The Golden Outback
21/6/21 to 6/7/21
Travelled up the Great Northern Hwy through some very lovely wheat country with miles of green fields and pretty cold too.
New Norcia is Australia's only Monastic town. A walk around town reviled some great information and some very interesting buildings.
Next stop was Cue. Stayed a couple of nights and explored the area. The town is quite pretty but there are not too many shops open. Thought I'd go for lunch at the pub, but it's open 4:30 till closing time (except on that particular day it was closed),
Great caravan park that was quiet busy. They had a display of pensioner huts from a ghost town (that I also visited).
Drove out to Walga Rock which is the second biggest monolith in Australia. This is a lot easier than
Urulu to climb, even a kangaroo joined me up there
I continued on up to Meekatharra and checked that town out. I strolled around town with my camera around my neck and the only shot I took was of the pub, even that was pretty ordinary, but that is why I took the shot, you'll see.
From Meekatharra I left the very good hwy and headed North/West towards Mount Augustus some 350 k's of dirt road that was pretty good going. I camped out in no-mans-land that is always extra special. I even managed to hit a bag of golf balls. I bought a synthetic mat in Perth that has been great of me. Who needs a golf course?
I arrived at Mount Augustus the next evening and was stunned at the size of it. (mainly from the southern end). Camped up at the caravan park that had great views of the mountain,
The next day I did quiet a few walks and the next I tackled the summit trek. Boy oh boy was that a hike and a half. It took me 6 hours and that is no walk in the park. It is natural ground, no hand rails or steps, you just follow some little markers ( that are not too easily found sometimes)
I thought it would be easier coming down, but not so, maybe because your a bit buggered doesn't help.
I met up with some Tasmanian's up at the top and we enjoyed a lunch together. They told me of the story where three people were killed doing this climb. It happened a couple of years ago over one weekend and two separate groups.
I only fell 3 times. Once I was off the track (got a bit lost) and a stick caught the top of my boot just at the wrong end of my gate end I ended up flat on my face under a bush, took a bit to find my glasses, and my pride,
When I got back to came I now knew why a lot of people were walking so funny.
But it was all worth doing.
The photo above was taken the morning I was leaving. Great shot isn't it.
Then it was hit the road time, 700 k's down through Byro, Murchison, Mullewa and finish at Gealdton with about 550 k's of dirt.
It's always great to come along to some great rivers and waterways on these drives, especially when there has been a lot of rain here recently. I got my first flat tyre on this section.
When you get to Murchison (where they sell fuel much to my relief) you finally come to sealed roads and continues (except for about 30 k's) all the way to Geraldton. The country changes dramaticly around Mullewa where suddenly huge green crops come into view. This is the heart of wild flower country. Not in season yet but some are.
Meet some nice fellow travelers at our camp near Moonyoonooka (try pronouncing that with your mouth full) on a lookout where we enjoyed happy hour around the campfire.
It's very green around Gereldton and I have enjoyed checking out the town and playing the two golf courses of course.
Loved the trip, travelled 2200 k's 850 k's of dirt.
I'm now going to head north up the coast and see what happens. Got no idea where I'm heading to tomorrow but I'm sure I'll find somewhere to go.
As Graeme and Leslie Rudd would say, "his only going forward cause he can't find reverse".
Until next time. cheers😉