Perth-Adelaide on the Indian Pacific

Boarding the Indian Pacific train at midday Friday from Perth, we set off to cross the Nullarbor (no trees) Plain, some 2,700km away. Trees, bursh and the undulating hills of the Darling Range quite quickly gave way to flatter more barren landscapes. We stopped frequently to let freight trains pass (higher priority) and pick up or drop off mail to remote locations. We arrived at the gold town of Kalgoorlie last at night and went on a guided tour in the dark to see the Super Pit gold mine, a montrous 600m deep open mine running 24x7, where 400 ton trucks with tyres the size of people looked like toys at the bottom, as did the 60 ton bucket of the diggers, which we were able to see in the flesh! It was 1:30am before we got back, after a 1 hr time zone loss, before I had to get up for breakfast at 6am. Jean passed on that!

The brush gave way to little to no vegetation in the early hours as we embarked on the longest straight piece of railway track (478km) in the world across the Nullarbor. We made full, use of our double-size cabin with its own sitting area and 2 windows when not watching the scenery roll by. The food was good, although it did seem to come at us quite quickly with the more time losses as we ate further into the 2.5 hour difference from WA to SA.

We stopped at the ghost town of Cook - population 5 people, 1 cat, 2 dogs, 14 chickens, 1 rooster, 4 dingoes and 3 million flies, for a 3rd driver change. Two 'historic gaol cells' were on display, which I wouldn't have fancied occupying in that heat! The Plain had continued and continued until shortly after Cook when the long straight was finished and the landscape started to undulate a little.

Early morning on the 3rd day, Tuesday, brought us into Adelaide to be met by Ralph & 'Toria at the station, whom I had last seen in 2004. In all, it was a really great experience where time seemed to pass easily, there was nothing, but lots, to see at times, and we were both very glad we had done it. Very recommended, especially with the big cabin!