WHATEVER IT TAKES KEEP GOING CIDP & RECOVERY? There is a famous expression in English: ' When the going gets tough, the tough get going' –meaning when the situation becomes difficult, the strong will work harder to meet the challenge. Sometimes, when we are in a tough situation, an inspirational quote or saying can help us calm down and focus on what we need to do. Motorsport Quote Search motorsport quote on this blog from well known Australian motorsport driver's and Henry Ford's simple truism of belief. All could be applied to life in general. 'It's not rare if it happens to you'. Traveldriven quote WHAT IS CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY DEMYELINATING POLYNEUROPATHY UNDERSTANDING CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY DEMYELINATING POLNEUROPATHY SIGNS OF AND EXPLANATION OF CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY DEMYELINATING POLYNEUROPATHY OUR PAINTBALL GROUP SNIPERS DEN MELBOURNE Myself second from left as a lefthanded paintball shooter THE OPPONENTS CHINESE SOLDIERS? First and only paintball experience. Great day out by all on a hot Melbourne day. We received many hits and returned many back. Eight weeks before CIDP diagnosis. AFTER HOSPITAL DISCHARGE & HOME WITH CIDP My CIDP journey is written below. Living with a rare serious condition before, during and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hopefully the worst is over with CIDP and will not return. Allowing some CIDP recovery to take place. Below is primarily published with a view to help other's recently GBS/CIDP diagnosed. Written for myself as a self improvement reference. How CIDP changed life in general and for those interested in rare conditions from a non medical perspective. Viewpoint of first hand CIDP experience. 5,182 words 20 minute read Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy An immune system disorder. Attacks the myelin sheath of peripheral nerves. In my opinion CIDP brings much uncertainty. Saintly patience is required for nerve self-repair. If any repair does occur, it often will take years. There are many unique symptoms of CIDP damaged nerves. CIDP has many pathways. Following is one individual's perspective. Life with CIDP. Hi, my name is Wayne. I live in a small regional Victorian city. It is January of 2019 no health issues and 59 years of age. Working as a food industry employee on the factory floor involving physical work and long periods of standing. Although physically demanding work, I had no problem carrying out work duties. Thought I should get a doctor's check-up. Something didn't feel right. Affecting Daily Life I booked a GP appointment. I explained I was experiencing numb toes and tingle sensations. The gist of the consultation was to come back if things did not improve in three or four weeks'. Shortly after, a weekend day drive to a coastal tourist town left me wondering how safe my driving was. I own two sedans. One manual and one automatic. Driving my automatic transmission car in the busy main street I stopped in traffic. A car behind and a car in front. I depressed my right foot on the brake unaware the side of my foot was still on the accelerator pedal. Smelling tyre smoke and engine revving I turned the ignition off. I did not have enough feeling in my feet to feel the pedals. An accident avoided and a cautious drive home. Acupuncture? It was suggested acupuncture may be beneficial. Unsure of driving ability. I travelled by train to Melbourne. Sceptically, I agreed on a two hour consultation. The Chinese acupuncturist inserted needles in feet and upon withdrawal all were bent at right angles. The acupuncturist commented the normal needle curvature was severely bent out of shape on all needles. Evidence of extremely taunt tendons. He recommended daily use of a foot spa diluted with whisky and two more sessions. An incredulous recommendation in my opinion. I returned home unconvinced acupuncture made any difference. I declined the two further expensive sessions. In an Immobile State and Past Trauma I was struggling to lift my feet for no apparent reason. All my fingers tingled and toes felt numb. Accessing my car I stumbled backwards and fell on my lawn. I overturned a coffee mug at a local café with family and friends. Weak hand grip coordination. Within two weeks I returned to my local GP for a second appointment. The doctor referred me to a Melbourne neurologist a few hour's drive away. The first appointment was ten days off in Ballarat. I spent the time housebound and unable to work. Leg strength and balance are getting worse. No feeling in feet. Weak gait. Six attempts to park the automatic car in the garage behind the roller door. Unable to drive. No public transport available. I live alone as my wife of twenty-three years passed away with breast cancer two years before. Connie, my wife, would have been whole heartily supportive one hundred percent, as I of her. I remembered getting the all clear result of a routine health scan over eighteen months prior from a prominent doctor. Who happened to be my wife's surgeon. I was sitting in the doctor's clinic unable to speak when asked questions. Maybe ten minutes or more. Memories of the cancer clinical setting all around me suddenly and unexpectedly affected my speech. The surgeon walked me to reception. This was a few months preceding my solo eight week road trip around much of Australia in a sedan. For me, long drives addressed trauma. Waiting for Medical Help Now, nearly two years later I needed to see a specialist. What is it? At least I knew I didn't have cancer. I have no home support. After several days I could barely walk around inside my home. I telephoned the Melbourne neurologist's reception twice and tried to bring the appointment date forward. I offered to get myself to the Melbourne clinic as my condition was deteriorating. My walking is becoming weaker. Reception replied the original appointment was the earliest date and all earlier times were fully booked. I asked if I could speak to the neurologist. 'No, he's with a patient'. Ok, so I waited at home with a stoic attitude thinking everything will be ok after a week or two of rest. My respiratory condition felt normal during this time. A further five days passed housebound and I was then driven to my neurologist appointment. I attended a medical consulting clinic used by visiting Melbourne specialists. Located in the large regional city of Ballarat. Upon seeing myself struggling to walk and assessing absent nerve reflexes the neurologist immediately admitted me to St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne. He telephoned the hospital on the spot. Luckily I carried a small overnight case. Allowed no time to return home to pack a bag. My driver kindly agreed to drive directly to the Melbourne hospital. I distinctly remember the neurologist telling me I think you have GBS or CIDP. Let's hope not CIDP. Of course, I was clueless of these remarks. Myself, like many, not realising the serious health implications of these unheard of conditions. In both Guillain-Barré Syndrome and Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy one's own healthy immune system turns rogue and attacks the peripheral nerves. Classified as autoimmune disorders. GBS is seen as an acute disorder occurring once only and is of a relatively short duration. CIDP is the chronic counterpart of GBS. Unknown Cause CIDP origins are idiopathic, (unknown). Although, one United States research paper documented a small cluster of GBS/CIDP cases among workers in a piggery attributed to Campylobacter Jejuni sometimes found in slaughtered pig, sheep or chicken. I