Flies – Trek's Walkabout

Star Date 21/4/26

Nice easy run to Kalgoorlie from Norseman. After stocking up on a few wares we settled in to the Kalgoorlie self contained RV park. You can stay here for 72hrs, camping is on gravel which was very handy when it rained. Bins, and toilets can be found at the near by park. On site is a dump point and drinking water. It’s a popular spot.

Star Date 22/4/26

We went exploring, visiting the Hannans North Tourist Mine first. One of the first registered mines in Kalgoorlie. With over 30 exhibits in Kalgoorlie’s largest open-air museum. Entry cost $20A or $17 concession, it is self-guided tour, with historical buildings from the 1920’s, plenty of gold mining equipment, you can go gold panning, and climb the modern day equipment aboard a 793C haul truck and 994 wheel loader.

Even though it is outside dogs are not allowed. Which personally I thought was disappointing and saw no reason why dogs could not go, if people were responsibility. The word being responsible.

We spent over 1 1/2hrs there and you could have spent more. On the eve of the 1st anniversary of Chris passing, I kept thinking how much he would have loved this place. He would have been right into it climbing and exploring all the machinery, reading all the history, he loved things like this.

There were automated stories, which were interesting.

Lots of old relics.

Old buildings and mining huts.

In the 1800’s the game of Two-up was born. Toss the coins games dated back to Roman times but the custom of launching two pennies from a wood bat seems to be Australian introduced. 1890 with the gold rush in Kalgoorlie it became the hub for all fans of two-up.

In 1983 two-up was legalised in Kalgoorlie. Only to be played in the two-up shed, all other establishments would face a $1000 fine. To this day it is still legal to play two-up in Kalgoorlie and remains only 2 places within Australia that can regularly host two-up games, Broken Hill being the other. The game is played every Sunday at the two-up ring in Kalgoorlie a 10min drive out of town.

So many things to see and touch, a highly recommended visit.

After having some lunch we went for a walk up the main street of Kalgoorlie. A lot of very old buildings, many old pubs, they certainly don’t build pubs like that any more with so much character. Unfortunately a lot of the buildings were also is disrepair and a lot of empty shops.

It’s a typical old mining town, people were friendly and helpful.

We also had a shower at Market Arcade a manned refreshment area. For $5 you got a shower, which included a towel and a bar of soap. The facility is cleaned after every use.

Another interesting place is Questa Casa the oldest brothel in Australia. Questa Casa is still operating but primarily as a historical tourist attraction rather than a functioning brothel. On their website is states. “Alas, at present there are no ladies offering their services from our premises.” Apparently the place is for sale or lease as the madams wishes to retire.

Live Long and Prosper 🖖🏿

Star date 16/4/26

Wow there are sure a lot of flies out here. If you were a Ferengi, from Deep Space Nine you might think they would make a great addition to a meal. I’d rather not, not keen on eating them, having them between my sunglasses and eyes, up my nose, buzzing my ears or swallowing one. Poor Jess isn’t impressed either, she has her own fly net.

Wearing a fly net constantly gets a bit thin, eating meals or drinking a cup of tea can be challenging. Many years ago Chris forgot he was wearing his fly net and drunk a cup of tea through the net, he also nearly blew his nose through it. Judy has followed his example many times, with the cup of tea that is 😂.

Over the next few days we continue to head west along the Nullarbor, not as much to see this side of the border. We stopped for the night at the Madura Pass. The Madura Pass lookout offers views of the Hampton Tablelands dropping down to the coastal Roe Plain.

The view

Drove along the Nighty Mile Straight (146.6km’s) Australia’s longest straight road.

Stayed a night at Baxter Rest Area which was an awesome large area, well off the road. Bins, dump point, table and chairs. So many little bays to camp in leading off the main entry road. But OMG the flies, they were still around when it got dark and first thing in the morning back again with a vengeance. If we were Ferengi we would have had enough flies to last us several days of meals. But since we are not Ferengi we could not wait to get out of there.

Just one of the unusual things you can see out here.

We called into the Balladonia Roadhouse, famous the US Skylab space research laboratory which burned up on re-entry on the 12th of July 1979 scattering fragments in the Balladonia area. Balladonia was rocketed to international fame for the point of impact of Skylab.

The day after Skylab returned to earth, Balladonia Roadhouse had a call from the American President, Jimmy Carter apologising for crashing the satellite in the Australian outback and offered the U.S Government assistance for any damage.

We stayed a night at Newman Rocks, a free camp area off the main hwy 142km’s east of Norseman. It is a large area with a bins and tables. Right at the back is an area of rocks, with a lagoon and impressive views. Again more flies and horse flies wow they would make a great finger food for the Ferengi, and the smallest mossies I’ve ever come across. Not much of a feed in them, sorry Ferengi.

Live long and Prosper 🖖🏿