We all woke a bit exhausted from our massive effort over the last few days crossing the Nullabor. The time difference thing has also had an impact, don't know how all those jet setters do it all the time!! It also didn't help that it rained heavily all night and the wind was shaking the van a bit.
We bloody woke up at 5:30am all thinking we had caught up on sleep, our body clocks may take a few days to get in sink with this WA time... We slowly crawled out of bed, rain still in motion. I tried so hard to hold on to the curry from last night but couldn't anymore. To Marty's disgust, l christened the van toilet...there was no way l was going to go out in the rain and crap behind a tree....but think it was the first and last time that that would be happening after Marty's carry on!!!
Last night over dinner, Matt and l had convinced Nikki and Marty that we should take the left turn at Norseman and head to Kalgoorlie-Boulder to take a look, if for anything, to see the "super pit". It was only just over 400kms up the road, too short a distance to not take a gander. They hesitantly agreed and Matty and l were chuffed. Was another good day to be in the car anyway as the rain continued on and off.
We headed off around 7am, yet another early start. The drive seemed very short after the mammoth hours we had been doing recently. The country obviously needed the rain as it couldnt soak up the water quick enough to how much was pooring down. There were mini rivers on the side of the road, with some parts of the road floaded. Girls thought it was a hoot with the water splashing up on their windows. We stopped off for a toilet break in a small town and you would think all our kids were townies. What did they do??? Walked straight thru the clay mud, slipping over and getting mud all over their hands and shoes. Not once...no! They didnt learn their lesson the first time, they did exactly the same thing on the way back and wondered why all four adults were going off their t*** saying "you better get clean before you get in the car, no way are you dragging that mud in"!!!
We arrived in Boulder and first thing that needed to be done was empty the christened toilet!! The dump point had to be the worst one we had come across too, just my luck. Marty was gagging as he approached the dump point, even before emptying the contents. We all had a load giggle at his reaction, but his glare told me that l was never allowed to do that again....
By 11:30 am we had arrived in Kalgoorlie. I was really surprised at how much l loved the the look of the town. It seemed to have preserved the old buildings and pubs remarkably well, they looked spectacular. Even with the new new shops down the Main Street it still felt like we had gone back in time.
We found a spot to park the cars and vans and headed to an amazing Info Center. The staff were so helpful and they let us know about a free RV camp spot in town. We grabbed some info and headed off to the camp spot, which was just a car park at the back of a big grassed area with a playground and clean flushing toilets!! All us travellers need really. We could only stay for one night, apparently a ranger comes out and fines you otherwise. Luckily we have only planned on staying for one anyway.
We unhitched the van after what seemed to take Marty and Matt an eternity to work out were to do it. Had a quick bit to eat then all headed off to check out this "super pit".
As we drove up to the mine site, the enormity of this "super pit" hit me. I know why it is now called this, it is huge!!! We piled out of the car and headed to the lookout which was fenced with strong steel and mesh. Even though it was a miserable overcast day, the colors from the cut earth were amazing. Marty thought he was quite the comedian as he stated to everyone "this is the second biggest hole he has ever seen"!!!
Enormous amazing colourfulagnificent
Marty said second biggest hole his ever seen!! Bloody nice mu husband, hey... Anyway, found out with reading all the plaques around that the "Kal Super Pit" is the biggest and richest square mile of gold bearing ore in the world...pretty cool hey. We had to make tracks as Meg was going to get us kicked out as she had started to scale the fencing to get a better look, had to drag her off a few times, great parents we are, l know. We took the tourist family picture in the huge yellow digger scoop which was placed strategically in front of the super pit. Then the kids ran off looking for gold with Nikki around the parking lot. They found some rocks with specks in them too.
It was getting late in the day and we still had a bit to check out so we thought we'd get the boring jobs done first like groceries and grog run then headed back into town for a look round. Kalgoorlie once had 93 pubs and 8 breweries when the gold rush was at its peek. So after finding that little piece of knowledge out we decided to head to a pub to have a beer, or two. Nikki and l thought we should stop at one with skimpies and the boys were silently excited l think. The pub of choice was the Paddy's Bar which lead into the Hotel Exchange where the skimpies were. Stupidly we got the kids a raspberry soft drink each and within seconds, our little Meg was pinging, running around the table. So with that, Nikki and l decided to go thru to check out the skimpies first. Very disappointing. No boobs, no bum's, only girls (not very attractive either) dressed in tight skimpy outfits of short shorts and crop tops. There was one who was dressed in a corset showing some arse, Nikki and l sat and discussed how disappointing the boys would be but that this woman would be all they would watch. The Exchange Hotel itself was pretty cool with scattered memorabilia all over the walls, polished old floor boards and wine barrels to sit round. After a little while, we thought we should head back and send the boys in to get them out of their misery. The kids were still running a muck off the raspberry so this in itself was entertaining for us to watch. After some time, we'd noticed that the boys were still gone so l decided to go in and spy on what they were up to. Low and behold they were seated around a wine barrel, both looking straight ahead, not talking with one another at all, checking this chicks arse out that was bent over the bar talking to customers. They were mesmerised, l don't even think they blinked. They weren't even trying to disguise their perving. I creeped up on them and as soon as they saw me they changed their seating position and eyes!! Was total crack up watching these old perves with their tongues hanging out, over nothing l might add. Lets me conclude that these old b*****s have gone without a good look for a while. Hahaha. After hanging s*** on them, l went back to Nikki and relaid the story of what l'd witnessed. The boys followed shortly afterwards, all red faced when they got back to the table. Hazza, who is a little older than the other kids, was cracking up at the two older blokes drooling over this woman. The laughter died down after a few more one liners had been issued to the boys and the day had got away, so we made our way back to the vans to have dinner. The kids had a great time letting off steam (and their raspberry soft drinks) at the playground, which left the adults to have another quiet drink together in peace.
Before we knew it the day had ended, the sun had set and we were all tuckered out and snuggled into bed, totally exhausted due to the early starts. We had only one day in Kalgoorlie, but decided that tomorrow we would head off back down south to make our way to Esperance......yet another place on our bucket-lists. We did consider checking out the job vacancies but decided it was too early in our travels to be looking for work, and besides, Marty didn't want to stop in another majority Aboriginal populated town so soon after Alice Springs.
So with that, more driving awaits us tomorrow, and with that comes more adventures and memories to be made....

Bell Xxx