worked in the food industry for years with daily exposure to dried blood from thousands of freshly slaughtered sheep. The provided cotton hood head/face and body protective clothing ineffective as a 100% barrier against dried blood contact. Medical publications such as; National Library of Medicine, Journal of Neuroimmunology etc, cite up to 40% of those diagnosed with GBS/CIDP showed a viral infection with Campylobacter in the few weeks prior to symptoms appearing as the result of the onset of nerve demyelination. No Campylobacter was found in the many blood tests I had in the hospital. I don't recall having common symptoms of Campylobacter. The short answer is I never had a Campylobacter infection. Although I can't state this with one hundred percent certainty. Medical literature cites livestock workers with a positive viral infection to Campylobacter Jejuni have a one in a one thousand chance of acquiring GBS or CIDP. For the general population there is a one in a one hundred thousand chance of a GBS/CIDP diagnosis with no exposure to livestock. HOSPITALISATION My first hospital admission as a patient in over forty years. I began intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusion of Privigen that night, Friday. Each infusion takes about three to four hours. Administered through a catheter needle inserted into a vein in the arm to overwhelm the immune system's own antibodies attacking the nerves. The third consecutive day of IVIG had a late finish of 3am. The end of the loading dose of IVIG treatment. Within days I had a lumbar puncture (spinal tap). Symptoms, Not Good A nerve conduction study showed total and partial blockage on major leg nerves. Symmetrical left and right of the body. Multiple blood tests and other tests were carried out. One doctor told me a blood sample was sent to Western Australia for analysis in a laboratory. Apparently testing for this one particular pathogen could only be undertaken in Perth. Why? I don't know! The result returned negative. Good. All tests showed no evidence of recent viral or bacterial infections. Nothing. Disabled and Bleak Outlook All the staff treated me well. I could not walk and was dependent on a wheelchair. A walking frame provided some standing support for very limited room use. Complete loss of balance. Numb from backside and legs down. No leg reflexes. Paralysis of all four limbs. Acute abdominal tightness caused moderate breathing constriction. Tested twice daily for breathing capacity in anticipation I needed artificial breathing assistance via a ventilator. Daily stomach injections to prevent blood clots because of immobility. I have always been a non-smoker. I took solace in this. Additional complications I could do without. I could hold light weight items such as a spoon, fork and knife but all extremely hard to use. Unable to open served food or drink lids. Unable to write or use a cell phone, buttons, zippers, tie laces or hold a small cup of coffee in one hand. Initially, a few instances where vision was blurry but became quickly focused again. There was mild shortness of breath due to tightness around the torso. Facial movements unaffected. No Further Deterioration Doctor's asked if I could wiggle my toes up and down. I did to our surprise. My condition did not deteriorate any further after the first few days while in hospital. By week's end doctor's assessed my condition as somewhat stable. With mutual agreement my public hospital bed was moved to other wards five times during my lengthy hospitalisation. Even down a floor to another ward. All wards at full capacity. I was stable and under supervision. I was later told the first course of IVIG probably stalled the progression of CIDP. I understood progression meant reliance on a ventilator and total immobility before likely incremental improvement. Specialist Consensus and First Symptom? I agreed to be wheeled in my wheelchair to the once every Friday specialist meeting. On an overhead projector my condition and possible diagnosis was discussed in front of twenty or so experts including the department head Professor of Neurology. Doctor's posed questions with pen and notebook in hand. I answered what I knew. Specialists later diagnosed CIDP and not GBS as my symptoms were at least eight weeks. A little more than two months before diagnosis I paid for a family paintball day in Melbourne. My legs gave way underneath me on short sprints. No pain. Just momentarily weak legs. I thought this odd and amusing at the time. I attributed this to overworking myself. In hindsight, the first symptom of CIDP that I can recall. Normally I don't jog. St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne had no other patients with GBS or CIDP. Both are very rare conditions. Apparently there is a one in one hundred thousand chance of a CIDP diagnosis. Long Term Hospitalisation Concerns The isolation of a big city hospital away from familiar faces is very confronting. Placed in the Neurology Ward with many seriously ill people. An adjacent patient had suffered a mild stroke and was up and about unassisted walking, talking and using all four limbs very well within a few days. A lucky man. Not so for myself, diagnosed with a crippling condition. Prognosis unknown. During most of my hospital stay my only regular visitor was a weekly visit from a volunteer inter-church counsellor. These visits were really helpful and appreciated. A family member paid me a day's visit. I was pushed around the large hospital city block in my wheelchair. Along busy Victoria Parade avoiding able-bodied pedestrians. It can't be understated how great it felt to feel the fresh air and warm sun on your face after one month inside. Myself wondering if this is permanent now? Wheelchair dependent . Medical staff were not telling anything. Not wanting to give false hope. Autonomic nervous system dysfunction can occur. In my case, hints of autonomic system involvement appeared but thankfully no progression occurred. These serious symptoms range from incapacity to breathe, double vision and sight deterioration with optic nerve damage, bowel & bladder dysfunction, total loss of ambulatory function and cardiac irregularities. All due to nerve and muscle interactions within the body. Symptoms as mentioned may or may not occur. Hence, why my five week hospitalisation and medical specialist uncertainty. INPATIENT REHABILITATION I spent five weeks in this major Melbourne hospital followed by nearly a week of inpatient rehabilitation. In a facility even further from home in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. I used a walker now. I watched through the window from my hospital bed a pair of hot air balloons very low above buildings. Nightly tv news said they made an emergency landing nearby. I thought at least these people had access to the outdoors and were not confined to a hospital. Transferred again. For a period of almost two weeks to a large regional rehabilitation facility in Ballarat. Transferred between by ambulance. I sat next to the driver for the two hour trip. Fellow Patients There was another patient in the back of the ambulance for the entire drive. A sedated female stroke patient, by appearances not yet at retirement age, nearing end of life. We drove her to the same palliative care facility where my wife spent her last weeks. The palliative building was adjoined to the rehabilitation complex. It was a solemn two hour ride for me. Walker and Red tape Admitted to rehab. My own room. Walker handles wrapped with red tape. Red tape is replaced with green tape once walking is assessed as safe unsupervised. Mixed in with recovering stroke and