Wednesday 18 July – Left the caravan park at a bit before 9 this morning after posting off some postcards.  We broke the drive today at Marla where we had lunch, an icecream and filled up with petrol before the second half of the drive.  The countryside changes periodically, though it is pretty flat for most of the time, but with different vegetation.  The road kill count is growing, with the majority being cattle, followed by wallabies, and todays living wild-life sightings were nil.  But outstripping the roadkill count is the derelict, dumped, burnt out cars that are just off the road along the way.

We reached tonight’s stopover place – Kulgera Roadhouse at about 2.15 this arvo, and after setting up I went and gave my sneakers a good scrub as they were already pretty grotty, and the marks left by the splattering pasta the other night added to the effect.  Now I have to get them dry.  Today has been a lovely sunny day again, but the breeze is still a bit cool at times. 

Just before we got here (I was driving), when I pulled over to read a sign about the state border.  Then when I pulled out, I obviously incurred the wrath of a road train driver coming up behind us, and via the UHF I was handed a massive foul mouthed blast, then another for not responding.  I’ve now learnt my lesson.

At about 4.30, we were sitting outside having a cuppa when we heard a Hello from a couple we have seen at the last three nights stops – Irene and Bob.  They had intended stopping at Marla tonight, but when they got there they decided that it was too early to stop for the day, so they came on to here.  They’re not really our type, but they seem to like talking to us, so what can you do.  Even tonight when we went over to happy hour at the roadhouse pub, they arrived a few minutes later and came and joined us and the other couple we were talking to.

We appear to have no phone or internet coverage here, though I’ll try again after I finish this diary.  Just finished tea – spaghetti bol, with the bol sauce I had made back home and frozen.  It was good!  And now the first week of our trip is over.

Today’s highlight – the sighting of three or four wedgies (eagles that is!).  Grant has been hanging out to see them.