Head off

   We left Bindoon on the Monday .If going to stay in Bindoon the bowls club is a walk across the oval very friendly folks as well and just down the road is one of the best bakeries we have found in W.A.We were hoping to stay at a place called Northam going to stay for a few days they had a good looking Museum and hoped to have a look around but could not fit into van park, went to council got told no place to stay so stuff Northam if that the way  they feel . By the time we looked for a spot time was getting on so we found a top spot 204 { camps 6 W.A. } as this only says day time only I was not real happy with what happen back up the road  and stayed the night no problem and a couple of beers over it :)
  After a good sleep { top picture}at this spot we head of towards Cranbrook top drive thou lots of wheat still been in the wheat belt a long time now the western Australia wheat belt is huge area we came to Wagin next two pictures he not as big as the one in Goulburn N.S.W.but still a good size anyway.

Bindoon

   We arrived in Bindoon and soon settled in 15 a night for power got a power point as we  leave the fur covered kids in Air con as we go for the day .  Allowed to stay three days so we had three days to find a spot in Perth for the school holidays, Christmas break new year etc what I like to call the silly season as I do not like being on the road around this time of year people in a rush to get from point A to point B with little time to do it so my answer we park up some place and sit it out worked for us the last 6 years . We spent a day around Perth lots of Phone calls to caravan parks etc crowds traffic my oh! my. I love my life style and not have to live in a city what it come down to we will not be staying near Perth this year we know of a couple places that are ok to stay after school holidays so see what happens
   Back in Bindoon .we had a look around and liked the little town people real friendly and on the Sunday they had  a market it was very close to us top picture got talking to the owners of the three cars 54 F100 a Morgan and a MG rather a good day and found out about Bindoon museum what a little gem of a museum some great stuff loved the 1933 fire truck a Dennis it has the same age trailer water  pump  on the back, great bit of gear and it is taken out every year for santa and the kids have a ride ring the bell etc.While in the show ground we got told of  a spot at a place called Cranbrook that we may like and the price sounds good as well.  
  

Leave Hyden

As we left Hyden we looked at the fuel price as they give you a three cent discount for staying in the van park , when they 1st give it to you, you think Wow!   thanks then you check the price for us diesel and wow! no thank you far to expensive but anyway .We drove along to Kondinin and found the price far  much better even with out the three cents it was cheaper  for Diesel as well as unleaded so there you go .Thinking people are giving you some thing for nothing does not all ways work out right. Kondinin has a servo with this sign out the front top picture with the back of our Suzuki in the picture as well . We had a top trip and was still surprised and the hills of western Australia had a picture of  W.A being flat well just goes to show how wrong we can be about a place .On our way too Bindoon that we had picked to stay to see were to pull up in or around Perth when we got to Cunderdin we found the pub this one was missing some stuff but still a Ettamogah we must of gone the hard way too Bindoon over the mountain's Tumbi the motor home was getting warm but all good settled back again and cooled down  once we were over and sitting on 90k's again other then that all was good nice drive and our show ground in Bindoon turned out not to be a showground we were thinking show ground should be like but it turned out all right in the long run

Hyden

We meet our friends and spent some time Looking around wave rock to the  wild life Park over the road from the caravan park we enjoyed the white roo's were worth the time spent there alone they come from some place around Adelaide I was told and there ancestor's were the inspiration's for the song 6 white boomers they have blue eyes and are not albinos and they are breeding .The toy museum was worth a look.   The art work was is in the main street of Hyden there is a hole heap of them rather like this type of stuff good art work . When we left the van park we found a top spot up in the industrial area and stayed a night with our friends and found a crack in our trailer hitch so we got the Genny going and welded it up while we was there, the next day we headed our separate ways we had a top time with Tony and Rohnda thanks guys Oh! and the  bakery in hyden yum went there a couple of time ...naughty us :)

