Today Kalgoorlie to Perth. 600km and about six and a half hours driving.

First stop is Coolgardie, not far from Kalgoorlie. Beautiful buildings, clearly a lot of money at some stage, probably the start of the 20th century when one on the buildings is marked  “1901”. A proper coffee is hard to find but we do. Otherwise, the town is sort of in decline. An grizzled old guy sits outside the former pub, now a Cafe that doesn’t serve espresso coffee, his Labrador sits near him with a water bowl beside, the dog clearly loves company. Maybe the old guy reflects Coolgardie a little.

Just outside Coolgardie there is a camel farm, its that sort of country.

At Southern Cross the farming country starts. Some crops are ok, some are struggling. The bright yellow of canola flowering patchworks the countryside with yellow, various shades of green and dry brown of scrub country.

Merredin for lunch, a great little cafe and the pumpkin soupis delicious.

The traffic is getting more intense as we near Perth. The Klugers have been terrific, running at 6-7 litres /100km.

We arrange to meet at the Alex Hotel where we are booked for the next few days, too hard for two cars to stay in touch in the Friday afternoon traffic.

It’s a nice modern hotel, rooms are not large but ok. Dinner is at the pub next door, we’re all a bit weary but the drivers must be super weary.

Perth is humming with the Friday night end of working week vibe. However, as I go for a walk up the street, a guy with a beard presses a pamphlet into my hand, its a message from Jesus! Only, it says his name is Jeff and he wants to know ” Are You Saved?”. I walk on, The Navigator saved me years ago, from what I’m still trying to work out.

Tomorrow 20-40mm of rain is forecast, plans are on hold.

Cheers, caio

Pauolo