Travelled further north and into the Tropic of Capricorn today, so not only are we in the northern part of Australia, we’re also in the tropics as well. We are now noticing Cyclone warning boards everywhere, very similar to our bushfire warning boards back home in the Dandenong’s. Thankfully they are reading “all clear” at the moment.

Yesterday we did a free camp at New Beach, 30 odd km’s south of Carnarvon. Very quiet little spot, not many people but we did have some excitement. Driving into the camp sites, I took a sandy stretch of road not far from the beach and got the Cruiser and Caravan bogged. I thought I was in heaps of trouble but after letting all the tyres on the Cruiser and Van down to 18 psi, the Cruiser just powered its way out of it. After all the preparation for this trip, particularly on “RAYNSU”, its great to know we have a vehicle fit for the job. Whilst it was disconcerting at the beginning, it proved to be a rewarding exercise as now we know the recovery capabilities of RAYNSU, particularly in the sand!

After a quiet night at New Beach, we travelled to Carnarvon, did a little shopping and a quick look around town, before heading off to the Space Museum. I can now say the I have been to all the tracking stations that were utilised in the Apollo space flights here in Australia. It was very interesting to know that Buzz Aldrin visited Carnarvon to open Phase 1 of the Museum back in 2012. Also Gene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon and Commander of Apollo 17, visited Carnarvon to open Phase 3 of the museum back in 2016, just a few years before his death in 2018. Also worthy of note is the number of the original Mercury and subsequent Gemini and Apollo astronauts who came to Carnarvon to assist in “CapCom” (Capsule Communications) with the various missions. The place has seen many famous and influential people from NASA over the years, since its opening back in 1964.

After our museum trip it was back in the Cruiser for our long drive to Coral Bay. It’s amazing just how desolate our country is in places. Today most of the countryside was flat as a tack but stretched as far as you could see. Looking forward to a few days in Coral Bay and getting out on the Ningaloo Reef, for some snorkeling and swimming. Sorry to all those back home freezing on the winter solstice but it was a very pleasant 30 degrees and it promises to be mid 20’s for the rest of our time here. Getting even warmer as we head further north, glad we’re not here in mid summer, it must be unbearable at times, especially when the humidity comes with the heat.