The Nulabour

December 28, 2009 Well we are just about completely across the Nulabore. We are only 100 km from Newport and the end of the strait, boring, flat drive across the Nulabore plain. It is over 2700km from Adelaide to Perth, over 1500 of that is flat empty plain/scrub/light bush. In fact today I drove the longest flat, strait section of highway in Australia, 150km without a corner, as we were only doing 80-90km/h in order to save on fuel (fuel price across the plain is 1.65/liter, saving on fuel costs is a big thing) it took almost 2 hours. On a side note the steering is in very good alignment. Many people say this is the most boring thing in the world, but I like it. It can be boring, but the nothingness can be rather comfortable. I loved the part where we stood on a slight rise and saw nothing for miles, no trees, rocks, animals, anything. just you and 2 complaining passengers. It was humbling seeing nothing but horizon, reminded me of Saskatchewan. I saw some wonderful stars that night, clear skies, no bugs, no clouds, just me and a brightly coloured sky. I won't pretend that the drive was a breeze, it was long, incredibly long. But I will admit that as we drove across the plain, I turned off the music coming from the I-pod (to much dismay from my passengers), put my arm on the window sill, and listened to pur of the engine as the hot wind blew past my hair. I drove like that for over 2 hours before my passengers called an end to our drive that night. Apparently they need music in their lives, how music would ruin a moment like that, they couldn't understand what there was that appealed to me about listening to the wind or the workings of the car. I do it all the time at home, that is one thing that bugs me about Chris, he always has to have his music on in the car, I would rather listen to the radio, especially since we are in a different land where the culture is different. I didn't just come here to see the land, I came to meet the people, to get a better understanding of the culture. And what better way than to listen to local radio. The music on the I-pod never changes, the people in the towns we drive through do. Anyway, nulabore plains, long, and yet...I like it. By the way the second passenger I mentioned is a guy by the name of Ki, German of course, who is catching a ride with us across the plain to Perth.