cardiology patients. I spent regular physio sessions among patients clumsily sliding Domino pieces around table tops. Myself much more advanced than those with stroke recovery. Creatively and carefully building multi levels of Domino's. Of course no one had heard of Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy. Both my feet are equally affected by CIDP induced peripheral neuropathy. Can I eventually learn to walk normally unaided? CIDP uncertainty plays mind games with you. Twice a day early morning and mid evening l decided to attempt a circuit walk around the ward corridors and nursing station. Outside of structured daily physiotherapy sessions. Against the red tape supervision rules. I felt competent enough as long as I used a walker. I am not normally one to go against guidelines. I wanted to be proactive. I decided I would pay heed to the advice if questioned. Pushing my walker my hope was to progress from red to green tape. My aim was to complete ten laps. All exhausting work. Rolling past other inpatient rooms. People such as Mark, who was paraplegic from a diving accident and found it hard to face the day. Blankets pulled over his head. Thinking I'm not wheelchair dependent anymore as I was nearly two months before and now able to use a walker these last seven days. I self-recalled a road trip to Townsville Queensland. How fortunate Max the pilot and I were from the Tiger Moth joy flight forced landing on the Mackay Ring Road in 2018 with a broken crankshaft sustaining no injuries. Especially spinal injuries like Mark. Thinking of the inhouse gym physio sessions both Mark and I attended. He is in his wheelchair. Apparently a potential fate I have now avoided twice within the space of twelve months. I rolled my walker past the longest inpatient resident. Leslie, a double amputee. Foot and one arm past the elbow. He wanted the rehab. facility to become his permanent home. I rolled past the recreation area with its chairs, television and books. Unknown Outlook on Recovery Towards the end of my stay two female physiotherapy staff were to take me to an adjoining building with a two storey stairwell. Attempting the stairwell was very exhausting. Supported all the while taking small steps and resting legs. Could have taken a cut lunch with the time it took. Still it was something achieved. Physiotherapy staff were faultless guiding and physically supporting me on how to walk. Dealt with my strong safety concerns and poor expectations. Self balance was still a major issue. Once every four weeks IVIG infusion of Privigen. The initial loading dosage was calculated by patient weight. Future dosage unchanged even with weight variability. Taken daily, an Azathioprine (immunosuppressant) tablet. Given to counter progression of CIDP. Green Tape Approval Doctor's unable to provide a prognosis. Using my walker in rehab. Now authorised with green tape I asked a visiting neurologist if this is true. One third of CIDP patients are wheelchair bound for life. One third recover to near their former self and one third are somewhere in between. CIDP by definition is often characterised by a relapsing–remitting course. Severity and duration unknown. The neurologist agreed with this and replied I wasn't in a wheelchair anymore. I also now thought at least I could walk with a walking frame and green tape. Will this be the new normal? Walking stick wound with red or green tape is still far beyond my capability. Unease On Ability for Future Home Self Care In an adjacent ward a recovering stroke patient was due to be discharged in the next few days and suffered a lengthy seizure becoming unconscious. Drugs were administered to regain consciousness. Not exactly instilling in me the confidence of the rehab. centre’s assessment on my readiness for my imminent discharge. Wondering how I will cope by myself at home? No at home Care Plan was planned or established by the medical profession. My thoughts were that future welfare dependency was inevitable. One of the facilities visitors was the minister of my local church. A coincidence chance meeting. With myself using a walking frame together we attended the adjoining palliative care facility to give thanks again to staff from two years ago. But the staff had moved on. The Minister's comforting presence and support was greatly appreciated. I was visited only once in Ballarat Rehab. Day Pass Out Refused A long time friend agreed to drive me home and back for a day on an upcoming weekend. Return drive of three hours. However on presentation at the main entry reception the facility doctor-in-charge refused me a pass out. Judged too high a risk to health due to the current summer heat wave conditions. Disappointment prevailing. I apologised to my driver for the wasted long drive. I would have liked a short break from the hospital environment. Now unable due to doctor's orders. Approaching two months of unbroken hospital stays and still cannot return home. Within another week I was discharged. HOSPITAL REHABILITATION DISCHARGE I required home help with housework and to be driven about. I was physically incapable of driving. A home help service was made available usually once per week for the following several months and was provided by local government providers. Following rehabilitation discharge I needed to seek out and meet eligibility requirements for this health service for a monthly fee. Also long term podiatry services for a nominal fee. I used a combination of a walking frame and a stick. My duration of care was uncertain. Occasionally I attempted a walking stick only. Home Self Care Struggle It was a big struggle to walk. Collect mail from my front yard letterbox and feed the cat and dog in the backyard in the initial four months. There was great difficulty twisting household taps and dressing daily. I enrolled in physiotherapy and hydrotherapy. Unable to write in a legible manner. I signed an X on the paperwork. Walking was severely restricted by weakened legs, peripheral neuropathy of both hands and feet, (paraesthesia) and CIDP induced severe tightness around the torso. Symmetrical left and right of the torso. Tightness may be described as banding, tapering to the spine. My local hospital provided monthly IVIG infusions in their Oncology centre. The same wards, the same familiar nursing staff and the same infusion method my wife received for cancer treatment. The same familiar medical equipment. Two years on. Here I am. Surrounded by everything I wanted to forget. In my mind cancer kills and CIDP cripples. Me, a distressed witness of prior circumstance. I was back in the same environment and building. I reminded myself it's all for the best and left it at that. Accepting the hard physical and mental health challenges. I was struggling with poor ambulatory function longer than seven months post diagnosis. For example, the assistance of three people was required to descend a vehicle dealership's long flight of stairs. Assistance required from the front, back, side and guidance of the guard rail with frequent stops. As I lived alone and struggled daily with CIDP I considered applying for Meals On Wheels. I gathered I did not fit the criteria for the service. On occasion a family friend, who was a prominent member of a local church, delivered a cooked meal. I greatly appreciated it. More than nine months passed and I was in-effect housebound and isolated. The later half of 2019 my mobility had improved and I was not entirely housebound anymore. Medical approval was given to drive a private motor vehicle subject to future review. On the eve of the Covid-19 lockdowns of a 5 km radius from home. Bitter