Way out West 2025. 4th of August.  Day eighteen.

Rawlinna Campground.

Well it did rain a little more last night and a fair wind. The van rocked a little bit. A couple of trains hurtled past.

We were in bed early as the wind and rain sent us packing from the fire.

I published a blog and was too tired to finish another. Up at 12:00 for a loo run and another train came past. It’s amazing just how many trains come through on this line.

Today was a slow start as we needed to wait for a visit from
Nicole, the woman who is one of about four who live here. Nicole said she would come over to provide a road update. While we waited it was bacon and egg wraps for us for breakfast – very nice indeed.
Phil started work on making a replacement hinge for the camper steps. He and Stef headed over to the railway line to use some of the old line as an anvil to belt a piece of metal he had picked up at the Premier Downs ruins yesterday into shape for the job.

It was quite the morning’s job. It required the angle grinder, Steve’s drill, another trip to the “Rawlinna Hardware Store” – the three wrecks and the offcut railway bits and pieces over the tracks.

It took all the blokes watching and helping to finally fix the job.

Then Nicole visited to tell us that we could drive the roads to Cocklebiddy – a bit rocky and about 6 hours. We decided half way into the morning that we would be best served with another day here. So we did.
Phil finished his job, Steve, Ann, Brian and I all got some washing done and dried in the wind.

The fellas collected some offcut wood for the fire. Beautiful red – maybe Jarrah or red gum sleepers.

Stef had another attempt to rectify his compressor and the lift of his vehicle.

We walked over to the airstrip and found the site of the Rodeo/Outback Muster and took quite a few pictures of flowers. The plants out here survive in tough conditions and it’s always amazing to see the tiny flowers on very hardy and often harsh looking plants.

Then back to camp, the fire was set to go and some nibblies. I folded up the washing and Mary prepped Nachos in the camp oven – they were delicious.

There were a couple more trains and we all walked over to wave and get a toot. A few satellites spotted.

Then time for tea and sitting around the fire. The wind is chilly and much less wild than last night, but the cold is dropping out of the clear skies.
Dishes done and put away.