Anyway, we got on the road eventually and made it to Hay for night one in the new Palace. And what a palace. More than enough room to swing a cat in. We drove into Hay after dark and that was the best time to witness the fact that the mouse plague afflicting the outback is still very much in full force. The road was teeming with mice and I could feel them being squashed by the dozen through the steering wheel. All the mice on the road gave us another obstacle to watch out for – owls swooping in from all angles to feast on the mice. Some owls seemed to prefer their mice fresh and to enjoy a good chase, whilst others preferred Mouse Crepe al la Sturt Highway.
Back in Adelaide, we stayed at a magnificent van park right on the beach at West Beach, between Glenelg and Henley Beach. We ended up staying there for 4 nights before heading off to the Flinders. I’ve learnt a few things on this crossing to Adelaide. Jen and I are the youngest to hit the professional Nomad circuit, probably by at least 20 years, so we’re more than ready to take out the championship. We know the etiquette now for the circuit: it’s important to compete with your neighbours in van parks over who’s stayed in or walked through the most picturesque places; a polite wave to caravans passing in the opposite direction is required; and the final rule, which not being quite old enough yet to have to implement and therefore we have special dispensation to ignore for now, wander around caravan parks and ask the younger more lively and attractive campers (such as Jenny and myself) if you can look inside at their set up.