sweet timing as I have always been a driving enthusiast. Thankfully, driving a private vehicle was not permanently revoked such as all commercial and volunteer driving was. Hoping for some relief of long term improvement Normal touch sensation had long since returned. For many months everything was like coarse sandpaper to the touch. Even to pat the dog and cat. Initially the first twelve months of abnormal unpleasant foot sensations of crawling ants on skin and sometimes legs to doubt one's sanity. I confronted significant immobility struggles and home isolation in the twelve months preceding the COVID-19 pandemic. As I was immunocompromised COVID-19 vaccines were required. Four injections were completed. I was aware that in the most dire of Covid-19 hospital patients, a hyperactivated immune system triggers a cytokine storm in the lungs, a life threatening condition. Twelve months of weekly outpatient physiotherapy sessions were COVID-19 interrupted and eventually stopped all together. I needed to think outside the box to address isolation, boredom and limited mobility during COVID-19 and frequent lockdowns. I purchased Virtual Reality hardware and software for the home desktop pc. I watched 3d movies in a virtual reality cinema. VR offered a very real comforting feeling of freedom, experiences and escape from over twelve months of CIDP immobility. I also continued developing my own road trips website. Self taught through trial and error. I navigated isolation and restriction challenges of COVID-19 without infection. I was made aware of a free twelve month government counselling program made available for people to boost their mental health during Covid-19. Although I was fine. I thought this may be a good program for me to view as insurance. In the event I suffered a total CIDP relapse. I used the service as an outlet and to maintain a positive attitude. Although beneficial, I viewed it as irrelevant unless I had a total CIDP relapse back to square one. I viewed the program as my insurance backup. A positive strategy if the worst occurred again. CIDP LONG TERM FIVE YEARS The National Library of Medicine (USA) has available scientific literature online of a small study detailing the long term prognosis of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. A five year follow up of thirty-eight cases with no comorbidities. Source is from, Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. An informative paper the layperson can largely understand. Following is a five year summary after my CIDP diagnosis and subsequent IVIG infusions. The ongoing purpose of infusions is to maintain patient ambulation while encouraging a healthy autoimmune response to the peripheral nervous system. Since late of 2021 no mobility aids or home assists . I have no comorbidities with CIDP. Chronic peripheral neuropathy is commonly associated with diabetes. I am not diabetic nor pre-diabetic. No muscle atrophy. Although persistent neuropathic pain was experienced for three years in the torso and feet. No nerve pain medications were offered. Tempting to ask for, but not wanting prescription addiction. Nerve pain abated somewhat after four years. No separate health issues. Three Years Living With CIDP During the initial three years. The need to rest extremely fatigued legs and arms whilst attending appointments, in supermarket queues and public places. Three years of short daily showering and brief house tasks for the same reasons. Effectively, early labour force retirement. For example a long three years from hospitalisation for a first attempt at extended car driving. Also the ability to be able to hand wash a car uninterrupted by multiple rest breaks for fatigued legs and arms. Mow a small lawn without resting legs. Walking slowly for more than thirty minutes. I've always enjoyed driving. Good to not feel significant under the ribcage wincing from torso tightness, (abdominal nerves inflammation?) over every minor highway jolt and bump. Three plus years to get to near normality. Will this be maintained! Or will I experience a relapse? All these personal milestones and more were not guaranteed. An estimate on time taken to gain improvements, if any, cannot be obtained from the medical profession. It's the uncertainty nature of CIDP. My three year disability Parking Permit renewal was twice refused and not renewed. Even with General Practitioner doctor input and submission. Hopefully my believeth was that the Permit would be deemed unnecessary in twelve months time anyway. Four Years Living With CIDP After four years of incremental improvement and at last, reducing nerve discomfort. Improvement also shown around the torso. In my own mind, a relapse and a wheelchair scenario was not expected again. I experienced throughout this time the ever present, unpleasant feelings of large rounded stones/balls under both feet. Symptoms associated with CIDP neuropathy. CIDP impacts nerve myelin, nerve axons and causes inflammation of nerve roots. If nerves are too damaged, limited or no long term healing is possible for the unfortunate. Medical papers cite nerve regeneration is 1mm per day or about one inch per month with no active disease. Neurologist Appointments and Tests Undertaken not more than once every twelve months by a neurologist a nerve conduction study revealed improvements in lower limb nerve conduction and functionality. Had previously been assumed a plateau was attained. This was incorrect. Small improvements greater than fifty months from diagnosis still achievable. Although nerve conduction is outside of acceptable parameters. Shows further improvement is possible even after fifty months. By way of an explanation. A nerve conduction study involves the combination of two electrodes placed on the skin of an arm or leg above a length of a nerve and electrical conduction is measured between the electrodes. Multiple nerves may be tested. The person quite often experiences a small amount of discomfort when the brief electrical shocks are applied. The shocks are low voltage and so are harmless to anyone. A four year MRI scan follow up completed of the spine and cranial cavity. Dye injected. Not less than a one hour process. An investigation into chronic torso tightness since the initial CIDP diagnosis four years previously. A scan for demyelinating disease and lesions of the central nervous system. Conclusion was of no demyelination or lesions identified of the central nervous system. Normal scan result. No nerve entrapment or Multiple Sclerosis (MS) pathology. No additional neurological problems. CIDP is a peripheral nervous system condition. There is no spinal or brain involvement in CIDP. Now I am experiencing almost pre-CIDP ambulatory and strength function, except lower limbs. Walking a moderate distance is ok. Sixty minutes. Normal pace. No walking aids are required. This is a significant bonus. Five Years Living With CIDP On approaching five years of CIDP. Residual symptoms include; moderate symmetrical ceaseless tingling felt underneath both feet. Mild tingling in the hands. Mild torso tightness and mild symmetrical weakness in legs. Normal touch sensitivity in hands and feet. IVIG infusion is ongoing and is now changed to Privigen infusion of 40g completed on one day, six weekly up to a four hour duration. Instead of over two days every six weeks. Purpose is to halve hospital attendance to one day and avoid possible or probable multiple failed attempts of catheter (I.V. needle) insertion into a vein due to poor venous access. The merits of self-administered s ubcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg) infusion may be an option for