We set off late today after a lazy Sunday morning (Gadi likes to watch Insiders on Sundays), filling up water and emptying the toilet cassette - both very important jobs when you are living on the road!
After a late breakfast we set off along the Nullarbor a bit wary about the weather, which says there will be rain and high winds. We meandered along, taking our time and enjoying the journey. The western part of the Nullarbor Plain is quite lush with trees and shrubs. The wind died down for a while and it was great to see the long road stretched out ahead, the big open sky above with perfect fluffy white and grey clouds seemingly floating at various heights right before us.
We stopped at the Balladonia Roadhouse to fill fuel and visit the museum, where we learnt about the history of the area including indigenous history, the camels of the dessert and their Afghan handlers, settler life over the years and surprisingly, a piece of NASA's Skylab, which crashed into the backyard of an Esperance local.
We made roasted chicken wraps for lunch and relaxed for a while as the winds picked up and it began to rain.
It soon cleared up and we decided to keep driving a bit further east towards Caiguna.
We pulled into Baxter Rest Area half way between Balledonia and Caiguna just as the sun was setting behind us. There were quite a few caravans pulled up for the night towards the front, so we drove further down the track past trees and bushes until we found a quiet spot on our own among the trees and a great view of the setting sun.
We settled inside after Gadi set up his satellite dish and watched some Sunday night TV as we cooked an easy dinner of veggie and lentil soup, toast and store-bought quiche.
It's now pitch dark and windy outside, and above us is a star-filled velvety sky. It's lovely to be cosied up inside our little home on wheels on the first night of our return Nullarbor adventure. Tomorrow we will continue the drive eastbound.
Night night, sweet dreams xx