*The map should show now the entire trip so far, but doesn't seem to save much location information as we thought while out of Telstra reception. As a result there are gaps missing from our route, but hopefully you'll get most of the key points.
Also, not many photos until I can get a better internet connection*
Last night was much warmer to start with than any other night we have camped, I didn't even have my sleeping bag zipped up all the way! During the night, though, it got progressively colder, and by morning there was a dew over everything, including the inside ceiling of my swag. Tony and Frog both had wet sleeping bags, and Frog's lambs wool mats that he has on his bike seat and back rest were wet too. It turned into one of the coldest mornings we have had.
Since day one in the Hilux, we have been listening to music from a usb stick plugged into the radio system. This morning it played the last few songs by the last band alphabetically, then went back to the start. Not bad that it lasted a full 16 days playing through.
On the drive to Meekatharra we had mostly good dirt roads with a few sealed sections and a not so good sandy section with some corrugates. Over all, probably about 50km sealed and 150km dirt/gravel/sand.
Frog re-securing his seat cover after it had dried in the wind.
Once we got to Meekatharra we quickly refuelled and ducked over to a coffee trailer so Frog and Tony could get a coffee each. Then it was time to hunt down a sticker to show that the bike has been to Meekatharra, then we shot off down the road towards Newman.
Further down the road we stopped (who knows where, somewhere desert-like) to have some lunch. We finished off the cold bacon, had a biscuit or two, I took some photos, then on the road again.
Next stop was to refuel at Kumarina Roadhouse. Frog got an icecream, which he deserved after battling headwinds for most of the afternoon so far. Kumarina was the backup plan if we thought we weren't going to make it to Newman for the night. With around 160km left to get to Newman we decided we should be able to make it with Frog's remaining driving hours.
The next two hours or so involved pulling off the road for roadtrains (to make it easier for them to pass us), pulling off the road for a quick break, and pulling off the road for two of the widest wide loads I have seen with my own eyes. They were two trucks in succession, each carrying a scoop or bucket, or something clearly meant for the mines around here, possibly to go on the back of the big mine trucks as I also saw some matching large wheels that looked like they'd go on a mine truck. They loads took up the whole road with about a metre to spare.
Those short stoppages, and some roadworks, meant we took a bit longer than we thought and by the time we stopped in Newman, Frog only had 15 minutes of drive time to spare. Not bad for 600+ kilometres of driving though.
The last thing I have to say is a quote from Frog at the pub we visited here in Newman.
"Go work that out, over here in WA, it costs eight dollars for a pint, and eight-fifty for a schooner. Figure that out!" - Gerald 'Frog' Frogley, 17 May, 2017.
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