future consideration if infusion attempts are increasingly problematic. Time to underscore CIDP. Obviously no progression or relapse. Discontinuation of IVIG is unlikely? In my opinion, it is a medical specialist decision. Beyond Five Years I regard myself as a driving enthusiast. I enjoy travelling within Australia. During May 2024 I completed a nine day tour as a passenger in a SUV to Outback Queensland. A return distance of 3,400 km Adelaide to Adelaide, South Australia. I drove myself 500 km to Adelaide to begin the tour. Return to home base was driven in one day. On no part of the trip special allowances were made because of ongoing CIDP symptoms. Nor was personal enjoyment diminished considering much travel was on unsealed and sometimes rough roads. All tour optional excursions and activities were completed as normal. Although significant improvement takes a very long time and gains are uncertain. With the passage of time symptoms may eventually fade and not permanently worsen. I hope this is encouragement to those newly diagnosed. Returning to living near a normal life is possible with; Chronic Inflammatory Demyelination Polyneuropathy. Living with CIDP & IVIG Well past the five year initial diagnosis of CIDP and there is still incremental improvement felt. Tingling nerves are still present. Living long term with CIDP and to divert attention away from CIDP symptoms, there is merit in listening to music. Provides home based enjoyment. Social interaction is important for health. Enjoy any family time. Attend live events. Join a light physical activity group. Tai Chi? Join a neuropathy focus group. If only to listen to others and chat. People familiar with CIDP give perspective and may offer valuable first hand information on a rare condition such as CIDP. IVIG infusion dosage has never been greater than 40g. The first few years were infused four weekly then six weekly. I have not experienced any significant decreased mobility between IVIG infusions as many do. I have never experienced an adverse reaction to the infusion flow rate of IVIG. Reaction after effects may include headaches and nausea. Seek, evaluate and trust answers from specialists and hope for the best. CIDP is not predisposed by any prior physical, mental health or lifestyle attributes. Is not hereditary or contagious. It's a rare condition. General Practitioners rarely see it, if at all. CONCLUSION All of the above gives an insight into CIDP. At least as applicable to one individual's experience. Hopefully all the aforementioned addresses a lack of awareness and knowledge concerning Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy. All things considered, quality of life is good. Enjoy the one handed cup of coffee. The freedom of walking unassisted in the outdoor fresh air. Driving the countryside. The simple things. A CIDP diagnosis and pathway is full of uncertainty for all. Don't dwell on anything that may never happen or recur. Be honest and patient with yourself. Don't say why me! CIDP is a treatable condition. Despite all the aforementioned I still consider myself fortunate. I don't seek sympathy. In my experience empathy for rare hidden conditions is improbable outside of immediate family. CIDP awareness would be a start. We don't get a choice of autoimmune or neurological disorders. These disorders cannot be prevented by lifestyle choices. It is our choice how we choose to respond and live our lives. There is a Latin phrase. Amor Fati accept one's fate, find the elusive positives and move on. Amor Fati Wayne Comprehensive data of immunoglobulin use in Australia. Medical Services Advisory Committee. Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care. http://www.msac.gov.au/internet/msac/publishing.nsf/Content/1564-public Further reading; Immunoglobulin for Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy April 2021 MSAC application no1564 Re-submission Assessment Report http://www.msac.gov.au/internet/msac/publishing.nsf/Content/2B740EDAE80B75DFCA25837E00096D86/$File/1564%20Final%20report.pdf Report is Australian and written for the medical profession. Assumes knowledge of medical terminology. Downloadable report pdf file 179 pages Data breakdown by Australian States. Patient characteristics. Diagnostic Criteria. BloodStar data. CIDP therapy trials data. IVIG. Plasma Exchange. Corticosteroids. IVIG dosage rates. Cycle length. Duration of treatment. Economic evaluation and so on. PREV PAGE NEXT HOMEPAGE

DAY 47 I needed to dispose of the unused fireworks now highly illegal in Victoria. -find a salt lake Woomera The town is in fact a ghost town in the Far North region of South Australia. It's appearance is so unlike the vast majority of towns in Australia. Infrastructure but few people. The town buildings and dwellings still look in reasonable condition. The dry climate helps in this regard. Population 7,000 in the 1960s to a few hundred now. Easy to drive the many paved streets as it’s like a modern ghost town. Approximately five hundred kilometres (277 mi) north of Adelaide. "Woomera" also refers to the additional surrounds of the RAAF Woomera Range Complex. A flight testing range covering an area of 122,000 square kilometres (47,000 sq mi). The Woomera range is operated by the Royal Australian Air Force and the town infrastructure still appears to be mothballed as of 2024. Woomera is a Department of Defence owned and operated facility. There are no restrictions for the general public to drive around the large township. There are no privately owned homes in the township. Woomera National Aerospace and Missile Park is interesting. Arrangement was made for accommodation in the old barracks from the Eldo Hotel after a cold drink. Eldo Hotel was the old mess hall. A few local workers were inside taking a quiet break. The only accommodation available is in the old barrack blocks. Corridors are very long and rather narrow. Not unusual for no overnight guests. Very quiet and eerie. Roxby Downs A sealed 78 km road connects to Roxby Downs. Established 1986. The small mining town has a supermarket and accommodation. South Australia Outback Drive To Adelaide I was driving past the occasional small and a few large drying salt lakes scattered along the main Stuart Highway. Considered deposing the remainder of the fireworks I still carried in any roadside salt lake. Possession illegal after Northern Territory Day. A couple of small boxes remaining. Decided against it and safely deposed of soon after arrival in Victoria in the next few days. Left the South Australian Outback behind on approach to Port Augusta. Population greater than 13,000 residents. A city known as the Gateway to the Outback if driving North. The beginning or end of the Stuart Highway depending on direction of travel. The Stuart Highway north from Port Augusta to Darwin is 2,700 km. Not to be confused with the Sturt Highway 959 km in length in NSW to SA. I was driving South and drove a further three hundred km onto Adelaide for overnight motel accommodation. The following day ended the road trip in Victoria. Victoria End of Road Trip I did not use any free camping sites in outback or regional area's. Although fairly common, most appeared not to have any people. At least during dawn to dusk. People tend to keep to themselves after dark in these locations. I decided as a solo traveller I wanted to have an opportunity to chat with fellow traveller's at the end of most days. That's why I used paid accommodation locations with access to convenient onsite amenities. Although this was a solo trip, I enjoyed meeting fellow travellers every day and seeing the incredible diverse country of Australia. Traveldriven ENTER CLICK/TAP WOOMERA GOOGLE MAPS PORT AUGUSTA GOOGLE MAPS DRIVE COOBER PEDY - WOOMERA - PORT AUGUSTA BLAST OFF TO SPACE FIREWORKS BOX ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING ROCKETS OF WOOMERA'S PAST UNDERNEATH AN OUTBACK RAIL LINE LAKE HART SALT ACCESSIBLE FROM HIGHWAY OUTBACK MESSAGE IN DRY SALT CLICK wikipedia Len Beadell of Woomera CLICK ABC news gunbarrel-highway Len Beadell PREV SA/WA/NT NEXT PREV SOUTH AUSTRALIA NEXT HOMEPAGE

