Lobbed at the Port Lincoln Embassy in Perth - at the hospitable Trudgens place in Morley. Hire vehicle from Europa at  Perth airport a good deal, with pick-up and drop off at either airport. 
Sunday brunch with David, Patricia, Rhys and Britte, they were all in town. 
Then it's off to see Jim and Carol in Dunsborough, actually it's Yallingup. 
 Back again already! Well actually our last visit to Jim and Carol's place at Yallingup - Hidden Valley was March 2012 - where did 2 years go? Then again we have all been tripping around the world. Jim and Carol touring the whiskey trails of Scotland and cruising the rivers of Europe for six weeks in August 2013. 
With our travels in Australia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and recently Burma cruising the Irrawaddy.

Jim's health scare well behind him, now living with all the creaky and painful bit's

Ah! finally got a good photo of Jesse.

Jesse has a real phobia about camera's as seen here.

Jims snake pit wire ready for the tip

Some one didn't use the gate tie back rope spiced to the railing to ___

______ prevent it swing back when moving off with a 
caravan behind up the slope. No names, no shame!!.

Alas some damage to the caravan, but soon taken care of with some planned modification.

Found this bike rack on-line, the best I have seen for my application, no wheels removed and with a keyed locking nut on the clamp bar, just visible going up past the pedal and clamps onto the frame. With the wheels secured with tie downs in the tray, all very secure and stable.

And we are off the Lake Gairdner for the Dry Lake Racing, all system go with confirmation only a week before as heavy rain had fallen on the lake two weeks prior. We were soon to see some of the results of the 4" of rain on the Far West Coast.

The sculptures are in celebration of LOCKS 100 years. Very detailed and well done - Congrat's Lock!

PLN to Stringer Hwy 3hrs 5 minutes, Avg. 76kph 236k’s. (Free camp on Eyre Hwy 25k’s east of Kyancutta turn off, w/dump point)

Free WiFi at Lock in front of the dunny block, checked e-mails and sent off activation renewal for our Sat. TV VAST.

Stringer Hwy in good condition generally, then onto the Lake tack – 50 minutes for 22k’s, very corrugated – total time 6hrs 5 minutes, 396k’s avg. 61.1kph, 18.2LHK, total of 72.1ltr -  $114.

1600hrs set up camp – FLIES!! Awaning &  floor mat for the time being.

Dave station manager dropped by for a chat, any thing we need let him know. Dave's 1st DLRA thus all new to him!

 

Bush track signage - it all works

DLRA officals drove into the camp area in this condition - it's buggered.

Now this is a serious Dry Lake Racer - wait till you see the set up

Slaughter Motor Sports - yep! testing his vehicle before taking on the Yanks to 800 KPH, wheel drive not thrust powered.

Sorry boy's the LAKE is dry - hence the DRY LAKE RACING

Oop's a soft spot on the salt

This is Slaughters (that's his name) work shops / marquee, with camp kitchen and offices. The marquee inflates - very impressive.

2014 DLRA Speedweek
Slaughter Motorsport team sponsored by Extreme Marquees was at Lake Gairdner for the annual 2014 meet. This year Slaughter Motor Sport was attempting the world land speed record!
Extreme Marquees produced the 8m wide, 14m long, 6m tall inflatable Quantum marquee which provided the team with a hanger style workshop. The first evening of the gathering Lake Gairdner was hit with high winds which reached up to 85kmh + speeds. The inflatable marquee  with stood the onslaught and racing continued for the days to come.

Check out  http://slaughtermotorsport.com/    

The TEAM 2014

The weight of the road train prohibited Slaughter Racing setting up at the true pit area. Note the access pads onto the lake.

Yep! all vehicle transiting onto the lake must blow off the dust, all pit areas are to be completely cover with tarpaulins, thus no contamination to the salt lake surface. 

Another serious operation.

Walk up to the lake – sunset, so, so. Robert the surveyor packing his gear – GPS fix on the track – within 5mm overall, all in how accurate the GPS atomic clock.

Our 1st morning at the canteen and we were piped in!

Checking the generator with John.

Taking a spell after a hectic morning, only 6kg bacon and 90 eggs for the breakfast rush.

These guy's are going to view the racing in style, with plenty of ice for the coldies.

