Day 8 Peak Charles to Home

Saturday, 20th September 2014

We climb out of the tent about 6am, have breaky, repack the boot a different way and pack up camp and we’re on the road by 7.40am – that’s our quickest pack up all trip 🙂

We’ve climbed Peak Charles a couple of times previously so decide not to today.

We’re going to Hyden past the Maggie Hayes Hill/Mine, we’ll then link up with the new Hyden – Norseman road ( approx 277 km). We pass Lake Hope on the way out. This section was uneventful but provided a lovely wildflower display along the way. The radio tells us it’s raining in Perth and we’re happy we’re enjoying lovely weather.

As we get closer to Hyden the wind starts picking up, the temperature is 34 so we put the air con on for the first time this trip. The bushes at the side of the road were bending at almost 90 degrees when the wind was at it’s strongest. A radio weather report said something about winds up to 110kph out here, they certainly are strong.

We see a sand goanna on the way to Hyden sunning himself so we stopped to get some photos, he obliges before heading off into the scrub. Although they can move fast, please slow down for them and all wildlife you see on your travels.

We cover this stretch quicker than we anticipate and arrive in Hyden around 2pm, top up the tank and head towards home although we consider turning around and just keep on driving into the sunset. About 50kms out of Hyden the temperature dropped to 20 degrees, the sky is turning gray and the wind is still blowing, off goes the air con. Another 30 odd kms down the road and it starts raining. Pink and grays, wood doves, red tailed cockies and 28’s flock for a drink at the little puddles on the road. Another 15 mins and the temperature has dropped to 12 degrees – time for a cuppa to warm up. It’s raining cats and dogs all the way home.

We’re home! it’s 6.15pm. Now…….
should we unpack or turn around and head off again 🙂

Trip Highs 🙂 enjoying good company, the peace and quiet, nature and the experience. The car went well, we’re happy with it’s perfromance and fuel economy
Trip Lows 🙁 litter, litter and more litter and the absence of the friendly wave from car to car when you’re travelling. It seems a thing of the past. Although we do it, very few reply.

Trip info – Peak Charles to Hyden
Distance Travelled 298kms
Average Speed 47kph
Total Travel Time 6hr 16mins
Fuel Economy 8.4 kpl ( Norseman to Hyden)
Fuel Economy 9.5 kpl ( Hyden to Home )
Avge Fuel Economy 9.4 kpl ( Round trip )

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