15
degrees at sunrise, got the heater going!! A bit misty too.
Continued
along the Eyre Highway till the Cook turnoff. The old township of Cook was a
busy centre for the Transcontinental Railway line. There were over 500 people
living there at its peak. It is now used as a refuelling point for the diesel
locomotives. It was well known for its bush hospital, ‘if you are crook go to
Cook’. It is 107 km north over a dirt road. Might get there one day – probably
when we take the train!!
We
turned to the south and followed another part of the dog fence down to the
ocean.
A long
way down (80-90 metres).
Walked
along the edge to a point to the east for better view of the different layers
of the cliffs.
Pretty
little flowers.
National
Parks have been blocking off areas to ‘revegetate’. There is another track
going to the east and to the west but they are not on our Hema map so decided
to head back to the main road.
The
next 500m is an emergency landing spot for the RFDS (wider bitumen area). Hope
it doesn’t get used much.
More
tracks leading off the road which have now been ripped up so you can drive on
them and to allow vegetation to regrow on those tracks.
Pulled
into the first Lookout the National Parks has put in. Unfortunately they don’t
provide bins and some people are just too lazy to take their rubbish with them
– it is everywhere.
Walked
along the designated path to the viewing platform for a magnificent view back
on the coastline to the east.
Of
course the sign has been scribbled all over. They advise why they have closed
the other viewing spots.
A
couple of love locks.
Shiny
crows.
Back
onto the main highway, the motorhome was crawling along so Steve got to
overtake someone!!
Further
along we turned north along a rocky dirt road with only a little corrugation.
Spotted
a wild dog – must be a cross-bred dingo.
A
lot more trees around here.
After
17km we reached the intersection of the Old Eyre Highway. Looking west then
east.
Continued
along the road north to the old Koonalda Homestead which was also a roadhouse
back when this was the only way across the Nullarbor. Of course there wasn’t the
4WDs like we have and the old cars that didn’t make it are all out the back. We
pulled into the service station to fill up!! Can’t read what the last price was
on the bowser.
The
old homestead. Will check it out later.
Drove
over to the Shearer’s Quarters which has been reroofed and two water tanks put
in. It is made from railway sleepers. Inside was clean with a few old items and
newer ones added by visitors. A few left messages recently on the wall. The
fridge has lots of old ones. Might have a fire in here tonight.
There
are even beds in the next room to bunk on if needed.
Even
a verandah out the back.
Good
spot to stop tonight.
Had
some lunch relaxing on the verandah. Steve left his Pepsi can with the others.
Unhooked
and drove further north to the old shearing shed.
Steve
checking his weight!!
It
is amazingly intact.
Steve
was impressed with the ‘original’ sliding door.
There
was even wool on the floor and millions of sheep’s poo under the floor boards.
I wonder when it was used last.
Outside
was a water trough.
They
were very resourceful using whatever they could get their hands on.
The
old sheep pens were made from old railway sleepers.
Continued
along the road then turned east to a big hole. A sink hole rather than a cave
and obviously it became the rubbish dump.
The
wombats and rabbits like it.
Walked
to the dump end.
Further
up we went around a little hill and found the Koonalda Cave. It is huge. It
provided the water supply for the Koonalda Station. Somewhere down there is
supposed to be old pumping equipment, probably under the shrubbery.
Steve
went one way and I went the other. He looks so small on the other side.
I
sat on the edge and hung the camera over for some shots. Long way down to the
fenced entrance to the deep cave area. You need permits to enter and they have
found old aboriginal paintings etc in there.
Further
around I got a better shot of the fenced area.
A
hole through the rock but the boulder didn’t make it through yet. You can see
the bottom of the cavern through the hole.
I
walked to the other end to look back at the cave entrance area.
Back
away from the cave opening was a grate over another hole in the roof. It has a
trap door. Steve thought they might get down that way via a long rope ladder.
Peered
through the grill. Maybe it was the original blow hole before it all collapsed
in.
Someone
left their keys behind.
Drove
up onto the hill for a better view.
Back
to the homestead to check out the car graveyard.
Who
said Landrovers never die.
Back
to the homestead for a look. It was used up till 1988.
Nothing
much inside. Plenty of rooms.
Found
some old newspapers from 1960.
Out
the back.
Drove
down the road back to the Old Eyre Highway – it was smoother than the track up
from the new highway. Across a grid. The shrubs are slowly reclaiming the road.
Headed
east for 7km to the Guinewarra Tanks. Presume they were for stock but I suppose
they were also helpful to the weary traveller or for boiling radiators.
Mr
Grasshopper getting a free ride.
Back
to the van for a cuppa. I had put lamb chops in the Ecopot but we decided it
would be nice to have steak, sausages and vegies in the bushcooker. I worked on
my blog while Steve got the bushcooker ready.
I
looked out and found him cleaning up all the rubbish around the area. People
dump it in the drums but birds and wind then spread it everywhere. Why can’t
they just take it back out when they leave!!
Two
cars with camper trailers behind pulled in. Steve got the fire going in the
fireplace.
I
put my phone onto the aerial in the van to see if we got reception with the
higher aerial. I did, then I got a text from Telstra about a deal. Then the
time changed to WA time but we aren’t there yet. It will take some adjusting to
going back 1.5 hours when we cross the border. I decided to add our card and
name to the traveller’s wall.
The
sun was setting behind the trees as we chatted. Jack & Vicki and their
friend Geoff are from Sydney. Actually Camden. I said my cousin Pete &
Marion leaved in Grassmere in Camden and they knew them. Vicki plays tennis
with Marion and they live in the close up from Pete’s place. What a small
world!! I sent off a text to Marion. My phone has changed back to SA time
again!!
Had
delicious dinner (nice to be able to cook with a fire again) by the fireplace
inside. Cooling off outside now. The others came in to join us and we chatted
the night away. We could hear dingos howling in the distance. They had seen a
light coloured one on their way here. Maybe one came home with some dinner – a
juicy rabbit or wombat!!
No
stars out tonight with the cloud cover. Steve did the washing up so I went
outside to tip out the left over sauce from the lamb stew. I was very quick about
it as a dingo howled nearby!
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