Thursday, November 24, 2011

Crossing the Nullabor



























It's close to 2000 km to get from east to west and takes a few days - and about $700 in fuel!
We have crossed the Nullabor about 4 times and each time it is different - the winds, the temperatures and the vegetation. The only thing that remains unchanged are the road trains.
This time we drove at a time of extreme high wind and temperatures reaching 42 deg. Every time a road train passed us Chris had to hold on to the steering wheel for dear life. It was quite a journey! The winds must have been very challenging for flocks of beautiful green budgies as it was obvious they had been forced into the path of road trains, cars and caravans. They were lying dead all over the road.
When we crossed the Nullabor in October 2010 we were able to free stop along the way. It was a magical experience. NOT A SOUL anywhere. Just miles and miles of expansive vastness! We watched a 180deg sunset and sunrise. Too amazing for words! We put on our music and danced in that vastness. We even watched a storm cloud and mist roll over the Nullabor plain the following morning.
This time because of the heat and the wind it was impossible to stop anywhere other than designated caravan stops. All we had to do was cross the Nullabor safely and arrive in one piece. We couldn't even get to see the Bight with its magnificent, sheer cliffs and turqoise ocean which we had managed to see the time before.
It's also unbelievable how every now and again we pass a cyclist!