Our 2011 Bug-In road trip - Adeaide to Perth

[Scouser]

Great posts, keep them coming
Scouser

[AdamD]

Great posts, keep them coming
Scouser

+1. Keep up the great commentary and pics Maris!

[WEDEL.1]

More pics added to days 2 & 3.

The Golf at Ceduna.



Volkswagens at Ceduna. T5 Transporter.



T5 KEA Camper



LT Camper.



T5 Transporter.



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Maris

[kaanage]

Awesome pics, Maris.
I hope it's as much fun as it looks.

[WEDEL.1]

It's tiring Greg, but still way better than work. Had 4 straight days on the road, and with my back still hurting, it's trying.

Maris

[WEDEL.1]

Real fuel economy figures to Norseman.



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Maris

[kaanage]

I'd be very happy with that mileage considering the load the Golf is pulling.

Some of the fuel prices are scary, though. It must be costing those Crafter based campers a fair but to get there.

I hope your back is easing up and the girls are enjoying things.

[WEDEL.1]

Hi Greg, I spoke with man with a Land Cruiser & dual axle Caravan, gets 20 L/100.

The caravans set up and pack up are very quick, but we are quicker on the road with less cost. There is no perfect way to do the travelling, everything has its advantages and disadvantages.

My back really came good yesterday afternoon, but after packing up this morning and setting up this afternoon, It may go backwards a bit. Looking forward to a week at Toodyay, hoping to be 100% after that.

Millie has enjoyed her time here, a chance to play ball, make new friends and go for walks. Julia is going OK but the packing and unpacking is wearing her down. Looking forward to 4 nights at Nunnup & 4 at Perth to have bit of a rest.

Maris

[gareth_oau]

20? LOL thats what I get in the GT-P and RS4 every day of the year!

[WEDEL.1]

Day 4 – Monday 4/4/11 – Ceduna to Eucla



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Alarm went at 7 am. We went through the normal (?) routine of breaking camp. We had almost finished, but the tent would not fold down flat enough to allow us to zip up the top cover. Finally on the 3rd attempt we did it. This cost us about 50 mins in time. I was not prepared to tolerate that sort of misbehaving again.

We stopped at the local Auto Pro shop and bought some racket straps. We refueled at the Coles Shell Station ($1.589 C/L) and headed off. I topped up at Nundroo as the fuel was cheaper there at $1.599, with the next scheduled refuel at Mundrabilla where we were told diesel was only $1.75.

As the highway met the coasts there were opportunities to view the coastline of the Great Australian Bight. The coast was impressive! Huge cliffs that are gradually being washed away. Of the 4 lookouts, 2 were already closed.

The border crossing station was passed with little concern. We did our homework and found the prohibited items, and made sure we didn’t carry them.




At Eucla they do not take bookings for the Caravan Pk. Simply arrive and pay the fee, a very reasonable $20. We heard that they have great meals in the Restaurant, so after Julia’s complaining that she has so much work to do when we arrive at each destination, I thought we’d give it a try.

From the outside the Restaurant/bar/café didn’t look much. But inside, it was very nice! To top it all, there were photographs of Eucla around the 1897. The meals we ordered were excellent and priced between $25-$30, not surprising give the location. Is it worth it? Yes!


Julia making us a sandwich for lunch at Nundroo.



Then refueling



Didn't see any of these, luckily.



Julia & Millie standing on at the Great Australian Bight.

[kaanage]

Keep it comin' Maris

[WEDEL.1]

Julia is showing great road sence by using the Pedestrian Crossing.



Crossing an LT Camper on the way to the next lookout.



Great Australian Bight again.





Approaching Quarantine Station at the SA/WA Border.



All finished & ready for Western Australia.



Our camp at Eucla.



Inside the Eucla Restaurant.



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[*thad*]

Looking good. We did that run over xmas 09 but from Perth to Melb. Ceduna (SP?) was fantastic stayed at Eucla as well but i dont recall that restraunt, wish i did would have been much nicer that what we came up with.

[WEDEL.1]

Day 5 – Tuesday 5/4/11 – Eucla to Caiguna



We had left Eucla by 8.45 am as we were getting used to setting up & down. First, before we left we drove down to the site of the Eucla Telegraph Station, The intercolonial telegraph line at Eucla. . The building was about 2/3 consumed by the sand hills.

We continued on to Nundroo to refuel. We were told that the cheaper fuel was at Nundroo, Mundrabilla and Norseman and I was going to take advantage of that.

We arrived at Mundrabilla and pulled along side the diesel pump and inserted the nozzle, and waited for the pump to to be activated, and waited, and waited. Julia came out to see what was going on. I told her to go to the office and find out what was going on. She returned to say there was no diesel until lunch time. We looked at a wait of up to 2 hours. We pressed on. It pays to keep the tank topped up!

We refueled and had our sandwich lunch at Madura. As Julia started to prepare lunch a couple in a Caravan offered her their table. It was the on thing that impressed me during the trip, the friendliness of everyone we met. After lunch we headed for Caiguna, our next over nighter. We should have enough fuel to get to Norseman, barring the strange things that happen out here.

There is nothing at Caiguna but the Roadhouse. I paid the $26 for our site (drive around and pick you own site) and began to set up (Eucla was $20 plus a Dollar each for the showers). THE FLIES!!!! They were obviously having a convention in Caiguna. Why can we put a man on the moon, cure some cancers, cull kangaroos, koalas and everything else, but we can’t get rid of flies!! We sat in the shelter of the camper & enjoyed a few beers in the fly free environment.

Julia found that there was no camp kitchen, and even if there was, we couldn’t use it until dusk, when the flies would go away. We decide to have a shower (no extra charge) and go into the café/bar for a meal. $20 got us a great meal of 2 rissoles, potatoes & veg and a couple of beers topped off the night.

Standing before the Telegraph Station, chimney is just visible.



The ruins.



Waiting for non existant diesel at Mundrabilla, when a Touareg diesel arrives. Had to inform them of the good news.



Heavy traffic on the highway.

[WEDEL.1]

Arrival at Caiguna.



The message on the laundry door was a bit disconcerting. Fortunately we didn't see any.



Our camp.



One of the road trains (small) that rested at Caiguna. This looked very new and very nice.



Where we had our meal. Very pleasant surroundings.



Any one for a round of Golf? Nullarbor Links - The World's Longest Golf Course



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