Gibson Soak 28 January 2007

Our journey is 400ks from Kalgoorlie to Esperance. The road seems to be pretty well straight and flat but surprisingly well vegetated with trees and shrubs, saltbush and salt lakes. Main stop is Norseman, a non-descript village that is the gateway to the Nullarbor – the only exciting gossip in town was a letter in the local paper complaining about high prices and limited stock in the only supermarket (IGAs are in most small towns) saying any specials advertised are always out of stock! The town charges you $3 to use their dump point and asks for a donation to use the toilet!
Drove through a number small villages that became dots on a road to somewhere else. Enjoyed lunch in the shade of some big trees outside the school at isolate small village called Salmon Gums. The school kids had made up lots of straw kids to decorate the front of the school yard, one on a bike in the middle of a tree with a bucket on his head, and they had a fake speed camera made up near the school on the highway. It had a lively, happy feel to the place.Camped overnight in the park next to a very old pub at Gibson Soak and shared a drink and fish and chips with the locals. The local farmer said his wheat did very well this year. Reports vary from farmer to farmer though!