The day started off clear and bitterly cold which made for a slow start and chilled fingers as everything was re packed and loaded up.
Dawn breaks at bush camp
Hit the road just before 8 am and started off with a building north easterly that pushed me on for the short 71 Kms to nullarbor. The breeze strengthened until I had a 30 km hour wind over my right shoulder – almost a tail breeze and the last 30 Kms was total joy.
Wonder if anyone can give this lizard type of animal a name – not a state icon I hope. Either got a big head and a small arse or vice versa.
Lots of Whale to be seen on the coast from here – saw about 15 just from one spot looking down from the cliff top
Met a couple of real adventurers who have been flying around Australia in a small airplane – Thomas and Nicole . They are on the run home now finishing in Melbourne tomorrow.They managed to borrow the managers car from the roadhouse here at Nullarbor and I was very lucky to be able to get a lift with them to see the Whales. From the cliff tops we saw something like 16 or so whales lazily cruising the coast – seeming all to be heading east and usually in mother and calf pairs.
Enjoyed a lovely evening with Thomas and Nicole over dinner and early next morning checked out the fancy plane – 320 hp and think cruises at about 180 knots. Saw then off at about 9 am – taking off into strong winds – Adelaide bound for fuel then Melbourne and back to work after a great months round Aussy odessy.
whatisbruceupto 
It was lovely to meet you today at Nullarbor, and I’m glad you got to see the whales – they are pretty impressive aren’t they?! I wish I’d known you were a bee keeper too, although I’d have bored you rigid with questions about back garden hive keeping! The critter you saw was a Stumpy Tailed Lizard – Tiliqua rugosa – there are four subspecies, and three only found in WA. They are fairly slow moving, and have a blue tongue.
Good luck with the rest of the trip – I hope you have many more days with a tailwind! 🙂
Ah – thank you very much Fran – a suitable name for sure. Was lovely to meet you too. All the best now,
Bruce
Yep, we just call them “bluetongues” here in the West. You will see plenty as roadkill–some deliberate I would guess. They are harmless and protected by most. Great news about the wind. SoundsFabulous! Remember the feeling if it gets lost :). Been wet here lately, but we have a week or so of reasonable weather ined up now. Good riding!—-Denis
Thanks Denis – it was a road kill so no blue tongue hanging out