On the road again........Monday 1st August

Monday 1st August 2016
Claire and I did 698 kms today to finally get to Eucla from Norseman.
We arrived at Norseman at 1630 hours yesterday.  Definitely time to get off the road now before 1700 hours. Sun goes down quite quickly now and we are doing long hauls to get back home. Nice room at Norseman Travel Village, but like most places out here, very basic for what they charge, though I did get an RACV discount here. Plumbing was very noisy though shower was fabulously hot and the meals at the restaurant very good with home cooking.

Good run today as we set off at 0700 hours to beat the "grey nomads" and get some mileage under our belt before they set off.  We had a clear run so instead of staying at Madura Roadhouse, we opted for Eucla Roadhouse Motel instead which was 300 kms more than we were going to do.
We have perfected the art of “the finger salute!”  The Aussie finger salute is a recognition of other travellers on the road, which is almost mandatory in Australian country areas, especially remote areas.  

As we travelled along, I noticed that my work phone which is through Telstra, worked everywhere – even in some very remote areas. Optus was hopeless.  So word to the wise; if travelling in outback areas, get a Telstra phone plus a Satphone for back up.  I am writing this on a tether to the Samsung on Telstra.  Optus won’t recognise the connection. 
The trailer is still shite.  The brake lights now don’t work, but at least the lights come on. Indicators still work.  There is a knack to getting the tow ball of the car.  Just don’t wind the jockey wheel up until the lever slips up and back.  A truckie, who wandered over to have a chat upon seeing the glider trailer at our stop at Eucla, looked over the towing mechanism and his eyebrows disappeared into his hairline.  What more can I say???
I have purchased 2 more “sonic roo repellers”.  Some roadies think they are good and work and others are sceptical.  BUT as we were coming into Eucla tonight, there were quite a number of wallabies lurking. Their ears perked up and heads turned but no movement, so I am hoping that the sound is a deterrent!  If they are struck by a car, they won’t survive as they have small thick bodies, but long thin necks and small heads and this part of the anatomy seems to snap upon impact as we have noticed looking at the roadkill.

 But always our friendly crows are there to clean up the “left overs”!  We have also seen some beautiful eagles on the roadside near Eucla…..obviously waiting for breakfast or dinner, thanks to trucks and grey nomads!

 ‘Tis a biiiiiggg country out there.  The photos say it all….

And I love the Royal Flying Doctor Service signs that advise they land on the road – I do want to see that!!

I did not have my panoramic camera with me today, but cobbled together this view looking out over the cliffs of Eucla to the ocean.  There is even an airstrip there (bit hard to see in photo) but it is enormous.  I want to fly there!!!

We head to Ceduna tomorrow over the Nullabor Plain – just a short trip of 528 kms.  We will travel again over Australia’s longest straight road of 146.6 kms or 90 Mile Straight!