Lake King - Wave rock

We left Esperance witch we so liked asked about the Christmas break but booked out bugger oh! well so hit the road , we found a nice free camp {150 camps 6 W.A.}had coffee and was going to stay the night but the weather started to close in again so we pushed on as parked on this yellow looking soil seemed like clay so still not wishing to get stuck did not stay.We got in to Lake King found the Van park Plugged in and went to the tavern to pay our rent and down come the rain  Lake king has a van park, tavern and a shop and few houses that's it  and a dry lake we stayed a couple of days waiting for fine weather .     .
       After Lake King we made our way too Hayden too meet up with friends and to see wave rock . We spent over a week at Hayden ( expensive van park ) lots to see top Photo wave rock it self rather liked it yeah lived up to expectations next picture hippo's yawn from the out side next Picture from the in side of hippo's yawn  wave rock and hippo's are very close and a easy walk away

Leave Coolgardie

We leave Coolgardie and make our way back to Norseman on the way we are looking for a spot we saw on our way thru  a couple of vans parked in we found it and stayed the night it is about 5K's from 311 { camps 6 W. A } heading towards Kalgoorlie on the right was a gravel pit nice and solid could be noisy close to rail way couple trains came past but dd not bother us . The next day we head back too Noresman Named after a horse that dug up a nugget of gold.  Fueled up had showers at the truck stop head towards Esperance.We found a top spot large area lots of gravel { 35 camps 6 W.A } we had coffee and the weather was closing in again so made our minds up to push on . Grass patch community run small van park 20 a night for power pay at the tavern free washing machine free gas B.B.Q. walk to the Tavern they have the yabbie classic in may each year great spot we stayed the night.The trip to Esperance  was a good drive we found a small van park that took dogs and stayed  a week Esperance and surrounds really blew us away it has that laid back feel it reminded me of The Entrance , Long Jetty were I grew up in another time .But in the 1970's part of the American space program  feel around Esperance, Skylab and you can see lots of the parts in the fantastic museum in the main street . The coast around Esperance is some of the best we have seen Cape La Grand national park { photo's } is a must see the coastal tourist drive just fantastic and you can get up close to a wind farm as well  the bay is a port, export wheat large ships come from all over the world there was even a cruse ship in the bay on our way out  you can even see a local see loin at the jetty Sami the seal  the bay is also called bay of islands  really is a magic place no wounder you can not get any were near the place around Christmas the beaches etc

Kalgoolie - Coolgardie

   We left Norseman and made our way towards Kalgoorlie as wished to see this thing they called the super pit  we found a top free camp on the way and stayed the night ( 311 in camps 6 western Australia ) great spot well of the road can be a little dusty but ok . We were thinking of staying two days but not sure what the weather was going to do as it turned out could have been a good thing we left as down come the rain less the five minutes back on the tar  and not sure what the soil does did not wish to get bogged the amount over our bus now think it sticks pretty good .On our arrival in Kalgoorlie we found out we could not fit in the dog friendly park and the other parks did not take dogs . Head out too Coolgardie well thank you what a fantastic spot my type of town loved this place largest gold Rush in the history of Australia around 1890 . Awesome little Museum and over the road a private collection of posters etc .... the sign says shed  of signs well really is a whole lot more then that well worth a look for a gold coin. I was bloody happy as we could not fit in Kalgoorlie as we would have not drove the 39 k's  out to Coolgardie and missed such a gem of a town .
   Kalgoorlie we drove in a couple of times I still wished to see this super pit { Top Photo } and yes it lived up to my expectations I was very impressed with the biggest open cut gold pit in Australia the super pit produces up to 850,000 ounces of gold every year and its operation far out weighs any other mining centre in Australia the only thing i wished to do was a tour but was booked a week a head maybe on our way back
  The second picture is of the Kalgoorlie town clock the dome on the tower is it real gold yes it is Kalgoorlie goes by the motto streets paved with gold so they swept the streets and put it on their clock tower so they told me at the Mine museum witch is a must for any body coming this way, they have a volt and over four million of gold on display and cheap to enter donation as well they ask for gold coin to the value of five dollars but if you have a dollar in your pocket that fine