John on his crutches - steer rolled on his leg. Dave Mt Ive Station Manager

Sue's flying the flag for Thailand and getting the Breakfast egg and bacon sanga's organized.

Scott Anderson - President of SCTA
The SCTA is an all volunteer organization comprised of eleven individual clubs. Our mission is to provide safe and friendly Land Speed Racing (LSR) events for racing enthusiasts in both Southern California, at the El Mirage Dry Lake, and at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. With two events each year at the Bonneville Salt Flats (Speed Week and World Finals) weather permitting.

Scotts - calling of competitors sure gave the DLRA an International flavor  

Darrel and rolling Peter on the hot plates for the evening burgers.

Happy campers -Happy to be fed!

Slaughters - Beast

Cooling boxes - red lid one for the turbo, bluish lid for the driver, both boxes filled with ice just prior to hitting the start line.

Poser - with a 4x no less

Look a likes - in support of Jim Ellis one of the team who was seriously ill.

 It's all over for another year!! 

“More men have been to the moon than over 400mph on earth”

Pizza night at Mt Ive Station.

Yep! we are off to Far West Coast - fishing

Breakfast stop

Dusty track

Pildappa Rock - just north of Minnipa

Electronic brake controller, surprise no wonder it's not working

O740hrs on the road, cruise thru Nundroo to the Dog Fence, 6k’s down the track washed out, could have repaired for the downhill but another issue coming back and not sure what the rest of the track has to offer. Parked on the hill with a turn around, it would have been an issue to  back up the hill 200mtrs or so.

Clare Bay shacks

Clare (rocky) Bay

Some one kindly marked the gutter with bottles

Into Yalata for breakfast and topped up our rain water, then off to Clare Bay – 15k’s to the bay / cliffs with 4 houses on site.  To late to ride my bike to Eyre Bluff. Back down the Hwy 30k’s then 20k’s of dirt to Scott Beach arrived 1530hrs – 295k’s.

Some treasures founds enroute

Mexican Hat beach - all to ourselves - beauty!!

Surf fishing is a bit slow! The only thing landed is the 'WEED'.

We later heard that Dog Fence Beach was also weeded up, now we don't feel so bad about not trying to push it to get in there.

Horse flies out in force, with the Bull Ant's have a feast

Low tide Sun rise

Back in Burma with the Tanaka face stuff

Morning walk to get out what happening, I could see Stavros trekking off over the sand hills to get that early morning money photograph

Best part of the day 

Stavros Pippos - large format photographer getting a sand hill photograph, Black and white for his next books.

Stavros is also travels and camps in his Troopy when on photographic expeditions. We exchange notes and ideas. Some good features with our Troopy and the cargo barrier with shelving to use the vertical height.

We had Stavros over for several cups of tea, interesting discussions and the photography is impressive - check out http://www.stavrospippos.com/

I got fancy with my compact on the dramatic setting

Stavos smaller format camera - lighter to hump over the sand hills

Okay that's enough - DRAMATICS with the camera setting

Yet another ball for the collection

As long as the ant's leave us alone

More treasures - the rubbish ever where 700+ cans

Dead meat - got him before he got me!!

Next stop - Smoky Bay to visit the Lawrie's - Ben and his little helper 

On the job! Well done! Camped over night at the Oyster shed. Thanks folks for the BBQ tea coldies. Gary and Susan now back in Smoky Bay. Next camp Venus Bay over night, then onto Wangary. It's official the Colton Hot Bread shop is closed - business up for sale - Bugger!!.  

Camped up at Chris Lettons place in Wangary. 

Squid off the Dutton Bay jetty – plenty of squid but pin shy. 8 folks squiding one fellow landed 3 and 1other.  Barmy evening until 12mn then the wind started.

Baking day - Yum!

His persistence paid off - KGW frames.

Magic floating jetty, we got caught coming back into a stiff Sou-Westerly, all calm behind the break water and no wet feet.

Evening squidding on the Dutton Bay jetty, Sue landed one

Off fishing - well - Crank the engine battery at 12v, down to 8.6v on starting = BUGGERED battery!!

Called it quits at Wangary – let’s get the tinnie in and the batteries sorted out.

