It was supposed to be a simple and easy drive from Coolgardie to Hyden via the gravel road from Southern Cross. Instead halfway from Coolgardie a piece of rock hits our windscreen creating three cracks (spider webs) on it and it’s growing longer. Jamaliah was very concerned and we decided to not take the gravel road. So we drove on to Southern Cross hoping to find a shop who can fix it like we do in Europe.  Unfortunately there are no windshield repair shops in this town. After checking with Stuart, the owner, and being reassured that it will hold (fingers crossed) till we are back in Perth next week, we took the sealed road from Merredin. Long detour but we arrived safely here in the campsite. Took us 440km instead of 310 km. Just before Merredin we did stop to take a photo of the longest rabbit proof fence in the world built to stop the rabbits entering Western Australia (see photo).

The large granite outcrop (Wave rock) next to the camp site is eroded in the form of a wave. In the surrounding country there are several of these rocks sticking up out of the wheat fields. We walked along the standing wave of “Wave Rock” and climbed to the top and followed the trail till the end where there is a “hippo yawn” rock. In the drizzling rain you could smell the sandalwood. It was as if you were in a Hindu temple. Most of the sandalwood trees were harvested years ago. Some are growing back. After waiting out some light rains,  we went for a second walk over the salt flat with many dead bushes to a salty pool which is in the process of being upgraded to a resort pool with shower cabin. The water has such a high salt content that you float easily. The water is not as viscous as the Dead Sea though. Rudy went in to demonstrate floating. Swimming on your stomach is difficult. Backstroke is ok. On the way back a kangaroo with a joey made a nice photo.

We have not explored the middle of WA. To do that we drove south. First via Lake Grace to Pingrup where we saw a lovely painted set of 3 grain silos. We found out that there are 6 of these painted silos. Pity we found this out too late. We saw the one in Ravensthorpe but missed the silos in Albany and Merredin. The whole area we drove through yesterday and today produces grain. Large yellow fields covered with wheat. Most have been harvested and many storage buildings and silos are full. Road trains drive over the narrow straight roads distributing the grain. In Katanning there should also be a painted silo but there are only some murals. It used to be the center of the grain province with a train line connection to Perth and Albany. It has several 1940’s hotels and also grain mills.

It is hot today so we drove a lot and walked less. Only in the morning a quick walk to the Mulka cave to look for some ancient hand prints on the cave wall and a short walk in Hyden town to see art sculptures and late this afternoon here in Katanning to see the murals and historical buildings.