Thursday 8/72010 Near Cocklebiddy to Norseman

(Near Cocklebiddy to Norseman)
A very mild night. No condensation or ice. I got so hot I had to take my beanie and socks off. Up at 0715hrs. Bacon and eggs for breakfast. Left by 0715hrs (turned our clocks back 1.5hrs).
Everyone is now so much more relaxed and layed back (holiday mode). No stress, happy and chatty and working like a well oiled machine with the pack up.
We're skipping Cocklebiddy Cave as we've already been to a couple of caves. It is the biggest, with an underground waterfilled tunnel that people have dived to 6.4km, but that is all closed to the public anyway.
Next on the list was 4WD down steep gravel, then a soft, white sand track south of the Eyre Highway to Eyre Bird Observatory.

They used to breed, study and preserve 240 species of birds here, and we were expecting to see a bird show or a wedgetailed eagle up close, but it was more of a museum of the old telegraph station (lovingly restored), a weather station, plus they log any birds they see that day.

There was a lovely couple (George and Anne) manning the station from Smiths Lakes. A three month rotation for volunteers.
We had a cuppa, home made biscuits and a chat. A tour of the museum and history lesson and a walk around the grounds. We were it! Very personal. We then compared Landys with George admiring Col's setup.

George tells us they recorded record lows of -5.4C the previous 2 nights. No wonder we froze!
We learnt all about Eyre's travels and the life saving oasis that this place proved to be. Aborigines suggested digging to 2m coastal side of the dunes, and sure enough he found water.
This is the reason the telegraph station was built here.
(One big HSIE excursion)
The drive felt long today. Maybe because there was less sightseeing and the longest straight stretch of road in Australia (150km) just after lunch at Caiguna.

We decided to stay at Norseman pub tonight to all have a break from unpacking and packing and to do the clothes washing a bit earlier. Great call, as it then started raining.
Jordan vomited 60km east of Norseman. Thank goodness for wet wipes!! (? car sick from computer work while driving)

It was lovely visiting Norseman pub again, but very wierd to have the same room.
The kids agree that it is a painting of Larissa on the wall.
Heard on the news they are predicting fierce storms with flooding and hail. Great night not to camp! :)
Did clothes washing, had lovely hot showers and woodfird pizzas.