DAY 44 Kata Tjuṯa The aboriginal translation is 'many heads'. Also known as the Olgas , they are a group of large, domed rock formations located about 360 km (220 mi) southwest of Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory, of central Australia. About a forty minute drive along a sealed road from Uluru (Ayers Rock) and fifty-five km. Travel Down Under The Valley Of The Winds circuit walk of the Olgas takes three to four hours and is 7.4 km in length. Walked anti-clockwise. Best walked in the cooler mornings and started before 9am. In my opinion, one of the best walks in the Territory. Unlike many crowded popular walks the circuit walk provides a feeling of solitude but in relative safety within the remoteness of the Territory. Fellow hikers are usually seen. A drinking water canteen and hat is essential. Average fitness required. Lookouts on the Circuit Walk Not much shade is available. At least once the walking track veers away from the ridge between the first Karu Lookout and the second lookout of Karingana. Walking over the exposed rock at Karingana Lookout and between the domes voices echo and an eerie feeling of isolation is felt as the track descends into more open bushland and turns to the left for a few km and left again. A track section is walked along a dry flat stony creekbed. Most of the track is cleared red earth. Wide enough for two or three walkers. A few of the smaller domes may be walked up at one's own risk in places off the track but not really warranted to enjoy the overall experience. Some of the best experience's require a bit of effort to travel down under. Traveldriven ENTER CLICK/TAP KATA TJUTA GOOGLE MAPS WALKING THE VALLEY OF THE WINDS VALLEY OF THE WINDS SIGNAGE PREV SA/WA/NT NEXT PREV N\TERRITORY NEXT HOMEPAGE

ALICE SPRINGS IN THE HEART OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY Contrary to popular opinion, the Northern Territory can have cold, overcast and rain showers on multiple days. I experienced this around Alice Springs. Locally known as The Alice , the town is situated about in the heart of Australia. Almost halfway between Adelaide and Darwin. The usually dry sandy Todd River flows through part of the city and hosts the Henley on Todd Regatta every August. A good base to explore central Australia. Reverend John Flynn the founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service born in Victoria worked in central Australia. He campaigned for an aerial medical service for outback Australia. The RFDS museum is very interesting. Many displays. During 2024 there was ongoing indigenous youth unrest in the Alice Springs area. A youth curfew was introduced to limit property damage. Lasseter's Reef Fabled Lasseter’s Reef is a legendary tale that has captured the imagination of many for decades. Lewis Lasseter's name became synonymous with mystery and adventure when he made the bold claim of discovering an incredibly lucrative gold reef in central Australia back in 1929. The allure of untold riches hidden within the vast and unforgiving Australian outback was enough to spark a gold rush frenzy among prospectors and dreamers alike. Tragically, Lasseter's triumph quickly turned into a heart-wrenching saga as he lost his way back to the elusive reef, ultimately meeting his demise in the harsh desert landscape in 1931. His final resting place in Alice Springs serves as a poignant reminder of the high stakes and unforgiving nature of the Australian wilderness. Despite his untimely end, Lewis Lasseter's legacy lives on through the numerous books, films, and documentaries that have sought to unravel the mystery surrounding his fateful expedition. The Lasseter Highway off the Stuart Highway to Uluru and 245 km in length is named after the prospector. The story of Lasseter's Reef continues to intrigue and captivate adventurers and historians, drawing them into a world where the promise of unimaginable wealth is tempered by the harsh realities of nature and human ambition. ALICE SPRINGS GOOGLE MAPS West of Alice Springs Glen Helen . Glen Helen Lodge is 130 km west of Alice Springs on a sealed road. Motel type rooms and a campground. Small general store and bar. Petrol available. Located next to the Finke River. View to the nearby West MacDonnell Ranges. View of Glen Helen Gorge cliffs. Nearby Redbank Gorge offers spectacular rock colors. Accessed by a somewhat rough track. Mount Sonder, at 1,300 metres, is the highest point in the ranges. Mount Sonder is known locally as the ‘ sleeping lady ’. Glen Helen on the Finke River is just short of two hours drive west of Alice Springs along an all sealed road. GLEN HELEN GOOGLE MAPS My return drive to Alice Springs was in the late afternoon. Cold, overcast and rain showers. Best to do one day to the west of Alice Springs and the next to the east. Or vice versa. East of Alice Springs Ross River is about 85 km east of Alice Springs via a sealed road. Located there is the Ross River Homestead. Bar, café and dining area. Fuel available. Outback atmosphere. An oncoming roadtrain gave me a stone chip on my car windscreen along the Ross Highway east of Alice Springs. Ross River Resort (Homestead) is a one hour drive east of Alice Springs along an all sealed road. Traveldriven ROSS RIVER RESORT GOOGLE MAPS   ALICE SPRINGS FIVE DAY FORECAST WEST OF ALICE SPRINGS SEALED ROAD EAST OF ALICE SPRINGS SEALED ROAD ROADSIDE MEMORIAL ROSS RIVER EAST OF ALICE SPRINGS OUTBACK ROCK STACKS OUTBACK ROCK OUTCROP THE THREE PILLARS SIGNAGE THREE CATERPILLARS OF EMILY GAP EAST OF ALICE SPRINGS ROSS HIGHWAY DESERT ROCK FLIES AND MORE FLIES ALICE SPRINGS PREV SA/WA/NT NEXT HOMEPAGE

DAY 36 Tennant Creek The place did not appeal pleasant for an overnight stop. No noteworthy sights. So pushed a little further on to the Devil's Marbles Hotel late in the day. The decision to bypass the uninviting location for an overnight stay was a wise choice, as the lack of notable attractions and the somewhat dilapidated appearance of the small town did not offer much promise for a restful stop. The presence of windowed bars on most retail buildings added to the sense of neglect and perhaps even unease about the area. Instead, opting to continue the journey to the Devil's Marbles Hotel later in the day proved to be a more appealing prospect. This shift in plans likely provided the opportunity for a more comfortable and enjoyable experience, with the anticipation of reaching a destination that offered better accommodations and a more welcoming atmosphere. Devil's Marbles Northern Territory Karlu Karlu / Devil's Marbles Conservation Reserve Devil's Marbles is an aboriginal sacred site. About one hundred km south of Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory and four hundred km north of Alice Springs. In 1953 an eight tonne marble was taken and placed on John Flynn’s grave in Alice Springs. It was returned to the Devils Marbles in 1998. The marble was replaced with a more suitable rock with aboriginal permission. Bush camping is available. Accommodation is available in the Devil's Marbles Hotel and is a convenient good overnight stop. Accommodation at the Devil's Marbles Hotel offers a convenient and comfortable