On to Meekatharra

  Meekatharra, Australia
Monday, July 28, 2008

 
Start:  Mt Gibson R/A, (Bush Stop 1), 0830hrs/173734km
End:  Meekatharra, Caravan Park (C/P), 1630hrs/174150km>>Total 416km
 
Got going at a leisurely 0830hrs northbound on the GNH thru rain all day--sometimes heavy.  Passing thru Paynes Find, Cue and Mt. Magnet along the way I arrived in Meekatharra about 1630hrs and the visitor information centre was still open.  They informed me that the road to Mt. Augustus was still open but with the rain coming there was no predicting the morning conditions.  Trevor Wainstein, a traveling sales man also at the info centre, took the shire lot and me to dinner at the Commercial Hotel where we chatted with the locals hiding from the rain.  The rain had quite by the time dinner was over so the walk back to Hurvey in the C/P was pleasant.  With more rain on the way I left the top down overnite to keep the canvas dry.

Departed the Mt Gibson rest area at a leisurely 0830 north bound for Mt. Magnet via the GNH.  Still running thru the rain all day--sometimes quite heavy.  Got fuel and a half a chicken at the Swagman's Roadhouse.  Hardware store was well stocked and I bought a decent window sponge/squeegee and a spray can of water repellent for the canvas (this can later proved to be defective since it would not spray).  I was trying to get my entry permit for Cape Leveque sorted out but the visitor center could not help.  After a bit of frustration with the situation and the Telecenter being closed from 1300 to 1400 I opted to continue northward.  Enroute my calculations indicated that the Cue Telcenter would more likely be open on my arrival than the one at Mt. Magnet when I would get there.  Arriving in Cue with the intention of contacting the DIA the Telecenter was posted to be only open until 1400 and it was now 1415.  My experience with the outdoor phones in the rain was frustrating with no problem taking money but not able to connect to DIA or Pat's office or our home number.  Finally I continued on to Meekatharra, arriving at 1630 and found their visitor center was open until 1700.  The official information from Nicia (sp?) was that the road to Mt Augustus was still open that evening but with the rain coming (continuing to follow me northward) it was possible that it could be closed overnite.  As it turned out there was a salesman, one Trevor Wainstein, finishing up a sale with the shire office manager who over heard my questions and became interested and was very helpful.  Ultimately Trevor invited the office manager, Nicia, and myself to a 1900 dinner with him at the Commercial Hotel.  The caravan park had space for Hurvey so after getting parked and the bed made up I wandered down the street into the dark to the farthest pub under light rain.  This pub was an unremarkable establishment and lightly attended with the typical sports TV at the street end of the room and an unused pool table and fireplace at the other end.  Dinner at the second pub was considerably more interesting although getting there thru the now serious rainfall was a challenge.  After a couple beers with Trevor, the shire info people and the locals we sat down in a large dining area complete with electric lites and red table cloths for an ample rump steak which was well done although ordered medium rare.  The fellowship was good and covered many topics with occasional interpretations of Aussie terms by Trevor for my benefit.  Fortunately the rain had all but quit when we left and the walk back to Hurvey was uneventful.  More rain on the way so the top was still down for sake of keeping the canvas dry.