We were up early and cranked up the air-conditioner as it was going to be another scorcher and we wanted to be comfortable while we could. We finally hit the road just before 11.00am after saying goodbye to everyone and they all thought we were mad as it was already bloody hot. Our first stop was to be Brookton we'd decided which was about 140km south east of Perth. I felt like we were in a furnace as there was engine heat pouring all over me and nothing seemed to be able to stop it. We stuffed different items into the engine cover but the air just poured out somewhere else. The open window didn’t seem to be helping at all. We finally got to Brookton about 2.00pm and made a beeline for the pool – it was like an oasis in the desert. While we were there the pool attendant did a temperature check and it was 39 degrees outside and 28 degrees in the water. We didn’t care! By the time we got out of the water the sky was changing and big black clouds were rolling in and we were hoping that a cool change was behind them. After about an hour we pushed on and this time for Corrigin. The clouds stayed behind us and the conditions for travelling weren’t improving. We were in serious wheat growing country so it was as dry as a chip. I could smell burning rubber so Kimbo checked the tyres etc and all looked OK so we kept on going.

We stopped at the Corrigin Dog Cemetery that was established in 1974 and a fitting tribute to man’s best friend. The cemetery is unique to Corrigin and all of the headstones are made and maintained by a local resident. Reading the headstones was very touching and anyone can bury their dog there. If it wasn’t for the flies that were in plague proportions we would have spent more time there.

We pushed on and made it as far as Karlgarin before the bus started to run very badly and the smell was overwhelming. We managed to pull into the grain silo area before we conked out. The gas gear had frozen over again! The worst however was yet to come as the inside right back tyre on the bus was flat and had to be changed. It was 41 degrees and stifling. However Kimbo did what he had to do. We took the Suzi off the trailer, unhitched the trailer, removed the bikes, the carrier and tow ball and he was then able to get to the spare wheel. Thankfully the sun was going down and the weather conditions were a little kinder. After the job was done he had a well deserved shower and the much awaited cool change came through. The wind picked up and we got battered by whatever grain it was that was being blown around, but we didn’t care, we made sure all the windows and blinds were open and revelled in the cooler conditions.

Can’t say there was much happening in Karlgarin because the silence was deafening.    We were in bed pretty early having a very eventful start to our trip and we’ve only travelled about 300km!!