option for travelers seeking a restful overnight stop amidst the stunning surroundings of the Devils Marbles. Located just eight kilometers north of this iconic natural attraction, the hotel provides a perfect base for visitors to explore the area. In addition to cozy rooms, guests can enjoy the refreshing experience of a swimming pool, perfect for unwinding after a day of sightseeing. The hotel's proximity to the Devils Marbles ensures that guests can easily access the site and immerse themselves in its unique beauty. Whether you're passing through or looking to spend more time in this remarkable region, the Devil's Marbles Hotel promises a welcoming retreat with modern amenities and a tranquil setting. The hotel is in the middle of nowhere again. No other services. Traveldriven ENTER CLICK/TAP TENNANT CREEK GOOGLE MAPS DEVIL'S MARBLES GOOGLE MAPS DRIVE DALY WATERS - NEWCASTLE WATERS - DEVIL'S MARBLES DEVIL'S MARBLES HOTEL ONSITE SWIMMING POOL INDIGENOUS STOCKMEN ON HORSEBACK DEVIL'S MARBLES & ILLEGAL OVERNIGHT CAMPING ON ROCKS THE RESERVE IS HOME TO FOUR SPECIES OF SNAKES OLD & NEW FINELY BALANCED THE DEVIL DID IT? A COLLECTION OF MARBLES HOT DESERT CLIMATE TOURISTS WALKING THE DEVIL'S MARBLES DEVIL'S MARBLES PLAYGROUND? ANOTHER WRECKED CARAVAN SOUTH AUSTRALIAN PLATE NEWCASTLE WATERS DROVER STATUE NEWCASTLE WATERS WETLAND THERE ARE NO SERVICES AT NEWCASTLE WATERS PREV SA/WA/NT NEXT HOMEPAGE

Tiny minnow fish brush your skin in the crystal clear water. - Katherine Hot Springs Katherine In The Northern Territory Is an inland town in the Northern Territory of Australia. Settled around the Katherine River three hundred and twenty kilometres southeast of Darwin. The RAAF Base Tindal is about twenty km out of town. Apparently the base employs close to one thousand. On enquiry, was told there is no public observation area to watch aircraft operations. Katherine Hot Springs Alongside Riverbank Drive next to the Katherine River, Katherine Hot Springs provide safe swimming and barbecue facilities. Amongst shady gums and paperback trees. There are paved foot traffic areas. The springs are very popular with locals and tourists alike. It's the best place to cool off in town and close to the Katherine River. Wade and swim in crystal clear water. The springs are free to swim and safe. The water is twenty-five to thirty degrees celsius. Open in the dry season months and closed in the wet season from seasonal flooding. Katherine Gorge is also recommended. About a thirty km drive from Katherine town. Canoes can be hired in the dry season. There are freshwater crocodiles no saltwater crocodiles. Katherine Gorge is made up of thirteen gorges. During the dry season the gorges are often separated as the water level drops. Canoes must be carried by hand between gorges. Hire a canoe and explore the first three gorges. Tour boat cruises can go as far as the fifth gorge. Short easy walking between gorges. Katherine is 300 km south of Darwin. On this roadtrip I bypassed both Darwin and Kakadu. Traveldriven KATHERINE GOOGLE MAPS KATHERINE GORGE GOOGLE MAPS KATHERINE HOT SPRINGS GOOGLE MAPS DRIVE TIMBER CREEK - VICTORIA RIVER ROADHOUSE - KATHERINE FIREWORKS FOR SALE LEGAL ONE DAY A YEAR FREE HOT SPRINGS SWIM & SAFE HOT SPRINGS & COOL OFF TIME FREE HOT SPRINGS POPULAR WITH LOCALS Molly's roadtrip passing through Katherine's Hot Springs at the video's nine minute point. Would have to agree on comments. Very accessible, safe, warm crystal clear water with small fish. Likely to be very few people. Dry season use only. Closed in the wet season months. Thankyou to Molly Dixon Youtube channel for enabling sharing. Traveldriven PREV SA/WA/NT NEXT HOMEPAGE

DAY 11 The sand being so hot it appeared to be on fire. -Ludwig Leichhardt (explorer) 1845 diary entry Sandfire Roadhouse Western Australia The place is in effect just a roadhouse on the Great Northern Highway in Western Australia between Port Hedland and Broome. On the western edge of the Great Sandy Desert. Sandfire is one of three fuel stations (the others being Pardoo closed 2023, and Roebuck outside of Broome) in the six hundred and ten km between the two towns. No general access to Le Grange. Permit only. Sandfire is the only practical fuel stop between Port Hedland and Broome. Hot and dusty. Caravan sites, fast food restaurant and bar. 290 km north of Port Hedland. 315 km south of Broome. Opened in 1970. The first fuel payment was made with a carton of beer. In 1981 the road was sealed. Resident peacocks wander near the roadhouse. The name Sandfire apparently comes from a diary entry of the explorer Ludwig Leichardt (1813-1848). 'The sand being so hot it appeared to be on fire'. The roadhouse was damaged by fire in 2007 and 2009 and was rebuilt. Sandfire Roadhouse is the home of the hitchiking Chook Salt'n'Pepper as seen on television. Pardoo Roadhouse Closed in 2023 (reopened 2024) sustained $4 million damage from Cyclone Lisa. No fuel or food available. Roebuck Plains Roadhouse is 35 km from Broome. Hence, Sandfire is the only fuel stop in a practical sense for the large distance between the two towns of Port Hedland and Broome if Pardoo is closed. Traveldriven ENTER CLICK/TAP SANDFIRE GOOGLE MAPS DRIVE PORT HEDLAND - PARDOO - SANDFIRE ROADHOUSE PREV SA/WA/NT NEXT HOMEPAGE

Marble Bar A town in the Pilbara of north-western Western Australia. Extremes of hot weather, with a mean maximum temperature second only to Wyndham, Western Australia. Claimed to be the hottest town in Australia. A town of less than two hundred people in the Pilbara region of north-western Western Australia. A famous Jasper rock outcrop can be seen along the Coongan River near town. Marble Bar Comet Gold Mine has an interesting museum seven km out of town. The most famous building in the town is the Ironclad Hotel built in the 1890s, constructed of corrugated iron. Several large gold nuggets were discovered in the area. Among them the 413 ounce Bobby Dazzler found in the 1890s. I used a White’s gold detector a few km out of town in a dry creek bed. Hot dusty work. No finds. On another much earlier road trip I drove solo Marble Bar to New Norcia on the then unsealed Great Northern Highway. A driving distance of thirteen hundred km of gravel via Newman an iron ore mining town in the Pilbara of several thousand residents. The drive continued down the Great Northern Highway through to Meekatharra and onto New Norcia. This road trip was in a two wheel drive car. Meekatharra Translates as 'place of little water'. Established as a small gold mining town and currently has about one thousand residents. There is accommodation available in the Meekatharra Hotel. Petrol and Diesel fuel is available. New Norcia A monastic town of numerous abbey's a little over an hour's drive from Perth. Abbey tours do not include the monastery as monks live in the building. Traveldriven ENTER CLICK/TAP MARBLE BAR MEEKATHARRA NEW NORCIA GOOGLE MAPS MARBLE BAR FIVE DAY FORECAST TRAVEL DOWN UNDER & DRIVE PORT HEDLAND - MARBLE BAR EARLY DAYS OF MARBLE BAR MARBLE BAR & OUTBACK DEATHS PREV SA/WA/NT NEXT HOMEPAGE

