It had been a very good idea to park up yesterday when we did, I had decided already last night. It especially felt like the right decision, when we woke this morning, with the heater pumping the van full of warm air, to ward off the extreme chill of the morning. Not that we were up all that early. It was already 9:30AM by the time we rolled out of bed, to find that the caravan park that had been filled to capacity overnight was deserted and devoid of any other campers save for ourselves. I am guessing that many of them would have been running behind schedule, having been forced to spend the night here so had left early to make up for lost time. We however were just as happy to tootle along today at our own speed. Yes, the delay might have seen us postpone the beginning of our grand Nullarbor crossing by a day, but we’re in no rush.

Bustling metropolis one day, deserted the next.

So as we rolled out of the caravan park at almost 10:30AM, we settled into ‘The Beast’ to do what we had started yesterday. That is, we headed into the township of Norseman to collect information and fuel for our journey. At the information centre in Norseman, a few highlights were helpfully marked on a map for us before we were sent on our way by the jolly fellow behind the counter with a cheery: “Just take your time and enjoy it.” We then stopped briefly to photograph what is advertised as the top tourist draw card in town, a series of camels fashioned out of corrugated iron that stand sentinel amongst the trees of the main roundabout in the middle of town. It really is a happening place, especially on a Sunday morning.

Tourist attraction, Norseman style.

Fuel for ‘The Beast’ was next, where we thought we were getting a bargain, until we realised that the price advertised on the price board out front was a good few cents cheaper than that indicated at the pump. A good ploy to get customers we thought, judging by the number of cars lined up waiting for a bowser to become available. At least it was still a lot less than the more than $2.00 or more per litre we have been warned to expect during our crossing of the Nullarbor.

It was 12:05PM exactly, when we turned right to travel east on the Eyre Highway and across the Nullarbor Plains. The name derives from the two Latin words, ‘nullus’ and ‘arbor’ so literally translates as ‘no trees’. The first hundred and fifty kilometres east we drove today though, the name may as well have been ‘mucharbor’ as the surrounds were densely treed for the most part. We still have a distance to travel though before we reach the true start of the treeless plain. That will come tomorrow with any luck. So much for our grand introduction to the Nullarbor though!

For todays efforts we pulled off the road relatively early, to take advantage of a nice looking campsite we had found. We were off the road by a bit after 2:00PM, driving a couple of hundred metres through the surrounding scrub to ensure we were well and truly hidden from the road. The main reasoning we had behind locating ourselves as such was so that we had a clear line of sight to aim the satellite dish, unhampered by the thick canopy of foliage above us and we would also be well removed from any other campers so that running the generator wouldn’t annoy anyone. Not that there was anyone else around.

Setting up ‘The Dish’. Bring on the TV.

With the van quickly parked and the dish set up to drag moving pictures from somewhere in outer space, before displaying them magically on our TV screen, we locked the dogs in ‘The Beast’ so we could take a wander amongst the wildflower rich undergrowth surrounding our plot.

Just a couple of…

…the wildflowers.

As we worked our way on foot back towards the main road, we found another van parked in the area alongside the road. The couple to which it belonged were pouring over a camps guide, obviously debating the merits of staying here as opposed to moving on. We said G’day to them and struck up a conversation. As it turns out, they haven’t free camped before, and were more concerned about being out here all on their own than anything else. We pointed out where we were propped, and said that we were happy for them to camp alongside if they wanted, as long as the gentle hum of the generator wouldn’t annoy them. They still didn’t seem too sure, at least not until mention was made that we had the satellite all set up and that ‘X-Factor’ would be screening this evening. That settled it, they were staying put, if for nothing else than to join us for a spot of tele this evening.

And that there then is the story of how we came to met Sue and Eddie from Perth. They’re a great fun couple, a few more years advanced than we are, but with similar ideas about life. We spent a good deal of the afternoon chatting with them about our respective travels, past, present and future, before going our separate ways for dinner.

It was just after 6:30PM when there was a light tap on the door, and there they were, all ready to join us in the van for some light entertainment and some more enthusiastic conversation. It was fantastic to have the company for a change as we swapped tall stories of our travels. I could happily recite our tales of adventure, without getting the usual scowl or blank stare of boredom from Bec that indicates she has heard it all before and I am sure that Sue and Eddie did the same, although their travels both here in Australia and overseas have been extensive and their tales were equally enchanting.

Until next time, stay safe, have fun and don’t forget to write.