Karajini National Park

We decided to move on from Tognolini Rest Area to Karijini and went to Dales Campground where we were greeted by the Hosts usually a retired couple who volunteer to do the booking in of travellers,clean toilets etc,we set up van and went to have a walk to stretch our legs after sitting so long in the car.
We walked to Fern Pool which was only a short walk but was down a steep track to bottom of gorge but well worth effort,water a bit cold at first but refreshing,small waterfall here,very pretty.
Next morning,Friday 29/9/11 we decided to drive around Park and do short walks,took drinks & lunch,to make a day of it,walks easy,plenty to see,we were a bit disappointed here,we were told how nice it was.more about this later.

View into Gorge at Karijini National Park

Saturday up bright and early to do long walk to Circular Pool,and it is round,cool, some say cold but I had to coax others into water(told a few fibs) soon we were splashing around like babies.Out we get long walk ahead Gail called so off we go along trail that leads along floor of Gorge,really pretty here.

End of the Line here.

Circular Pool from top of trail

We follow trail leading back to Fern Pool at far end of gorge really nice here checking different formations of rock and stone never thought that would interest me but fascinating all the same.Water crystal clear canyon walls reflections can be seen in stream.

Looks like you take slate from this area and cover outdoor area.

Almost at end of walk only about 50 metres to go,we were crossing water on slippery rocks and Gail had a fall,off trail down about  a metre or more landing heavily on bum and arm fearing the worst we managed to get her back on the track.She had a nasty bruise on back,very tender,very sore and painful,i was really worried if she couldn't walk how would we get her out of gorge and to medical help if she needed it.We rested with her checking for any broken bits but all seemed well (except for camera not waterproof model).No photos of the fall taken.Jan you would appreciate the bruising etc that is about to come out after your accident at Knorritt Flat.After making sure she was as comfortable as we could make her,Ross and I helped her out of gorge up steep trail to camp no complaining from the girl but you see pain on her face.Back at camp,shower painkillers sleep all seems good.Sore and sorry now may be a bit better tomorrow.

Please don't bump this support

Last photo from our non waterproof camera

Port Hedland-Karijini National Park

Talk about Motorhomes this beauty has top deck that can be folded away in about 30 minutes.Top deck has tv,lounge,bar and bed set up cool yeah!!!
Left here after tour,heading for Karijini National Park,with an overnight stay stay at a free camp,circled the wagons for the night,happy hour,dinner and retired early so we could get early start in the morning.All up ready go about 7 00am.Off to next free camp,refuelled at Auski Roadhouse('Cruiser just loves a drink) arrived Albert Tognolini(apparently he had a bit to do with planning & constuction of highway) we drove in and set the 3 vans up a bit windy at first,we went for short walk to a lookout that showed surrounding area.

Roadside has purple flowers down eachside very pretty

Later in afternoon wind got really blowy,as this stop was on top of mountain we were being buffeted really bad so we decided to move on to Karijini.

View from Free Camp site back through valley.

We looked back here as this was road we came in on.

Monster from Black Lagoon


                                                                                                                                                                        

Port Hedland-Tour

Typical Loco in for check over before going back into service returning empty ore wagons to Newman Mine.We saw the Port operations here everthing runs like clockwork trains arriving,ore being taken onto conveyors,then to stockpiles,reclaimed onto belts sorted to customers order then onto belts and out to loaders at harbour onto ships and off to China or Japan.

This is Ship Loader at wharf

Part of Conveyor system in Port Complex.The size of this operation is set to Quadruple in the next 5years or so the amount of money to be spent is mind blowing,eg,the harbour will have a jetty going 4 ks out to sea with dual road on it along with whatever infrastructure needed to do loading of the Ore Carriers.

Port Hedland

This is looking out to sea where the ore carriers wait until they get a berth so they can load up and head off to mainly China and Japan.
We drove out to a place called Pretty Pool where we watched the tide coming in at a speed that amazed us it falls metres in just a couple of minutes.
Driving back into town we pulled into park that was on the waterfront and were lucky enough to watch Loggerhead Turtles swimming around.

This little fella was up near the park,we watched for a few minutes and it watched back not moving.

 Is nothing sacred or safe from this PLANKER!!!!
Fellow travellers told us of a place out of town where we could get a cheap Dinner.It's called Port Haven BHP own it and is used by the employees as their dining room only 2 years old,it resembles a food court at your local Shopping Centre.
Looking at it when you walk in from left to right,theres a bakery fresh bread or rolls,Pizza Place,Roasts,next Steak and Barramundi salads or vegies then sweets to die for, ice cream bar that would be the envy of any ice cream outlet,finishing up with cheese platters if any room left and all for $22/Person.We sure loved that and girls had a night off from cooking.
Met a guy named John here,he works for BHP Billiton as an instructor teaching people what to do when overhauling the locos that haul ore from mine to harbour,$3000.00 a week 2 weeks on 1 week off Fly in Fly out to Perth (FIFO).Rents here up to $2000/week for 3/4 Bedroom house average rent could be upto $1200 if you can get a place.

