- the Far South
August 2008
MTBing at Mt Ragged - WA
A dream of ours has been finally fulfilled! - to experience the 3,000km 'Indian Pacific' train journey across central Australia.
Our train journey started in Adelaide & headed north through the star filled skies of Port Augusta before turning east towards the outback town of Woomera.
As the sun rose in the sky, our journey slid passed the deserted town of Maralinga. This is where the British performed their Nuclear tests back in the 1950/60's.
This marked the start of our sensational 750km crossing of the Nullarbor Plain. Around lunch time, we stopped to stretch our legs at Cook before crossing in WA.. After passing through many historic ghost towns, our train journey weaved its way up to Kalgoorlie for a late evening walk around this mining town.
Sunrise greeted us the next morning as we pulled into Perth ending our fantastic 40 hour train ride outback experience. With Zebra safely off loaded along with Heidi's MTB, we headed south after first checking out the panoramic views from Kings park which overlooks Perth & the picturesque Swan River.
Heidi fine-tuned her MTB and headed for the MTB tracks through the Darling Range. After a quick drive via Margaret River, it was onto Cape Leeuwin (Australia's SW point) to experience the meeting of the Indian & Southern Oceans.
Spectacular coastal & inland views were enjoyed as we weaved our way across to Esperance. After experiencing the total Lunar Eclipse, we continued east to be mesmerized by the Recherche Archipelago from Cape Le Grand to Cape Arid.
It was time to do some 4WDing, so we pointed Zebra out to Israelite Bay before returning via Mt Ragged. After rejoining the main Eyre Highway at Balladonia, we ventured offroad again at Mundrabilla to explorer many outback disused mines.
It was time to farewell WA as we headed east for home. 50kms east of the outback town of Nullarbor, Zebra's engine blew 2 valves & a piston. With RACV Total Care, we were flown home while Zebra limped home on the back of a tray back.
An expensive holiday with the replacement cost of Zebra's engine, but a memorable lifetime experience we will never forget!