1/10/11 Westall Way Loop near Streaky Bay

We drove around the Westall Way Loop, near Streaky Bay.  The coastline varied from gigantic sand hills and  sandy bays,  to broken rocky edges eaten by rolling waves, to high cliffs beaten by the enormous swells which break at their base.  In some areas the southern facing granite rocks were decorated with orange-red lichen.  It was a dull day until late in the afternoon when the sun finally broke through and added some sparkle to the scenery.

  

29/9/11 and 30/9/11 Streaky Bay

Streaky Bay was named by Matthew Flinders. The light reflecting from the sand and the seaweed in the water causes the colour which gave the bay its name.

We travelled around the Cape Bauer Loop. We came across a cute stumpy tail lizard who probably didn't enjoy being made into a film star.

Cape Bauer is a spectacular landscape of huge broken cliffs and sand dunes with low coastal vegetation. 

A special point of interest are the blow holes and whistling cliffs.  When the waves surge in they force the air in the under ground passages worn in the cliffs to escape through narrow holes at the surface with  a great whoosh and a steams-like spray, like the sound and vapour of an enormous whistling kettle . 

The pelicans sit in the bay near the caravan park waiting to be photographed (and fed).

28/9/11 Ceduna

This was the worst day and night so far on the trip. Midmorning the sky turned greeny black and it started to rain. This was accompanied by a strong gusty wind that battered our camper backwards and forwards all afternoon and night. Even the birds sat around seeking shelter.

A battered looking salt freighter was loading at the wharf .

27/9/11 Nullabor Roadhouse to Ceduna

We drove across the Nullabor Plain;  Nulla means "no", abor means "trees."

We spent some time at the Head of Bight looking at the whales that were swimming along the edge of the cliffs with their new born calves, building up the calves strength before the long trip back  to the antarctic.  

We passed through Penong, the windmill town. In the past every house had its own windmill to pump up water from the subterranean basin.

26/9/11 Eucla Roadhouse to Nullabor Roadhouse

A beautiful blue day so we went back to have another look at the old Eucla telegraph station and the jetty.

We crossed the border from Western Australia to South Australia.

In South Australia the highway travels through the Great Australian Bight National Park.  We turned off a number of times to view the ocean cliffs. Australia is being slowly eaten away by the waves and is falling into the Southern Ocean! 

25/9/11 Caiguna to Eucla

The day started well with a blue sky but within a very short time it became overcast with occasional light sprinkles of rain.  We travelled through almost treeless grasslands.

We pulled in at Cocklebiddy Roadhouse.

We looked at the old Eucla telegraph station which is partially covered by drifting sand and then walked to the beach to see the old jetty which is a favourite roosting place for sea birds.

24/9/11 Norseman to Caiguna

On the journey from Norseman to Caiguna we went into Newman Rocks but we were attacked by dozens of biting horse flies so we made a rapid escape.

We travelled along Australia's longest straight stretch of road.

On the road we passed two collections for charity. The "Storm Trooper" on a walking journey from Perth to Sydney was collecting for the Starlight Children's Foundation.

A trio, one pushing , one riding and a support vehicle driver were on a journey across the Nullabor from Norseman to Ceduna and were collecting to support a sufferer, the brother and grandson of the walkers.

We stopped at the Caiguna Blowhole. This is an entrance to some of the cave systems under  the Nullabor and, depending on conditions,  it "breathes" air out from underground. Quite a strong breeze was flowing out of the hole while we were there.