Comfort eagle: days 33-34
Geraldton, Wongan Hills, Southern Cross. Malkana, Nhanta, Amangu,Yuat, Balardung, Nyaki-Nyaki, Kalaamaya.
We make for Geraldton, where a local optometrist has generously agreed to slot J dog into her busy schedule (many thanks, Kerry!). We haven’t made Geraldton any kind of priority on our trip, as it’s a very competitive field. But in words you likely thought you’d never hear, it turns out J dog’s favourite church is right here!
and perhaps our last westerly sunset over the water continued to charm…
The eye situation is assessed as no longer acute, but after a follow up consult the next morning there is deemed to be some ongoing monitoring required.
We agree that we will modify our broad easterly trajectory to pass through Whyalla, where Kerry can next connect us with another optometrist, to track the healing process more comprehensively, and ensure no ongoing impact.
We next make tracks for inland Wongan Hills, where we experience a unique sunset vista out at (salt) Lake Ninan. The eve we are there the lake turns on an (unusually, according to the locals) calm sunset, which we enjoy.
The following day, further south, we encounter a regionally familiar sign, warning us of the presence of carnaby’s black cockatoos. We don’t see any this time, but it stirs memories of our previous encounters with these charming characters.
Further along the highway there is also a particular (but by no means unique) example a of a tree worn down by persistent local winds.
It seems remiss not to mention the name chosen for a nearby caravan park:
Fair to say the road does snake around at this juncture, but surely there is a better naming option (‘snake’ is off the menu for marketing reasons, obvs).
We later stopped in at a charming hamlet called Dowerin. The joint is tiny, but it has a serious claim to fame, being where AFL legend Buddy Franklin grew up. There are also some compelling natural features.
We enjoy the roadside scenery during the afternoon, and score another cracking Wedgie encounter as we progress towards the western edge of the Nullarbor.
Our last evening stop before dancing once again with old mate Eyre Highway is the town of Southern Cross. On the way over we stopped in for a charge across the road from the pub and fell under the spell of this regional delight. As the reviews suggested, the hotel accommodation was right up there with the best we encountered, and the (sea)food on offer at the hotel was absolutely exquisite. We deem ourselves ready for the task ahead.