Day 2 - Woodlands Rest Area to Camp 10km west of Mundrabilla
Friday 18th Mar 2016
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- Day 2 – Woodlands Rest Area to Rest Area near Mundrabilla (683 kms)
We woke to find we’d had a light shower overnight but this didn’t dampen our spirits. Today we’re heading into Norseman for fuel and will make our way to Balladonia.
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- The road ahead, near Balladonia, WA
Along this stretch we saw a number of vintage cars heading west, we suspect they were going to the Brookton Old Time Motor Show which was being held on Saturday 19th March 2016. We stopped 29 kms west of Balladonia to take a look at the Old Telegraph Repeater Station which was built in 1898 to service the line between Norseman and Eucla. Unfortunately you couldn’t get access to this building as it’s on private property. It’s a pity that you can’t take a closer look at this part of history.
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- The old Balladonia Telegraph Station, Eyre Highway, Western Australia
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- Sign at the old Balladonia Telegraph Station.
While here we saw a Brown Falcon (bird) just sitting there watching, waiting and then it took flight, perhaps it had seen some morning tea.
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- Brown Falcon near the old Balladonia Telegraph Station.
Balladonia hit the world news in 1979 when pieces of Skylab landed in the region. The story goes that the Dundas Shire sent a littering notice to NASA and Jimmy Carter ( the then American President ) rang to apologise. Just past Balladonia is Australia’s longest stretch of straight road ( 146 kms or the old 90 miles ). Caiguna, Cocklebiddy and Madura passed by . About 100kms west of Eucla there is a time zone change ( + 45 mins Australian Central Western Standard Time (ACWST)). We camped about 15kms west of Mundrabilla and tomorrow we’ll head for Ceduna ….
Total Time : 9.19
Total Distance: 683 kms
Average Speed : 73 KPH
Visits: 7797