Gassmans Gone Under: Perth to Adelaide

It has been a busy couple of weeks with lots to see and do as we made our way down and across the last bit of Western Australia into South Australia across the great Nullabar Plain.

South of Freemantle we found a wide variety of landscape including the beautiful Margaret River wine district with limestone caves interspersed among the rolling hills. We were captivated by even more beautiful beaches but also we found a rugged coastline, both were made more dramatic by the winds and high seas. The weather, continuing in the true Gassman fashion, turned stormy around Esparance with an extreme weather warning and high winds up to 116 km/hr which blew us across the Nullabar Plain, 1200 km with not a town in sight and little for fuel stations but White Lightning once again purred along, happy to be on the road. The notable stop along the Nullabar was a small detour into the Head of Bight to see the Southern Right Whales. The vantage area was perfect, a boardwalk takes you to a viewing station high on the cliffs where you can look down at the whale cows with their calfs, even in the rough water we were able to see over 12 sets as they travelled along the coast line.

After the Nullabar we headed down the Eyre Peninsula stopping in at several small towns, Venus Bay, Coffin Bay (where we say more Emus then we ever had before, oh and had a great feed of oysters), Port Lincoln, and Port Augusta where we put new front tyres on White Lightning before heading to the Flinders Range NP.

The weather cleared for the Flinders and we had a somewhat sunny day to drive through the park. We ended our day with a stay at Parachilina Station where we treated ourselves to a dinner out...The Feral Antiipasto plate.

Next on our route toward Adelaide was the Yorke Peninsula where we spent a night at Marrion Bay and visited the Innes NP. The wind just out blew us off the Cape. It continued to be a windy and rainy day as we made our way though the Adelaide Hills with its many wineries. The wind blew us right to the doorstep of Max (an old friend of Kens who he last visited in New Zealand 25 years ago). Max wined and dined us and guided us through a nice scenic drive around the Adelaide Hills including a look over the city from Mt. Lofty.

We enjoyed our stay with Max (and Toby, the every faithful Jack Russel) but sadly after a couple of days it was time to move on...the last leg of our trip. Back to Melbourne.

Busselton pier, measuring in at 2.2 km.

Cape Leeuwin lighthouse, south of Augusta, WA.

Jewel Cave south of Margaret River. Amazing cave formations, it contained ever "ite" there is!

The water running into Circular Pools in the Walpole Wilderness Con. Park looked like frothy milk on a cappiccino, brown, light and foamy.

A huge Eucalyptus tree in the Tingle Forrest.

Between Walpole and Denmark, WA, Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk was a 600 metre boardwalk up in the tree canopy, nice view.

Parry Beach, along the South Coast Highway, WA. Another lovely sunset.

The Blue Pools, South Coast Highway...not exactly swimming weather but we could imagine how busy a nice spot like this would be in the summer.

A mural on the pubic amenities in Hopetoun, WA.

King of the castle on top of Mt. Barren in Fitzgerald River NP.

The view of Doubtful Island Bay from Mt. Barren, Fitzgerald River NP.

Lots and lots of beautiful beaches to be found aroung Esperance, WA.

Beautiful coastline, as seen from the comfort of our own vehicle...White Lightning.

It will never cease to amaze us the colour of the soil, trees and sky, what a combo.

The Nullabur Plains, the big highlight 145 km of very straight road, thank goodness for the tailwind.

At the Head of Bight the Southern Right Whales lounge with their new calves.

Yes, still many long distances with not too much to see but we enjoyed a great audio book on the iPad.

A storm hanging over Murphy's Haystacks in the middle of some farmers field.

Talia Caves near Venus Bay, SA.

Just nice countyside.

"What you lookin' at?" A local Emu at Coffin Bay NP.

Desert Pea flower.

The Flinders Range NP SA was a pleasant break with mountians, at last.

We tied the Ferel Plate Antipasto which included, goat cheese, emu pate, camel salami, kangaroo pastrami, camel mettwurst with roasted peppers and mushrooms...served with fresh baked bread. OMG, sooo good. Really.