Day 57 Hyden – (Wave Rock)

In hindsight, 550km in one day, towing a caravan sounds a huge distance but it hasn’t felt particularly huge. The boys were terrific and Jacqui was great as well. No-one complained and we all seemed to have fun singing along to tracks on the ipod or on CD’s as we made our way through the countryside. We even discovered that Jacob can easily manage two handed mathematics. Things like 5 + 3 or 4 + 2 are simple to him. He’s doing really well for a three year old and we were all pleasantly surprised.
We had a bit of excitement when we pulled into Gingin for fuel and the car wouldn’t start. The battery died in the driveway but we got her going again and off we went.
The day started with the PCDC’s standing around at Cervantes watching us pull down the annex and the van. Everyone comments on how good the boys are with helping and with Jacqui taking on more of the work I was doing at the start of this journey, we’ve had many comments on our teamwork. It’s working because by 8:30, we were on the road. Before we left, the boys attached the star and some tinsel from the Christmas tree yo the UHF radio antennae so we drove all day being led by the star of Christmas wishes, as Thomas put it.
I packed a tool kit before leaving Sydney and while putting it together, I wondered if I’d really need some of the tools I packed. After today, I can stop wondering. When the trailers power connection came out and became damaged while being dragged along the road, I suddenly found a use for the small metal file, the pointy nose pliers and a few other tools I wasn’t sure would see daylight on this trip. Jacqui’s taken to calling me McGyver.
As we drove, we saw some interesting stuff that kept us either intrigued, interested, or in some cases bewildered. We saw a huge wind farm which must have had 100 turbines, the town of Corrigin had statues of utes and dogs and apparently has an annual event where they line up utes with dogs in them. The record stands at 1,527 ute and dog combinations. We passed the Rabbit Proof Fence and stopped for a look, and we checked out the series of statues made from scrap metal, lining the main street of Hyden.
Once we got to the Wave Rock Caravan Park, we experienced an entirely new group of PCDC’s watching us put the swan up. People seem drawn to the van. We had one young 9 year old come and tell us that I’d parked it crooked, and we had another neighbour come and begin a conversation with, I didn’t use to be racist, but now I am, and then ask us if we’d had any bad experiences with the abbo’s. Others are more friendly and like to look at the van, inside and out, and many are just curious about travelling with 3 young boys. Once they hear about the length of the journey we’re on, they all like to share information on places to go and places to avoid, which is very handy and is what brought us to Wave Rock in the first place.
After today’s long drive, we’ve decided to stay here for two nights and begin making our way to the coast after exploring and recharging the batteries. Ours and the one in the car.
Cheers,
Jorg