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  #1  
Old 21-04-2024, 01:18 PM
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Peter Ward
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Bend in the road.

Driving across Australia for the 2023 Total Solar eclipse we stopped at
the Eucla roadhouse, which I have a family connection to.

There is a curious kink in the Eyre highway a few Km east of Eucla, but
not many know why it is there.

Show and tell here. Hope you enjoy it.
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  #2  
Old 21-04-2024, 01:30 PM
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That is very impressive Peter and it seems that at least one or maybe even both dirt tracks to the left of the main drag at nearly exactly the same location also have a similar curve.

Thanks for sharing that.

Leon
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Old 21-04-2024, 01:33 PM
Startrek (Martin)
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Peter,
Fascinating piece of history , I guess the meteor crater has helped many tired drivers stay awake ( at least for a moment ) whilst travelling endless kilometres on the Nullarbor crossing.
As a matter of fact our second eldest son and his South African fiancée crossed the Nullarbor only a week or so ago on their 8 month trek around the whole continent.
Next time we contact by video , I’ll have to remember ask him whether he noticed a tiny deviation in the road along the Nullarbor

Thanks for posting

Martin
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Old 21-04-2024, 01:34 PM
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astroron (Ron)
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Very interesting story Peter, next time I am in WA(Perth)
I will make an effort to visit the Museum and view it.
I did notice the bend when om my last road trip across
to Perth in 2011.
Cheers for the post
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  #5  
Old 21-04-2024, 01:43 PM
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Peter Ward
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Glad you enjoyed the tale gents!

I inherited the meteorite many years ago.

It sits pride of place in my space curio collection.
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Old 21-04-2024, 01:59 PM
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Crater101 (Warren)
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I never even knew this existed. A drive across the Nullarbor has always been on the bucket list - here's one more incentive to make the trip.

Cheers!
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  #7  
Old 21-04-2024, 02:02 PM
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muletopia (Chris)
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interest

Martin, the "endless kilomrtres" are endlessly interesting.
As someone who has crossed many times the scenery is never the same. The interaction of the geology, humidity and flora distribution leads to this variation and deserves close attention.
Chris
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Old 21-04-2024, 02:26 PM
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Have to agree Chris, we too have crossed it many times, and once it took us a week to cross, there are so much interesting stuff to see and do, we loved it, and then there are some that say it is so boring.

I actually love the stretch of the 149 kilometers of the longest straight road in Australia.

Leon
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  #9  
Old 21-04-2024, 03:16 PM
Leo.G (Leo)
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Interesting information!

Why wouldn't they reduce the radius of the bends either end and still run a straight section of road?
I bet that's just what they tell people to throw them off the truth about their fear of kangaroos?
Haha
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  #10  
Old 21-04-2024, 03:33 PM
Dave882 (David)
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Wow how fascinating! Thanks for sharing
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  #11  
Old 22-04-2024, 02:12 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave882 View Post
Wow how fascinating! Thanks for sharing
My pleasure

Quote:
Originally Posted by Leo.G View Post
Interesting information!

Why wouldn't they reduce the radius of the bends either end and still run a straight section of road?
I bet that's just what they tell people to throw them off the truth about their fear of kangaroos?
Haha
It's the drop bears you have to watch out for


Quote:
Originally Posted by leon View Post
Have to agree Chris, we too have crossed it many times, and once it took us a week to cross, there are so much interesting stuff to see and do, we loved it, and then there are some that say it is so boring.

I actually love the stretch of the 149 kilometers of the longest straight road in Australia.

Leon
It was my parents, uncle and aunt that build the (then) Amber motel at Eucla to take advantage of the bitumen finally bridging the continent. Spent many a school holiday crossing the nullabor to get to Eucla. It's quite an amazing spot.

Quote:
Originally Posted by muletopia View Post
Martin, the "endless kilomrtres" are endlessly interesting.
As someone who has crossed many times the scenery is never the same. The interaction of the geology, humidity and flora distribution leads to this variation and deserves close attention.
Chris
Quote:
Originally Posted by Crater101 View Post
I never even knew this existed. A drive across the Nullarbor has always been on the bucket list - here's one more incentive to make the trip.

Cheers!
Ta. It is a loooong way form anywhere. Probably a good place to be
if Putin uses a Nuke.
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  #12  
Old 22-04-2024, 08:19 PM
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iborg (Philip)
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Hi All



A couple photos (scanned from slides) of our first drive across, December '73 I think.


I am told there were 355 miles of dirt road in SA, a major relief to meet the tarmac as we drove out of the petrol station.


The car had a truck radiator fitted, no trouble at all with overheating.


Philip
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  #13  
Old 22-04-2024, 09:41 PM
Zuts
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I hitchhiked across from Melbourne to Perth in the 70's (it took 7 days). On the way it was dirt for the middle bit across the Nullarbor. When I hitched back they had sealed it. I remember the sign, new work, no centerline for next 300 km.
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  #14  
Old 23-04-2024, 11:26 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Ward View Post
Probably a good place to be
if Putin uses a Nuke.
I heard an interesting story/theory about Cold War Nuclear Strategies. If the USSR wanted to demonstrate its capabilities with a single shot, to warn the West it meant business, Perth was a likely target. Its the world's most remote capital city and the prevailing winds would blow a fallout cloud over mostly desert, causing minimal collateral damage.

Sobering...

DT
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  #15  
Old 23-04-2024, 12:15 PM
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Peter Ward
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DavidTrap View Post
I heard an interesting story/theory about Cold War Nuclear Strategies. If the USSR wanted to demonstrate its capabilities with a single shot, to warn the West it meant business, Perth was a likely target. Its the world's most remote capital city and the prevailing winds would blow a fallout cloud over mostly desert, causing minimal collateral damage.

Sobering...

DT
Humm... I think my wife would have been a favour of that demonstration after McGowan closed the border during COVID and would not let her attend her mother's funeral....(footy teams were however welcome! )
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  #16  
Old 24-04-2024, 10:49 AM
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Peter that is just so neat.
Thanks for posting such interesting content.
I hope you and yours are well.

alex
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