The Nullarbor

   The Nullarbor first time for us across this awesome bit of road for us and it really lived up too expectations,so enjoyed the trip top picture is the head of the bight payed our Ten dollars each at the whale watch place and seen Mother and calf and two other whales and the 1st look at the cliffs wow it was worth the Monies so enjoyed the time we spent at this spot . The first Night we spent at the Nullarbor road house as the weather looked like it may close in and not being sure what the soil will do we made up our minds too plug into power and Australia and New Zealand were playing in the league so it worked out well never had too put the sat dish up
   Western Australia the next night we stayed at Eucla we stopped for a look as it was getting on in time as no day light saving in western Australia so because we come over the boarder it was getting late Sue asked how much for the night same 20 dollars so that was it plugged in to power again too easy the picture is of the old telegraph station at Eucla we got the Suzuki off the trailer  drove around had a look at the golf course and found a story on the Nullarbor  Nymph witch is coming out in a move so that is all I will say
    The next Picture is like it says got part of Tumbi the motor home in it as well and yes I did enjoy this bit of the drive also . We like too free camp as much as any one else but when you come into a place and it is only 20 a night we find it easy to plug in and make the most of it and a dollar for a shower well saves our tank water as well we may free camp on the way back across  but for that price hard to go past
 

Steam in Port Augusta

      We are in Port Augusta south Australia at the shores van park , while here we heard of the Ghan steam train having a run but this was the wrong info this one was from western Australia was awesome too see and hear it running it all so had vintage military vehicles on her flat cars as well so over all looked pretty good

      As some may know we had problems with Tumbi the Motor home well happy to report it was not as bad as 1st looked so after a tune new power steer filter new steer tyers  things are good again Denise and Di have turned up and we all leave the van park Monday Denise and Di head home we going west and have a look around as we make our way to Ceduna and have a few oysters 

Parked @ Port Lowly

    The top picture is of the Whyalla built in Whyalla in 1942 I have Waited for 5 years ( when we came and got our Motor home the People that we got it off drove past this ship when they picked us up from the air port ) too come back and see this worth the wait YES ! done the tour over her Awesome she was a mine sweeper and a escort ship and had a flat bottom and a list of 30 degrees  so lots of see sickness on board when she was on war  duty the main tree line around her is cropped too show the 30 degrees list when I find more info will put more up on this post.
     The next Picture is us parked up with Denise and Di they the couple we house sat for in Barmera we parked our Motor homes like that so we could sit out for happy hour and block the wind worked well parking like that . We parked at a place called Port Lowly rather nice spot windy but you can stay for 14 days free like spots like that .We meet Denise and Di at Port Agusta at the top tourist van park and John and Denice came and meet us as well so we spent three nights with them there then John and Denice left and Denise and Di came over too Port Lowly with us for two nights and we spent last night here alone and now today we go back and head too Pot Piri .
      Next is the Port Lowly light house which is a dud now meaning it does not work but rather liked the look of it so had too take a picture .
     Last is of the Sunset as we was sitting out side Tumbi the motor home on the other side as the wind had changed direction and with the drivers Mirror in it as well as I like too get a little bit of  Tumbi in the pictures when I take that type of picture .
     The reason we are going too Port Piri is too have the motor in Tumbi the Motor home tuned as she has not been tuned in the five years we have owned her. And after many Phone calls too Phone a friends and checking it seems that is what she needs we hope nothing more then that at this stage but time will tell we booked in Thursday for them too have a look at her . She put a lot of oil all over the Suzuki on her way down from Alice springs and she has never done that before so we will see what happens . That is why we only camped out two nights on our way down from Alice normally  we would take three days but I was worried about all this oil as our oil drum was getting low as well but we made it all fine .While on the subject of our Motor home on the side at the back in the Picture some of you will notice a sign that has not been on long it is for the road transport hall of fame in Alice springs with the web address on there as well as it is now official we are roving ambassadors for the Museum and the sign is working, people ask about the Museum or hi we been there so it a ice breaker as well so too speak happy as with it

     

Next 12 months

Well picture of the two new Kenworths 2012 models that turned up for the kenworth hall of fame they will now sit in the Kenworth Museum for the rest of time the black on could just about live in that awesome machine can stand up beside the drivers seat love a 5th wheeler behind with one of them at the front yeah dream on Phil   .Well are are going to leave Alice springs and the Transport Museum on Monday 17th of September so excited too be back on the road . We are making our way too Port Agusta too meet up with friends then they will come  over too Cuduna with us then we will head of on our own over too western Australia . Well we have been asked too come back to the transport museum for next years reunion so the plan { plans never go too plan } is not too go past Perth and spend summer in the bottom chunk of  W.A make our way back across the Nullabour and back too Alice springs so that in a nutshell will be our next 12 months but sure we will get heaps of pictures and places of interest for our blog :)

