Day 16 Nullarbor to Nundroo 145 kms

Nullarbor to Nundroo 145 kms It was freezing again this morning, although I was lovely and warm in my dolphin blanket (Collis was trying to pinch it as he was a little cold). We had to get up in the dark as the younger group wanted to leave early to go view the whales at the Bight. We were up at 6.30 and it was still dark (up till now it is usually light, or first light, by this time). It was hard to get moving due to the cold and the walk to the toilet was nearly a mile long so you were frozen by the time you got there. Those staying in the motel rooms stayed warm until time to get out on the road.
Still driving along the Nullarbor Plain this morning and quite spectacular sunrise over the treeless plain. Then all of a sudden it had finished and we were once again surrounded by trees. Lovely gum trees which were reminiscent of the salmon gums but much, much paler. They were smooth bark, shining in the sun with a very pale pinky colour. Morning tea was just at the 52 km mark on the side of the road. Morning tea supplies are getting very low and there is no real spot to purchase any more until we get to Ceduna. I have suggested to Collis that he shout everyone a coffee and cake at Penong tomorrow morning.
The younger group didn't make it to morning tea but we did wait around until 11 o'clock. Mark had said they would be OK for morning tea but they hope to make it to lunch. We came across a very wide load with a pilot car miles ahead of the truck, with a female driver who was stopping all the riders and telling them to get off the road. She was way too far ahead of the truck as the riders couldn't even see it when she was passing them. Anyway there were at least 6 wide loads that went through this afternoon and we are pretty sure most of the riders got off for each of them although we did spot one who said he did but not from what we observed so we reinforced that he must get off his bike.
We waited a bit longer at lunch after cutting the distance down so the young ones could catch us and get some water and grab something to eat. We stopped at Yalata Roadhouse which has closed since we were last there. Last time we stopped here Fiona and I went to use the toilets and the walls were covered in blow flies (thousands of them). Pretty sure this was an indication that things weren't good there. The younger group saw lots of whales feeding their young and apparently have lots of photos to prove it.
The facilities at Nundroo are pretty limited with long grass to camp on, no camp kitchen and only 2 showers and toilets (unisex) for the whole camp ground. We thought we would end up with the whole camp ground to ourselves as we couldn't imagine grey nomads (who have the ability to drive on to better services) or anyone else being desperate enough to stop here. Anyway we spread ourselves out with most riders upgrading to motel rooms when at 3.30 the first caravaners arrived and there was quite a long queue out the front. Of course Collis and I were parked in their spot so we moved next door and then we had to move from there. You can imagine how happy I was by this time especially after our clothesline full of clean clothes broke and landed smack bang in the dirt. I'm not washing it all again. In this wind it should dry quickly and then the dirt should brush off. I am missing civilization especially on days like today. I'm not saying I want to get home but just have some luxuries again, I'm starting to feel a bit like a second class citizen.
Dinner was at the roadhouse for all of us and they only had 3 meals on the menu- beef schnitzel, beef pasta or chicken curry. None were to write home about and the last 2 were so small that the riders had to order more chips/wedges. Freezing night so off to bed early.