Load test – cranking batt. Weak, and Aux = dead. Lincoln Auto Electrics – Blake tested the batteries same result, 2 new batteries – Super Charge, an All Rounder with 760cca 105AH and Cranking 830cca - $450 DONE!

Weather up and down, time to head to LNP and RSS

520mm Flathead - out going tide on the flats in front of camp, flicking with a Black and Silver weighted fly

 

Need to make some more of these, and will add a photo

Thanks Ben for the Oysters - Yum!

Fishing and weather report

Flying the flags

Yep! big enough for two

Earlier in the afternoon some dramatic clouds

later the sun set

Our camp

and the sun set still kept lighting up

waders for the cold water - tinnie placed on its moorings at high tide 

Getting crowded 6 sailors and our tinnie

Another evening glow

Chook and Hannah in his new boat - Haines Hunter 5.85

Pulled in for a chat

Living in the great out doors is magic

on the water 

local visitor

Can it get any better?

Salt bowl

Camp before the storm hits

monster 450mm KGW and a skinny legal

Crabbing - but rather trying to get the boat in position and the net over them. The crab pots are a waste of time, within 20 minutes or so the baits been devoured and crabs gone. 

See what I mean our crab catch - rock crab and weedy whiting, and wired in bait gone - 20 minutes

Now that looks delicious - bread and butter pudding

Sue's latest project and cable knit beanie for her daughter and their up and coming Japan trip.

Now this is how you net crab - waders on, low tide in the weeds and scoop them in. 11 Blue swimmers and 4 sand crabs all male and legal. Boy did we have a feast over three days.

Trees on the fence line of our block

closer view of our block

BUGGER! - trying to locate water pipes - this is the rain water pipe into neighbours water tank - PVC like egg shell. The flat hose and tie wraps fixed the problem until we get our tank installed

Port Lincoln from Winters Hill - waiting for the lunar eclipse

There she is - well into the sky before it was visible

Nat and brother Neil enjoying a small 'RED' whilst 
watching the eclipse

Sue's eclipse vantage point out of the freezing wind, got a glow up there!

Thanks Carol for my hat - it's a beauty!

Chook took me out in his new boat fishing - 10 hour cruise down the passage to land a feed of KGW - yes, we did bag out = 24

Shed workshop bench starting to get organised. Fan on the Engel car fridge US.

Ah! our chilli bushes from Chris and Faye being lovingly cared for by Chook and Teresa.

Fire ban season over - time to get rid of some rubbish around the yard and carpet from our shed being heaved on by Chook

New front tow hitch to move stuff around = MAGIC thanks Bill.

Sue's now knitting 'SOCKS'. Sally is the proud owner of this pair with more orders for every one else. Lindens in Eagles colours.

No prize for guessing where we are with free WiFi

It's was wet in Adelaide

Hire car and off to Geraldton to visit Linden, Sally and the boys. Plus catch-up with Ashley and Ali out of the gold fields for a few days and a chance to stock up. This is Davids holiday shack up the coast. Just been refurbished.

Ocean glimpses, 5 hour drive to Deepdale, Ashley and Ali had arrived on Thursday from the gold fields

Farmer Linden - yep! once a Chooky always a Chooky!!

The ranch - 'UTUNYAH' is the name of our Grand Fathers farm in Verran South Australia - meaning 'rock water'. As you will see when it rains

Another egg collector

Cooked breakfast - thanks Casey

Casey still cooking for the troops, Matthew supervising

BJ's got a man size plate full there, then we are off to the vintage show

Well restored and all in working order

Yep! we had one of these, with fingers being squashed in the wringer

"ROCK WATER" Ashley and Ali hooked up and off to the gold fields

Me, Linden, Ashley, Ali, Sally and Suthanya (Sue)

Local after the rain

You guessed it - Roast Pork with teeth breaking crackle

followed by white chocolate cheese cake for Sue’s Birthday

On our next visit these veggie planter tanks will be over flowing with produce - let's see 2016 perhaps


Great drive back to Perth and stocked up on our food items for Thailand. No sooner turn around and we are having a pee - Opp's! a Happy Moment in Thailand = TIT - This is Thailand.

Visiting for a few weeks with Sue and kids off to Japan to visit Chico and the paper museum etc