Rig of the Year

The rig of the year will now be shown at the reunion every year and will lead the truck parade Thu Alice so just shows how big things are at the truck Museum now, behind the rig of the year are the two new Kenworths that arrived for the Kenworth hall of fame around 5000 k;s on the clock and they will now sit in the Kenworth shed for the rest of time .The kenworth shed is about to be extended for the 2nd time and a new shed is getting built too house road trains and semi combinations Mack trucks are coming on board and going to build a new shed as well so things are just getting bigger and better at the moment. The transport museum is the biggest in the southern hemisphere and not too far ahead may be the largest in the world  

Mack

One of the trucks that turned up at the truck museum was this Mack based on the movie cars The transport hall of fame had a open day did not think there were so many kids in Alice springs

chambers pillar

Chambers pillar yet another gem of a place we had the car fixed and went out too chambers pillar on a day trip so enjoyed going out too this historic spot . Alice springs has so much too see and a top spot too park and use as a base too go and have a look around

Well has been some time that I have Posted on our blog we have been in Alice springs at the National transport Museum A spot we rather like too volunteer at . We have so enjoyed our time here as it has been a couple of months the truck in this Picture is a 1972 Mack R600 I got asked too drive this truck in the May day parade and in the truck parade in Alice at the reunion the last Sunday in August so very happy with that as well my uncle came with me in the parade and we had a good catch up while they were here . We are leaving in a fortnight too meet friends at Port Agusta then on to Cuduna and over the Nullabour  

Rainbow valley

The reason we stayed at Stuarts well we wished to go see rainbow valley what a little gem of a place it was awesome loved it the colors again was just fantastic got lots of great pics as well .Then we drove out too see Chambers pillar we  went the back way a ranger told us about bit ruff but the little Suzuki took it ok we got too the top of this large hill and could see chambers pillar in the distance but the little Suzuki was hot very hot we had lunch and coffee sitting on top of this hill looking at chambers pillar off in the distance and waiting for the little car to cool as well once things had cooled found out why the top tank was split so filled with water put the Radiator cap on the 1st catch and turned around back to Stuart well stopping around every 20 k's too top the radiator so we never got too Chambers Pillar we have that planed as a day trip while we are here in Alice at the Truck Museum we get the Little Suzuki back Monday afternoon and our plan is to stay in Alice a couple of Months see how we go  

Dog fence

A very small Part of the Longest fence in the world The dog fence was built to keep the dingo out of the sheep country in the south . The fence now extends for 5,300 but was once 9,600 Km long it runs beside the Breakaways it is some thing that I have all ways wished too see part of.  Notice the green in the Photo the Red center sure is not red at the moment looks good Locals are saying once in a 50 years it looks like this Pretty special to see. That pretty much finished our time this trip in Coober pedy we got too see a lot and enjoyed our time .We left and drove up too Marla we thinking it was still hot and stayed in Marla van park had a good feed in the Pub and a couple of drinks with a couple we meet on Coober Pedy  Ron and Brenda

The Breakaways

While in Coober pedy we also went out to the breakaways. What awesome spot we had the place to our self and how Quite the place was  Picking a Photo too put up to show this place will not do it justice the colors is just awesome it really is worth the time to go see the place just one more awesome spot on the way from Port Augusta  to Alice springs

Oodnadatta

While staying at Coober pedy we went out too Oodnadatta just before we left Sunrise did a story on the road house well we got too see it Live was not open and was a six dollar call out if you wished to get any thing so we went too the Pub and had a pie & coke and a chat with a couple of locals they have a Ghan museum we tried too do that you get the key from any business in town that was ok we got it at the pub it housed in the old railway station was enjoying it till the Mozzie's found us had to get out and open skin was just black with them so much for that idea in no rush to go back to Oodnadatta but can now say we have been there

Oonadatta

we went for a drive out too Oonadatta while we were staying at Coober pedy around half way I saw this Movement on the side of the road slowed down and look what we saw he was only a young one and came right up too the car and we got some great pics of this fella and no we never got out of the car but so enjoyed this

