Perth to Esperance - Day 2

Today saw us make an early start from Perth for the long trip to Esperance. The early start was essential as we had 750 kilometres to drive. As it turned out it was really easy. We arrived at the Avis office as they drew back the bolts, in return they hired us the “beast from the East”, a gigantic Mitsubishi SUV. Fortunately our first tentative forays were easy as there was little traffic around, it being a public holiday. We followed the sat-nav out through the Perth suburbs and were soon on main roads in the country. Well for the whole of the day we saw less than ten cars travelling in our direction. For most of the time the car was on cruise control. The countryside was given over to wheat production, and as we drove nearer the coast, large scale cattle farming.

There was almost no habitation in fact all day we probably passed through three villages in total. On average it was 100 kilometres between petrol stations. Added to that apart from the petrol stations almost everywhere else was shut for Labour Day. However for a lunch stop we were really lucky. We turned off to the small village of Corrigin, population 1700, on a good day. There we found the Corrigan Hotel, as Marion said the bar looked like a prop for A Town Like Alice. It was everything you imagine an Australian country pub would be. There was great hospitality and a really good snack lunch. There are no photos unfortunately today as the Internet connection is not good enough. Hopefully I will catch up later in the week.

We eventually arrived in Esperance around 17:30, before dark. This was important as everybody we have spoken to warned of the likelihood of hitting kangaroos after dark. This maybe apocryphal but suffice it to say that the first kangaroo that we have seen in Australia was a dead one by the side of the road!!! Our b & b is beautifully situated overlooking a lovely bay that frames some offshore islands.

We shared our pub venue tonight with a lot of fire fighters. Part of the national park near here is closed because of bush fires, however despite being warned about it three hundred kilometres away it seems that it will not affect our visit. Plenty to see tomorrow including hopefully kangaroos on the beach.