would feel better after my sleep but I didn't. I felt it coming so I opened the window and...I won't go into too much detail. But dad pulled over and I finished the rest. Mum had fun cleaning it up from in the car while dad and Jack stayed away.

I was so happy that we were staying at Norseman Pub. I really didn't feel like setting up and it also meant a real bed!! I didn't eat anything for dinner. Jack and I had to have our own room because there were no others for four people.

There was a painting that looks identical to Larissa.

We had breakfast there as well and I was feeling much better.

The view from a garden hill in Norseman was really good. I took some photos and read about the town history.

On our way to Lake Ballard, we stopped at Kalgoorlie for a fuel stop. We also saw the MASSIVE open cut mine. It was huge! There was a little white car down the bottom that looked even smaller than an ant.
We finally arrived at Lake Ballard and straight away we walked out on the very slippery, muddy lake to see the 'Garmley Statues'. They were...interesting. Then we cimbed what I thought would be a tiny walk up a hill. It was very steep and very tiring. It was so windy at the top.
The wind didn't stop at all and I was very nervous about the fire.

The next day we had morning tea at Granite Creek and passed through Leonora.

At Wiluna, there were not many people around the streets. At the petrol station I got my chance to ask some questions to a local for my geography assignment.

We drove down the start of the Gunbarrel to Bowanoo Rock Hole. The first thing I saw was the swing someone had made and Jack and I had some fun pushing each other on it. It was really scary because the tree would creak as if it was about to break right when you were over the top of the water.

The sunset was nice and I took some nice photos.

We had delicious soft tacos for dinner complete with a block of chocolate while playing poker next to our fire. Unfortunately, I lost. So I sat on my chair and read.

In the morning when I woke up, I decided it would be funny to tickle what was a grumpy Jack.

I sat on the swing so mum could video me and take a photo. I had breakfast and we packed.
We pushed on further than we planned to and had lunch at Mingol Camp. The road became ruffer after that.
At Carnegie Station, the lady had to come out and fill up our car. She seemed very grumpy as if she was just out of bed. Jack and I loved pattng the two dogs there.
Jack and I made our own secret language. Mum and dad can't work it out so it's awesome! I wonder how long we will remember it...
We saw kangaroos, camels and lots of termite mounds on our way to Mt. Lambert.
We stopped the car and it woke up sleepy-head Jack.
We had a snack and toilet break there and we put a rock each on a massive pile of rocks on the top of the mountain.
Jack spotted a dingo on our way to Geraldton Bore.

Here is a picture of the Open Cut Mine at Kalgorlie that I took:

Mt. Ive Station to Head of Bight

Sorry I took so long! I hope this is OK for now. Should have more tomorrow.

Mt. Ive Station was massive! The people who lived there owned 900sq km of land! They also owned the cutest dogs you have ever seen! There were seven tiny Kelpie puppies! I loved them! I sat down on the ground and they would come up and climb all over me and untie my shoelaces!

After eventually going back to the tent, we had our first shower! Nice and clean! We then had a nice steak and potato dinner.

I was boiling that night! I thought it would be freezing so I left my tracksuit pants and long-sleeve shirt on ontop of my thermals but I think I had too much on. Oh well, the next morning wasn't too hot or too cold.

After breakfast I went and visited the puppies again!

After packing up we left Mt. Ive Station because we had a whole day of sight seeing.
 
Organ Pipes at Pillars-


these were made from volcanic action milions of years ago.

We got out of the car and walked along the hills until we found them. They were huge and I was nervous that one of them was going to fall.
 
On our way to the Organ Pipes at Kath's Castle, we thought we would get out and have a look at this strangely placed submarine.


It turns out that it was an oil can that some people made it into what looks like a submarine...It was fun to climb on though!
 
Organ Pipes at Kath's Castle-


these were made the same way as the Organ Pipes at the Pillars.

We hiked up the creek bed to the massive Organ Pipes. Dad, Jack and I climbed a fair way up them (mum was holding her expensive camera). I was very scared because it was quite a long way down. On our way back to the car, a kangaroo jumped passed right infront of dad. I quickly but quietly got closer to get a decent photo.
 
The Embankment-
was built in 1892.

When we got there, the natural thing to do is walk across it, and we did. I was so scared for some reason. I guess it was the vertigo. I was glad when I got to the other side but strangely, I walked back along it again...
 
We had lunch at Lake Gairdner. It was beautiful! It is a salt lake and although it had water in it, you could still see the sparkle. I walked out to a little rock and observed the water while dad and jack threw rocks in the water and mum took photos.
 
