We are on holiday!

Saturday 13th August 2022

We woke to a beautiful calm morning. I snuck out for a quick early walk up a nearby hill, which seemed to be a huge pile of loose rocks! There was an amazing view from the top, but it was challenging to pick my way down without causing an avalanche! We packed up camp, then Bonnie was desperate to climb up the rocky outcrop across from the campground again, so I took the kids up there while Richie packed up the trailer. It’s a beautiful climb up, but very steep and a bit nerve-wracking with two kids! We climbed high enough to get a view over the campground, then seeing Richie had finished packing, we climbed back down to go. We said goodbye to Wazza, with whom we had an entertaining night and some shared drinks. We’ve been so spoilt the last two nights, camped right on a beautiful waterhole, it’s a shame to leave! There would be a lot more potential for walking in the area too, along the river, up the hills! Though Wazza was keen to move his bus into our spot next to the waterhole, we definitely had prime position! 😆

We had a quick look at Old Halls Creek on our way back into town – a whole lot of ruins around the site where significant gold was first discovered in WA in 1885. Apparently the town was moved when the highway was built. I wonder if the original location was a bit close to the river?!

We had a long drive ahead of us to get to Willare Roadhouse – nearly five hours travelling. The landscape varied as we went – sometimes looking flat and scrubby, then suddenly opening out into cliffs and hills! Huge expanses are covered with purple Ptilotus at the moment, which is so beautiful. We also love the patches of boabs stretching into the horizon, such an amazing form! Some of them are enormous and must be hundreds of years old.

The drive was uneventful, and we pulled into Willare station around 3:30. We have booked a motel room here for a one night stayover, before heading to the coast. It is very hot again, so we felt happy to have some air-conditioning! The room was basic, with a bunk bed, queen bed and a tv that only displayed one channel with football on (pretty well redundant in my books!)! There is a pool, bar and restaurant but the kids were super crazy after being in the car all day and neither of us felt willing to face the pool. We had a picnic dinner in the campground and watched a movie in bed (on Richie’s phone!). Then despite there being a bunk bed I ended up in the queen with both kids, while Richie had the pick of the bunk! 😆