Meet friendly aliens and blast off into outer space free of charge. -Only in Carnarvon Carnarvon Western Australia Is a coastal town situated about nine hundred kilometres (560 mi) north of Perth, Western Australia. Situated on the Gascoyne River which in turn enters the Indian Ocean. Town of the never ending summer. Town of spaceman, aliens and bananas. During the 1960s, NASA set up a tracking station just out of Carnarvon to support the Gemini and Apollo space programs. The tracking station was closed in the mid-1970s and tours are now available at the space museum. Carnarvon Tracking Station & Museum The tracking station was built to support NASA’s Gemini, Apollo and Skylab programs. Commissioned in 1964. Operated for 11 years. OTC Satellite Earth Station , now the museum site, is six km from Carnarvon and four km north of the Tracking Station. Allow an hour or two to look through. Carnarvon has over 180 banana plantations. I think every household owns a dog in a backyard. Walking a few street blocks with constant barking dogs. Decided to bypass the Exmouth turnoff. From the turnoff a minimum distance of eighty km to reach Exmouth. Continued on to Dampier instead. A further four hundred km away. Or about a five hour drive. Traveldriven ENTER CLICK/TAP CARNARVON GOOGLE MAPS DRIVE GERALDTON - CARNARVON CARNARVON TRAVEL TV SPACE BLAST OFF EXPERIENCE ALIENS ARE FRIENDLY SPACEMEN CARNARVON PREV SA/WA/NT NEXT HOMEPAGE

GERALDTON WESTERN AUSTRALIA (Known as Gero to locals) is a coastal city in the Mid West region of Western Australia, four hundred and twenty kilometres north of the state capital, Perth. A memorial for the World War II cruiser HMAS Sydney and it's crew stands on Gummer Avenue. The memorial recognises the loss of the light cruiser during a mutually destructive fight with the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran off of Shark Bay in November 1941. None of the 645 crewmen aboard survived the naval engagement. The Port of Geraldton is a major west coast port. 425 km north of Perth. The biggest export is iron ore. Iron ore trains can have over 200 wagons and be over 2 km long. HMAS SYDNEY MEMORIAL TOUR His Majesty's Australian Ship Sydney Memorial Tours are conducted by volunteers who tell the story of the light cruiser HMAS Sydney, sunk off the coast here with all 645 crewmen during World War 2. The action was against the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran. A dome is made up of 645 stainless steel seagulls representing the souls of the lost sailors. A statue of a woman looking out to sea hoping for the return of the Sydney can be seen. Traveldriven ENTER CLICK/TAP GERALDTON GOOGLE MAPS Desert Roadside Memorial the long drive to Coral Bay GERALDTON TRAVEL TV VOLUNTEER TALK ON THE HMAS SYDNEY PREV SA/WA/NT NEXT HOMEPAGE

DAY 5 INDIAN OCEAN DRIVE Where can you see a ute parked on a pub roof? I'll drink to that! -Cunderdin local Cunderdin Is a town located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. The Cunderdin Pub Located 156km east of Perth in the small town of Cunderdin is designed on the 'Etamogah' cartoons. Etamogah means ' Place of a good drink '. The much older Cunderdin pub burnt down in 2000 and was rebuilt as the Etamogah Pub. Seabird A small quiet coastal fishing area just over an hours drive north of Perth. Population eighty. The foreshore has suffered major erosion and is subject to much more future damage by storms. A good spot for lunch of fish & chips by the Indian Ocean. From Seabird, drive north for 290 km along the scenic Indian Ocean Drive to Geraldton. A change from the Southern Ocean to the Indian Ocean. Great to see the ocean again. 3000 km from Melbourne. Pinnacles Desert of Western Australia Driving due north of Perth and roughly two hundred km, turn right off Indian Ocean Drive to the Pinnacles. The turnoff appears quite abruptly. A short unsealed scenic loop track threads between the Pinnacles. Two wheel drive accessible. $17 per vehicle (2024). The desert contains thousands of weathered limestone pillars. Some stand tall up to three metres above the yellow base. Many resemble short tombstones and are only a metre in height. While many others resemble tall stone columns. Highly recommended are the Pinnacles Desert of Western Australia. Traveldriven ENTER CLICK/TAP SEABIRD GOOGLE MAPS THE PINNACLES DESERT GOOGLE MAPS IN REALTIME DRIVE Cunderdin - Seabird -The Pinnacles Desert DRIVING THE PINNACLES DESERT LANDSCAPE DESERT VIEW WALK TRAIL PREV SA/WA/NT NEXT HOMEPAGE

DAY 4 'Sheepishly with car bonnet up I told the auto electrician the problem solved itself' -in the WA goldfields, Traveldriven KALGOORLIE REGION FIVE DAY FORECAST DRIVE NORSEMAN - KALGOORLIE - PERTH Norseman The small town is in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia along the Coolgardie-Esperance Highway, seven hundred and twenty-five kilometres (451 mi) east of Perth. Norseman is a small town of almost six hundred people. The town is surprisingly spread out. Norseman is a town in the middle of nowhere really. A sensible overnight stop for rest and petrol. Mostly small gold mining operations operate in the area. The Norseman Gold Mine is Australia’s longest continuously running gold mine. Drive past these mine sites and a gold mine tailings dump to Beacon Hill Lookout The town centre has life size ‘Corrugated Iron Camels’. A tribute to camel trains of the early days. Norseman is the start or end of the Eyre Highway. Depending on driving direction. Driving back east, the last town of any note before Ceduna, South Australia. 1,200 km eastward. Kalgoorlie-Boulder Known just as Kalgoorlie, this Outback centre is a large regional city in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia. Almost six hundred km (370 mi) east of Perth and connected to Perth by the Great Eastern Highway. Kalgoorlie is a wealthy gold mining city. The Fimiston Open Pit (super pit) is an open cut gold mine 3.6 km long, 1.6 km wide and over 600 metres deep. Trucks take round trips of about 35 minutes. The Superpit is located on the edge of town. See Kalgoorlie’s famous or infamous Hay Street brothel museum. Visit Western Australia’s only legalised Two Up school. Many hotels and motels. Worth a day or two’s rest from the Great Eastern Highway. Car Trouble? Outback Western Australia During daytime and a two hour drive heading to Kalgoorlie I unknowingly knocked the interior lights button on the car's central display. A small unlabelled recessed button I have never used. Four interior overhead lights shone brightly and I wasn't sure how to turn them off. Lights are normally a press on/off type. Lights remained on even after a brief stop. Driving in remote desert country I thought not a good idea for extra drain on the car battery. There is no cell phone reception in remote Australia. Seldom seen are vehicles other than road trains. Realising I cannot push start an automatic transmission sedan due to a flat battery. Here in the stopped car. All lights shining. Under the hot sun in a cloudless sky, raising a sweat just by sitting there with the engine off. The occasional road train passing by I thought best to restart the car and drive to the next town for a car check. The battery wasn't a problem yet. I restarted the car and continued non-stop to Kalgoorlie several hours drive away. AUTO ELECTRICS WORKSHOP HELP Upon arrival in Kalgoorlie I pulled into a roadside auto electrics workshop to get it checked. Expecting the worse outcome. After a short while wondering if I had done something inadvertently. I pressed the unused unlabelled central button and all lights went off. Sheepishly with car bonnet up, I told the auto electrician the problem solved itself and thanked him for taking a look. He wouldn't accept payment for his time. The point is, solo driving for long periods in a remote hot area 35c many hours drive from civilisation does play on your mind when even small unexpected problems arise. Traveldriven ENTER CLICK/TAP KALGOORLIE GOOGLE MAPS NORSEMAN GOOGLE MAPS THE SUPER PIT, KALGOORLIE YORK HOTEL THE RABBIT PROOF FENCE WAS A FAILURE IN THE LONG TERM THE PROJECT, ALTHOUGH GRAND, PROVED TOO LITTLE TO LATE KALGOORLIE GOOGLE MAPS PREV SA/WA/NT NEXT HOMEPAGE