We woke to a cloudy overcast day but the wind has dropped so YAY!!!
Off to the nearby park where my career as a ‘swinger’ was short lived. While Hazel had a huge park to roam freely & sniff around, she decided it was her job to be the fun police & came up behind me and got taken out by a middle aged woman on one of those big rubber ringed, mesh seated swings & proceeded to bark at me until she got a ‘you’re ok’ cuddle 🙄🤪 She wasn’t hurt, only a bit shocked (like the electric fence 😳)
I had another crack at a normal swing (swings are my favourite piece of playground equipment) but she wasn’t having a bar of it & was clambering all over me before I could even get my feet off the ground. I gave up & proceeded to ‘act my age’ with both feet on the ground.
Operation tidy up, which was minimal, & we were back on the road by 8. I was feeling a little tried & slow today & as there was no rush to get to our destination today, I made the decision to stop & wander thru all the little towns I’ve driven through more times than I could count (from my many years living in Kalgoorlie & roadtripping to Perth) but have never stopped at other than to get fuel.
First stop wasn’t actually a town but a pullover bay 10km east of Merredin where I had a wee & made a coffee. If was from my position on the loo looking out the windscreen that the urge to take a short walk down the track alongside a section of the longest water pipeline in the world took over me. (You can read a little about the 560km pipeline here )
Second stop - Merredin - the bustling metropolis of the wheatbelt. Many pockets of conversation were being held at the local IGA where I was able to restock my broccolini supply & grab snacks for tonight before taking a wander around town. At some stage I’m sure the Modern Shoe Store was quite modern but now it’s minimalist to the point of empty.
Third stop - Cunderdin - The home of WA’s Ettamogah Pub where even the sign there is hinting I need to head back to Albury.
Fourth stop - Meckering - where I stopped to check out the Salisbury homestead that was taken out by an earthquake in 1968.
Fifth stop - Northam - A fuel stop where I found myself relieved that they had no maxibons. I can’t believe I’m going to say this but…. I’m sick to death of maxibons 🤪😂
A wander thru town & a walk along the river. I think Hazel might be a tad traumatised from previous bridge crossings (Swing bridge in Melrose & the double drop in the drink in Albury) but we made it safe & sound before driving out of town with windows open, past some silo art & rolling hills.
Sixth stop - Toodyay - which, a bit like Merredin, was going OFF!!! Much end of day, end of week, cheer was being had at the pub & I entered my version of hell (an all year round Christmas shop - I did however find a section dedicated to us grinches) & simply enjoyed the springtime vibe of town.
Onto our final stop - my friends Phillipas place in Mt Helena. Hazel is absolutely knackered & I’m wondering if this trip hasn’t taken it out of her a little as I’m sure her moosh wasn’t quite this grey when we left home. She perked up upon arriving at Phil’s, finding her place at the table but firmly giving me the eagle eye because she wasn’t allowed to help herself to the cheese platter. The drool!!! 😂
A very early night tonight before we make our way home tomorrow.
ROADTRIP STAT TALLY
Distance covered - 7720km
Fuel cost - $2230.70
Camp fees - $207.46
Repairs - $829.62
Maxibons eaten - 24
Incense cones burnt - 111

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