Coober pedy

We left Port Augusta for a slow trip back too Alice springs we stopped at Womera had a look around drink in the pub went looking in the pictures and we never took a Photo of Womera ? so no picture posted we got charged 30 a night I was walking back to the Bus after paying our fee's and got talking too the caravans in the park 2 of them they payed 25 a night we got charged a extra five dollars because we larger 1st and last time I will take Tumbi the Motorhome and  park in that place  our next stop we went to Coober pedy it was good we did the old timers mine as they have a blower up at the transport Museum we loved it awesome display and so enjoyed our time at this little piece of coober history. We stayed a couple of days in Coober pedy

Port Augusta

We left Alice Springs over three weeks ago to go too Port Augusta too meet up with friends had a great trip down 1st Night was Marla was still very warm so plugged into power again had a swim in the pool nice over night stop the next night we stopped at Glendambo worst showers on the Sturt hwy beer expensive as well enjoyed the swim in the pool then the next night we were at the shoreline van park in Port Augusta meet up with Denise and Di then wally and Margret came over too see us as well we had a ball catching up we stayed a week and one day Picture is of a salt lake on the way down

Well in Alice springs at the National Road Transport Hall of Fame  awesome love this place .This is our 2nd time here and has it grown in  the three years sense we were here last, it a free stop well now they charge 20 a week for power and you volunteers 16 hours a week each so it so suits us gives us time too do other things plus it a interest of mine anyway  Plus they have the Kenworth hall of fame and every Kenworth of f  the Australian production line is in that shed the 2012 model is in here with 15ks on the clock and its job is to now sit in that shed they have the Mack shed under way and the road train shed is about to start that will show road trains in their working form so there are things to keep you doing some thing if you wish . We have made up our minds too stay a further month and just camp up for awhile as we do enjoy our time here

Train tunnel

While in the Isa we found about a train tunnel from around 1927 so had too go find it on private property so road was ruff out from Isa near Fountain springs I walked thou it if you look close at the pic you can see the suzuki up the other end of the tunnel few bats inside as well ,after the walk thou I drove thou in the suzuki glad we could as there was a place too turn around  as would  not been good to reverse out when we got out again the sign said extreme four wheel drive well it sure was that but well worth the time and drive too see this. while out this way we went and had a look at Mary Kathleen a former uranium mine was a flourishing community of over a 1,000 people nothing remains just tarred roads and curb and gutter and the mine site the colors in the wall wow water in the bottom of the hole is bright blue it sent uranium too England in 1958 it stopped when contract was filled 4082 tonnes resumed in 1976 closed again in 1984 and been closed ever sense

Winton

Winton we had a good run from longreach bearing on the trailer was giving me some problems but other then that all good, we stayed in a van park again have been plugging in to power more times then ever think it just too dam hot with the cat and dog too free camp. Soon as we stop they both head in to the bedroom and look at the air con went too the waltzing Matilda center while here for some reason we never went last time we were here so enjoyed it awesome could not reckon me and this place enough all so went out too the wool shed got some nice pics of that as well we stayed two nights in the Van park, pool was good too. Isa on the way Tumbi the motorhome got hot had too stop twice and fill aux tank on the radiator but she soon settled down  6 nights we stayed in the Isa a meet up with Deb and Mick again awesome too catch up we had a problem with one of our remote controlled trucks Viks models and remote controlled shop could not have been more help full recommend him for sure. Went too  get a mine tour at the hard luck mine to go underground but they said I have too put rubber gum boots on for two and a half hours for those that know me that was not going too happen still we enjoyed our 2nd trip too the Isa 

Longreach

Parked up in Longreach waiting for mail to catch up. we went to the Qantas Museum so enjoyed it had a tour of the planes 747 was awesome not really understand the size until you are up close and standing under one 747 10th december1979 it started with Qantas  Maximum take off weight was 33.84 tonnes Wing span 59.64 meters  tail height 19.33 meters length 70.66 meters usable fuel weight 162 tonnes the engine air intake we are standing in that weight is 6303kgs and there are four of them length of motor 6.51 meters diameter 20.72 meters number of passengers carried 5.4 million flown 82.54 klms 2000 trips around the world 100 trips to the moon 10 years continuous flying time and the 707 the one they found in England was worth a look and too com pair the different sizes as well so enjoyed our time there