Soaked and Heading to Widgiemooltha

Daily miles 17.39 | Total miles 8.954.54

In the middle of the night, it cooled down enough that I finally slipped into my sleeping bag. My alarm rang at 5:30 am, just as the drizzle started. I packed all my stuff and stepped out into the fresh, cool—but not cold—air. Knowing I had a short day ahead, I was in a great mood to get thoroughly soaked. It’s much easier to enjoy the rain when you know there’s a warm, dry place to go to afterward.

The view was a muted grey, yet beautiful in its own way, with trees and stretches of dry lake to the right. I passed many mine sites along the way, thinking about the people who work there—the physical demands, being far from home, and all the different minerals extracted, their uses, and the environmental impact. There’s so much behind the scenes that we rarely see.

When I finally arrived at the last roadhouse I’ll see before Perth, I hoped to get a room early—and, of course, it wasn’t a problem. It’s Australia after all: “No worries, mate!” The room is very small, built from wood, and I almost fell through the floor when I stepped inside. The buggy fits right in. The heater is now full blast, and I’ve hung everything up, hoping most of it will be dry by tomorrow. I’m enjoying this last official stay in a roadhouse, even if supplies are limited—I’ll grab a bite in the restaurant. Sitting in the bar again, I can’t help but reflect that I’ve never spent more time in pubs than I have here in Australia. I’ve just ordered garlic bread and a salad and am soaking in this moment.

Have a great Sunday, Andrea