Sitting on the front deck of our unit in the Morawa Caravan Park this morning, the happy chatter of a child broke the silence. Alongside was Chelsea, no longer the flower girl of 26 years ago, and Connor, her delightful four year old. She’d dropped off her two elder children at school and popped in for a visit before we left.
Connor helped pack up the car, and was rather impressed when I unpacked my hiking stove from its bright yellow box then unfolded the spider like legs that transforms it into a little stove. Then when I connected gas bottle and lit up the flame, well that was REALLY AWESOME. Several things had Connors stamp of awesome, but this was REALLY awesome.
Chelsea’s a lovely gentle woman with great family values, raising good kids in a country town. Not always easy or idyllic. All praise to her and all like her.
Mullewa was the next town; we’re getting to the edge of what’s familiar now. North on the Carnarvon to Mullewa Road had us on bitumen for quite a way us but this gave way to gravel road in good condition.
Also headed into heavier clouds, eventually light rain began falling. At about the 150km mark we turned off to go to Twin Peaks station, and the rain was heavier enough to to warrant continual wipers. The flood way over the flowing Murchison River was negotiated without difficulty, but not long after there was the ominous road sign warning ’slippery when wet’. Well it WAS wet, with frequent puddles, and yes it WAS also slippery.
Fortunately the VeggieCruza now has four wheel diff locks, so essentially all four wheels are rotating at the same speed giving maximum traction and not individual wheel slip; perfect for the precarious position we were in. 4WD and the lockers were engaged, and the steering wheel gripped with enthusiasm to point the front of the car in the right direction.
A drier Wooleen Station appeared, half an hours drive from their boundary!
Also making an appearance is an annoying windscreen leak. The old windscreen leaked, this is the first rain since the new one was fitted. Carpet is wet, bugger.
We were met at Wooleen by blond Bianca, not black haired Frances, who had gone home to Melbourne with David for the weekend. The drizzling rain had us rethinking the camping option we’d booked down by the river. Wet tent, wet firewood, wet station tracks to traverse. No thanks. Luckily one of their lovely rammed earth chalets was empty. Folks, these are seriously good accommodation. If you want a getaway week, weekend or are passing through, call into Wooleen. www.wooleen.com.au. Just make sure it hasn’t been raining too much, the roads get slippery!
So we have a nice bed, a kitchen sink, showers, toilet and the best thing, an open fire where someone else has collected the wood! No Internet, so blog will be loaded later when we do have coverage. The map page is the best place to find just we are at any time as it doesn’t rely on Internet connections for me.