After a big day of sight seeing, I was happy to arrive and relax at Loche Claypan or Salt Lake.


Jack and I immediatley started exploring after we had set up. It was quite a view...especially from the toilet. I helped mum make dinner and after dinner we played poker. I won! Yay!

During poker we saw a little mouse run by. It was so small and cute!

We all then went to bed and I had a pretty bad sleep.

The next morning was freezing on my hands when we were packing up. We got in the car and were on our way to Ceduna.
 
The water at Ceduna was perfect! It was so clear! So we decided to walk out on the jetty. Half way, we met a very talkative boy who was fishing. He was telling us all about the fish he catches and what animals he sees.
Mum and I then walked to the shops to get some batteries and some bread. There were haeps of people walking around the streets, a few of them being aborigionals that were so cute!


We got back in the car and I couldn't wait to see the whales!
 
I was a bit dissapointed with the Southern Right Whales. You could see massive black shapes in the water but they weren't coming up much.


Dad and Jack went back to the car and I struggled to get mum to leave because every time we went to leave she would suddenly spin back around because a whale was surfacing.

We finally left to go to Murrawijinie caves.

This is a photo mum took of the Organ Pipes at the Pillars:

Wilcania to Port Augusta

We then went to Wilcania for lunch after Cobar and the Darling River was there too. We stopped and got petrol as well. Wilcania was very small and there were heaps of aborigionals. They were so cute!
After more driving and getting petrol at Broken Hill, we arrived for the night at Olary Creek. It was so awesome! We were right next to a creek bed and train track. Jack and I had heaps of fun exploring it and playing. That night was FREEZING!!! Even in the swag overnight under a duna and a thick blanket it was cold. Oh well. The next morning Mum, Jack and I got the swag into its bag MUCH quicker than yesterday. YAY!
We stopped at Peterborough for a pie and hot chocolate and continued on through the Flinders Ranges.
We are now stopped at a petrol station at Port Augusta and are heading for Mt. Ive station for the night.

Yes, I have been on msn a few times but you two haven't been on. Oh well. I have sent emails.
Miss you.
Bye

This is a photo of the Darling River at Wilcania:

Home to Olary Creek

Hi everyone! I miss you all!

Friday, 02/07/10



After finally finishing packing the car, we were on our way. Lake Maquarie had beautiful, glassy water and it was quite cold. Immediately, Jack was on his laptop (not surprising) and I was enjoying the scenery...until I fell asleep.


After a couple of hours driving, we had a toilet and snack break at Denman.


Again...I fell asleep in the car.


I woke up because the car had stopped. It was time for lunch at Dunedoo. The sky was grey and dripping rain. After a two sandwiches and a hot cup of tea, I took some cool photos of the train track and then we were back in the car, heading to our final destination for the day, Boppy Hill.
 
Friday/Saturday, 02/07/10-03/07/10



When we arrived at Boppy Hill I was very pleased to stretch my legs. Jack and I set up our swag while mum and dad set up their roof-top tent. I sat down for a while and read my book for school until dinner was ready. It was delicious! For dessert we had peanuts. Yum! Then we went to bed and read for a while.


I woke up from the train right near to us the next morning. It was squishy and cold getting changed in the swag.


Milo cereal for breakfast with a hot cup of tea. Mum, Jack and I struggled to get the swag into its bag but we managed. After packing up, we left and we got sunshine!
 
Saturday, 03/07/10



On our way to Olary Creek, we saw horses, sheep, emus, rabbits, goats and kangaroos!


We passed through Cobar which is known for its iron ore mine which we saw.
Further on we stopped at a rest stop for a snack and toilet break.



This is a picture I took this morning at our first overnight stay at Boppy Hill:

The Countdown

Tonight is the last night in my warm, comfy bed...oh well! I CAN'T WAIT!!!!! Tomorrow we plan to leave at about 6am. I have everything packed (finally) and I am ready to go!
I will miss everyone SOOOO much!!! I hope everyone has fun during the holidays and I will see you in 5 weeks. BUT I will hopefully be typing to you soon with some photos of tomorrows adventures!
Bye <3 <3 <3

The Countdown

Hi everyone!
Only about two and a half weeks left! I am sooo excited now! This weekend we are having a practice at packing the car as if we are about to leave. I hope everything fits!
I'm not sure what else to say...except that I'm excited so...
Bye!!!

The Countdown

Hello
I have created my very own blog site so you can come with me through Australia!
We only have 4 weeks before we leave and everyone is working hard so we are prepared! I can't wait!
I hope you enjoy the trip!

Here are some photos: