Friday 14.9.12

Today was our last day at Yulara.

We did the shopping and stocked up because we heading home via the abandoned section of the Gunbarrel Highway (a 4Wd track) then along the Connie Sue Highway (also a 4Wd track) and then along the Ann Beadell Highway (also a 4Wd track).

Saturday 15.9.12

Today we left Yulara.

We packed up and drove for about three hours before we got to a place called Lasseters Cave. Lasseters Cave was named after a man called Harold Lasseter because it was between there and the Olgas that he was last seen. Harold Lasseter led and expedition of people out into the desert to find a lost reef of gold that he supposedly discovered 30 years before hand.

We then drove for about two hours before we got to the Welcome to Western Australia sign on the W.A N.T border where we took pictures.

As we were driving along we saw a group of aboriginals that need help with their tiers so we stopped and Dad helped out.

We drove for another hour before we got to a little aboriginal community called Warakurna where the Giles weather station is located. We fueled up and then went to have a look at the weather station. At the weather station they have  old memorabilia and old weather equipment. They also have the grader that Len Beadell used to make the Gunbarrel Highway.

After looking at the weather station we went back to the roadhouse and paid to stay the night a the little caravan park.

Sunday 16.9.12

Today we drove along the abandoned section of the Gunbarrel Highway.

We drove on the abandoned section for the whole day covering about 260km. Every once in a while we would stop to stretch and to look at the plaques that Len Beadell put up so they could determine how far the rockets fly from their launch at Woomera.

We stopped for lunch along the track underneath some Desert Oaks (trees).

Monday 17.9.12

Today we drove along the Connie Sue Highway.

Along the way we stopped at Warburton roadhouse to fuel up.

We drove for the rest of the day along the corrugated road.

Tuesday 18.9.12

Today we drove along the Connie Sue Highway until we got to a place called Neil Junction.

At Neil Junction there is a campground. Neil Junction is also the meeting place where the Connie Sue and the Ann Beadell meet.

You don’t see much but every so often you see a couple of camels.

Tonight we are staying at a place called Yeo Ruins. Yeo ruins are abandoned ruins. The guy that built the place was going to try to run a cattle station. His idea didn’t work because he was out in the desert with hardly any water.

The guy that built the place was called Leo Bonny. He built it in the 1960’s and returned to it in 2011. It is now a camp ground but the ruins are still their.

Wednesday 19.9.12

Today we drove along the Ann Beadell Highway into Laverton.

When we arrived at Laverton, Dad fueled up and we all had lunch.

After having lunch and putting air into the tiers we drove off to Leanora.

When got to Leanora Karen and Dave fueled up and then continued driving.

Late in the afternoon we arrived at a town called Menzies. Menzies is a small mining town.

That night it started to rain but it was mainly spitting. When we went to bed Dad said it would start to get colder from here until home.

Thursday 20.9.12

Today we left Menzies and are driving to Kalgoolie.

On the way we stopped at Lake Ballard. Lake Ballard is a dried up slat lake which an artist has made cask iron sculptures of the local aboriginal people and has placed them over the expanse over the lake.

We then went to Ora Banda which is a gold mining town that is famous for the recent bombing of the local hotel.

We then drove for about and hour before we got to Kalgoolie.

Friday 21.9.12

Today we went shopping.

Before we went shopping Mum and I walked around town while Dad cleaned and got stuff for the car and trailer.

Mum and I walked all the way from the Patrick Hannan statue to the Exchange Hotel.

Patrick Hannan (Paddy for short), Tom Flanagan and Daniel Shea discovered gold near Mt Charlotte less than 40km from the Coolgardie gold fields (which is now the current site of Kalgoolie). Paddy was the only one of the three that could read or write and so he register the mining claim. After registering his claim of over 100 ounces of surface gold, an estimated 700 men were prospecting in the area three days later. Basically he has been credited with the start of the Kalgoolie gold rush.

After visiting the Paddy Hannan statue we went to the visitors center and I bought a bottle of 23 carat leaf gold.

Along the way, while we were walking to the Exchange Hotel we stopped by a shop and I bought a dress.

After having a take out lunch we went and did the shopping at Coles and then went back to the caravan park we were staying.

Saturday 22.9.12

Today we went to the Western Australian Museum in Kalgoolie.

The museum was very interesting having lots of information on gold and the miners.

I learnt that if you get all the gold that has ever been found in the entire world and combine it into 5 microns (5 millionth of a meter) it will stretch around the world 7.2 million times.

After looking at the museum we hopped in the cars and drove the half hour drive to Coolgardie.

At Coolgardie we had lunch and then had a look around. There is not much to see in Coolgardie except for the boards that have been put up about the history and the buildings.

Today was also the day of the Kalgoolie Cup. The Kalgoolie Cup is similar to the Melbourne Cup just not as big.

Tomorrow we are going to the markets.

Our stay at Kalgoolie will be one more day before we head back home to Mandurah.

What I thought about the trip

I enjoyed being away for 3 months. It meant I was able to spend time with my family. Also spending time with Karen, Dave and Louise because we don’t see them often.

The downside was I missed not seeing my extended family and school friends.

Some of the highlights for the trip was visiting Darwin because I had never been before, climbing Ayers Rock because when I was younger I didn’t also spending time with friends and family as it was the last time we are able to go away on a big trip because I go into high school next year.

How I feel about the trip ending

I feel sad because I love doing these sorts of things it gives me freedom from school and also to experience things that I haven’t experienced before.

I also feel happy because I am going home to family and friends. I am looking forward to spending some time with my cousin Tayla.