Eighty Mile-Port Hedland

Saturday night with Allen & Rhonda nice people except their Queenslanders.Any way left early for Camp de Grey met up with Ross & Judith,also Ross & Robbie aka Roberta,they had been at this free camp for 4 days thats really slowing the trip down.

Heavy transport on way to Port Hedland.

We decide to stay here over night,set up for the night,went for walk to stretch legs etc,we had our first meeting here with ore train travelling from Newman Mine to Port Hedland,approximately 2.5ks long inxcess of 200 wagons and only one driver reportedly earning $240,000.00 a year.

Another road to Port Hedland this bridge crosses the de Grey river.

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Not much water here but some bird life

Just another sunset in the Outback

Happy Hour again then a good nights sleep early rise then on the road again.

Barnhill-Eighty Mile Beach

Road into Barnhill not too bad 9ks with van but took it steady no problem getting in arrived about 3pm.Very busy here almost full here.Paid for powered site,after setting up camp power kept tripping out,neighbours told us 'you have to turn off water heater,you cannot use jug,toaster,microwave,can you imagine how I felt cause that meant I could not use my hair drier,apparently camp had low power output.Met Allan & Rhonda here also Graham & Maree people we met in our travels.Nice shower and toilets here walls but no roof.Nice experience showering under stars,could be uncomfortable in the wet though.Fresh bread baked here daily at farmhouse,also Vanilla Slices to die for.On day we were leaving got talking to Graham,he told us have to get to office early for bread etc as usual got there after last loaf sold,and so sorry Wayne but slices won't be ready until this afternoon.CRANKY YOU BET I WAS!!!!.Nice spot if you want to chill out and fish.

Sunset over the ocean never lose the beauty of colour etc.anyway must leave for Eighty Mile Beach this place has top recommendations a must see.
Stopped at free camp at Camp Stanley for night happy hour with a young couple from Canberra again good company,they are first time vanners,great to watch them reversing van,they haven't got their system going right yet,but it will come,great to watch though.

Over nighter at Stanley parked on concrete slab.

Off to Eighty Mile now arrived about 10 am, lovely spot,good shady site no grass not seen any since Jamies place we are sure there is some out there still.Caught up with Allen & Rhonda again they had been down to beach gathering shells,Gail at them and thought that she would like to find one each for the girls back home.

Fishing on Eighty Mile easy to get a spot here guys plenty of beach to share,sadly at times not many fish though,people from Perth stay here for months during the winter down there much like Victorians going to Qld.

We went looking for the shells Gail wanted,she wanted only 3 or maybe 4 she left with about 12 or so,very pleased with effort.We found those on southern end of beach,lots of small shells here,thousands actually ones that people here make into windchimes,necklaces,beautiful ornamates etc.There is a chap that comes here every year stays 5 months or so fishes when tide is right and collects shells at other times he is very good at making things such as pelicans,chimes,boats even Gheisha Girl on a stand,wish we had photo to show or some of his skill.

These are what we found for the girls back home.

Back to camp after collecting these beauties,off to obligatory watching of the sunset yet again,Gail met a lady and they got talking about shells seems to be a girl thing up here,she told Gail about a families collection we went to look and what they had was simply amazing.Next morning at the ladies meeting place where they conduct the secret womens business namely the LAUNDRY she found out where the GOODUNS are"Babe she said only 20 ks or so up the beach"off we go at the crack of dawn to beat others a bit like DJs Boxing Day Sale.Early collecters get best shells so they say.First shells found kicked off the ADDICTION,we found some large shells she grabbed whatever we found to start with but as time went on she started to get picky as you do.

Sunset at Eighty Mile

Addictive Collecting of shells.

Gails Portfolio of Shells.

'I only wanted a few!" she said.But they are so lovely.Gail tired from getting in and out of car picking up shells,I called time out or would have had to get trailer to send them back,returned to camp to wash and clean them,all sorted and packed away for we are leaving in the morning.

Left for a free camp spot called De Grey River not sure what it will be like but has been recommended to us.

The Memorial erected by Volunteers in remembrance of Vietnam Vets and those that gave their lives in defence of our ideals.

 Great to see out here.

Goodbye Broome-Hello Barnhill

Broome movie theatre still operating original seats but near new covers (Front stalls)
After returning to camp with repairs done we were surprised with how much higher body was with new springs etc.We cleaned car,repacked it,tomorrow will be vans turn.

Watch out Gail!!!!

Before cleaning van thought I would move car,but no it would not start battery shit itself,continued to clean van,did top to bottom(really did up on roof hose & broom)inside outside beautiful job,hooked up van into town for new battery glad that was all the problem was if more serious would have had to wait to end of week just to have it checked very busy here in WA & NT at this time of season.

Road into Barnhill

Our impressions of Broome (most other travellers say the same)Overpriced & Overrated they will eventually price themselves out of market rumblings are there now and people will vote with thier feet.One example van sites range upto $50/night,another example flights to Horizontal Falls could cost upto almost $800 each ( we are flying home in november return $400 each Perth to Sydney).So we say goodbye Kimberly .