Mon, 21st Oct, 2024 72hr RV Stop at Bicentennial Park, Kalgoorlie to Bush camp near Broad Arrow, north of Kalgoorlie, WA (lap around Lake Perkolilli)

What a change from the hot night - down to 16.3 degrees this morning and it was still that temp at 7.30am. Overcast and the cold wind is coming in through all the windows we have open from last night’s heat.

I walked over to check out the Gecko buggy and met the owner. Nice chap from Brisbane, he and his wife set up their rope access business (using ropes etc to carry out maintenance, painting etc on buildings). He tried to come up with a catchy business name hence the Gecko - sticks to the walls.

We had a great chat about the vehicle, Steve should have come over too! He has just finished it so will use this meeting to set it up. This meeting is the last of the series and the other transporter belongs to his friend who is leading the championship. There is a meet and greet in town on Thursday arvo so we will come back to check out the buggies and bikes then might go out and watch some of the racing - depending how dusty it is!

We packed up and sat bye to our NZ neighbours. Gave them our card so they can get in contact as we said we were planning to go over in the next couple of years. He suggested starting in the south island at end of January once school went back and then working our way north. Will look into it when we are parked up later on at Bob & Margaret’s place.

We headed around to Boulder and down the historic Burt Street. The Jacaranda trees are in bloom so it is very pretty.

Back onto the Goldfields Highway then onto the Yarri Road to check out Lake Perkolilli so we know where the racing is. This is where Malcolm will be racing his old Buick next Sept so will send him some photos.

Passed the old township of Kanowna that we explored previously though there is only signs showing where things were.

Turned off onto the Kurnalpi-Pinji Road passing a few salt lakes.

Just before the bitumen ends we turned onto a narrow dirt track and wove our way down to the dry lake bed of Lake Perkolilli. I got out to take a photo of Steve heading onto the lake.

A dirt ramp has been built up just over from where we drove in, ready for the racing but there is nothing else here to say there is racing happening soon.

We followed the tracks around the edge of the lake though there is wheel tracks going up the middle too. Spotted a few dead cars along the edge of the lake. Continued around the whole lake.

I took some photos with my phone too and sent them to Malcolm. Back to the ramp and Steve got ready to race!

We drove back on the lake then through the trees onto the ‘island’ where we can watch the racing from I think. We had a cuppa with the cold wind blowing still. The sun is coming through the thin cloud cover. Only going to get to 24 degrees today!! What a change from yesterday’s 39 degrees.

Headed back out. The Hema tracking shows our lap of the lake.

Back to the bitumen then onto the dirt for a bit to where the ‘race track’ crosses the road.

Back onto the bitumen then back to the Goldfields Highway and north to Broad Arrow. Off the highway and along the road to Ora Banda then onto a track to check out another pending lease.

Chose a spot and set up. Nice quartz around so Steve will make a fire pit so we can cook outside tonight and a fire will be nice to sit around since it is still cold. The wind has settled too.

Had lunch then went wandering but only found lead shot and rusty tin. I gave up and did my baking while Steve went wandering again. I closed up the camper as it has chilled off more in the afternoon and with the oven on it will keep the camper warmer.

Jon sent a photo of Beau’s first day at Daycare as Annalise started back at work today. It was a lovely idea to show that he had a good day.

Jon also sent another video of his water boring. So proud of him having achieved his goal of becoming the head driller.

I rang Annalise then to see how her work day went and Beau’s day care adventure. Both are happy which is good.

Steve came back with more kilometres of walking marked on the app but nothing exciting in his pocket. He got the fire going and as the sun had set the flies had gone to bed too. Lovely sunset colours.

After a yummy dinner we spotted a star then a few more and realised the clouds have moved on and more stars appeared. We even spotted 4 satellites zooming across the sky.

Headed back into the warm camper as the fire died down and the chill started creeping in.