Leaving Mount Magnet we have finally determined a week long indecision regards "what next"! The Margret River region has won out for our final 2 weeks before we fly back to the Gold Coast for Christmas. Heading south down the Great Northern H'way we intend to trend inland, skirting well around Perth, a kind of extended ring-road path to Margret River some 2 hours south of Perth. We know we will do an overnight camp somewhere, but other than a general direction at this early part of the day, we have no plans as to a camp.

The Great Northern H'way is a great road but really busy with heavy trucks, wide loads and road-trains . In Mount Magnet the flow of trucks throughout the night was more a river, continual. The first 300klm south there are no townships, only a couple of roadhouses. We are still in mining country and some glimpses of the infrastructure is seen occasionally, otherwise it is just red soil, low scrub WA outback, Conversations with Richard Fidler on the sound system, the clack, clack of Evi's knitting and Roscoe relaxed behind the wheel. The time passes.

After Wubin and Pithara we leave the H'way heading south east through some truly beautiful grazing and wheat country, rolling hills and tree lined creeks travel past as we enter Wongan Hills and pull up for lunch at the roadhouse.

After many hours on the road we decide on Northam for our overnight stay. Northam turns out to be larger than we thought, a main country hub on the Avon River, a well established old township with proud heritage buildings through the main centre. By now it's after 4pm and we head to the only caravan park and a quiet night.