Napperby to Kalgoorlie

Well, here we are at Kalgoorlie, WA, 2,001Km from Napperby via Smoky Bay, SA. On our way to Karratha, far North West of Western Australia; a long story that we will keep short. 2012 was to be the year that we decided would be a return to WA, a big state with plenty of choices and places to see. Vicki’s son Josh has taken on employment at Karratha-Dampier, right up in the Pilbara district of WA. With his family, Kendehl and Arthur, they couldn’t have moved any further away from Melbourne without going off-shore. They had a problem, their Toyota Hilux couldn’t be shipped with them and we thought that it would be a good idea to drive it up there for them. Google Maps measured the distance at 3,856km via Kalgoorlie, through the Gold Fields Country and up to Newman and turn left at the Great Northern Highway.

As an aside, when grandson Arthur was last with us, he left his favourite toy, a talking Elmo, (of Sesame Street Fame), and we are taking him back. We are trying to interest young Arthur in our travels by photographing Elmo at strategic locations and at landmarks that identify our route. People have a grin when they see us posing Elmo and we even have got his own “I crossed the Nullarbor” Certificate.

Three days at Smoky Bay could easily have been extended but the weather forecast predicted a good few days ahead that proved ideal for the long crossing of the Nullarbor Plains, most will tell you that it is always windy and with fuel prices of up to $2 per litre, a head wind would be very undesirable.

So we have travelled to Kalgoorlie, Vicki driving the Hilux, me the Land Cruiser with the van, four nights of bush camping; here we will have a quiet few days before heading north via the Gold Fields Highway, Elmo, Vicki and me, in convoy with places to see and people to meet. At the end of the drive, Vicki will delight in catching up with “Smurf” and he can’t wait to be re-united with Elmo.

Click on the link below to view some photos.

https://picasaweb.google.com/108879761974384702036/NapperbyToKalgoorlie?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCMihptuQ2_SkiQE&feat=directlink