July 16-22

This morning we are moving on after spending two rest days at Stanley.  Such a long straight road this Great Northern Hwy with really nothing to see or stop at until morning tea, which is just a side off the main road.

The turn off to Eighty Mile Beach caravan park is about 8kms down a dirt road from this point, but they charge $45 per night and you can’t swim in the ocean and no dogs, so we won’t be having a look this time. Sue found some interesting formations on a rock which I will be adding to Sue's collection.

Pardoo Roadhouse was the next fuel and accommodation for those travellers who wanted to stop. We are aiming for De Grey River today and see what is there and possibly camp.

We drove in and around this massive area that we assume is council owned, and judging by how many people are camped here would have to be in the hundreds. Decided we won’t camp with the hundreds of generators running and took a drive over to the southern side of the riverbank where we found a lovely isolated spot with grass overlooking the river bed.

We wanted to use the river water but not too keen on the throwing a bucket into the deep dark lagoon where crocs may be lurking, so Russell dug a hole closer to the bank and down to the water level to see if we could pump up water using a sand spear technique.  Success and now we have an endless supply of fresh river water to use at our leisure. Billy was in heaven with this green grass and having been hosed until he was soaking wet was even more fun.

There was not enough time in the day to wash Billy, the car or caravan today, but plan to do all that tomorrow. So quiet here sitting and looking across to the other riverbank, and its hard to think that there are so many people spread out on the other side and we can’t see them.

Other than the odd traffic passing above us it is a pleasant place for a few days with no internet or mobile service.

17^th July Monday.

Peaceful nights sleep and woke to the birds chirping in the trees.

Russell went for a walk with Billy across the dry river bed this morning and checked out more tracks.

On their return, we made tea and both of us sat in the sun while Billy investigated lots of interesting smells. We washed the BT after breakfast and the amount of red dirt that got hosed off was amazing. Sue washed the flyscreens on all windows inside and out as well as the external windows. Everything has come up like new, apart from the scratches across the Perspex windows (some already existing and new ones).

Billy was washed next and he didn’t seem to mind too much- and now smells clean and shiny. He is up to date with his Advantix, as we are coming into so many different areas of WA to camp we need to be vigilant with paralysis ticks.

Billy and us went for a walk over the bridge here at De Grey and viewed the other camp ground and it appeared many have left, compared to the hoards that were there on Sunday.

We had a few people cross the riverbank on their daily walk stopped and chatted to us, wanting to know how we got here, amazed to know we came down such a rutted part of the track. The afternoon went nice and slow and gave us time to work out if we are staying here tomorrow.

Tonight we have packed away most articles outside like all the water hoses, buckets and chairs so it doesn’t take too long in the morning, as we have decided to head to Port Hedland for a few days.

We need to get mobile service to make a few phone calls and food supplies.

18^th July Tuesday

14 degrees last night.

Another glorious morning here at De Grey river as we have our breakfast and watch Billy absolutely loving his freedom here. 

We arrived in Port Hedland around 10am filled our water tanks prior to setting up in the dust bowl they call the overflow area. We estimate over 50 vans here now, but constantly filling up. We chatted to a few travellers who came past to say hello, wanted to know what part of Queensland we were from -and mentioned they were from Redcliffe and another couple were from Morayfield….such a small world really.

 Port Hedland is two hundred kilometres north of Karratha and famous for its massive resource industry, long trains, big ships and salt piles. It is the second largest town in the Pilbara region of WA, with the highest tonnage port in Australia

We have full mobile service and started receiving all messages, so we are back in the land of the living.

When we stopped we noticed our external cover that goes over the fridge is missing, Russell must have not put it back on properly and it fell off. We took a drive into the south side of Port Hedland for a few things and had lunch out before heading off towards some sort of beach here, although not an impressive beach by any standards the water was a very blue. Our trek across the soft sand was very undulating from many car tracks and quite hot so we didn’t stay that long and it was just for Billy to have a dip.

After here we took a tourist drive, and noticed most houses are made from corrugated iron, not brick or timber and all pergola roofs are insulated from the heat. Apparently, it wont rain for the next three months hence the plastic green grass in some yards.

19^th July Wednesday

Another rest day deciding to hang around Port Hedland. Although we did go for a short drive again to the information place for pamphlets on Karijini NP, Marble Bar area.

We booked Billy into Tom Price kennels for two days on 24^th and 25^th July so we can explore the National Park.

20^th July Thursday

This morning we were visited by QUBE and Rio Tinto trucks and workers, offering information on what they do involving their jobs and safety. Sue got to sit in a Mack truck which was awesome, the interior of the cab was massive and so many buttons and gauges. Everyone in the campground was welcome to some freebee stubby coolers, sunscreen and thermos coffee cups.

We spoke with a lovely young lady Emma who is a Health and Safety officer with QUBE, she was informing us she also once resided in Brisbane but her husband got offered a position in Port Hedland so this is where they came to and enjoy the small town.

After this we are packing up and making our way towards a camp spot Doolena Gorge, Newman Tabba Tabba RD, Marble Bar. Two other campers already here and another two behind us when we stopped. It took a bit of time trying to level the van on uneven ground and all over bull dust, the shade cloth flooring does nothing to keep it out. Billy was clean prior to coming here, but will now be a red dog. The river is beautiful so will carefully check it out for any possible crocs.

We walked across to the other side of the river bank and collected firewood for the cooking of our camp oven meal tonight, which of course is our delicious puff pastry meat pie.

We are pretty exhausted so after we eat this meal and make a cuppa we are off to sleep.

21 July Friday

Had a nice sleep in with no noise of any cars, trains or machinery to cause headaches, which we are grateful for not being in Port Hedland anymore.

Russell moved the van a bit this morning to a better spot and out of the bull dust, and so much better.

Through the day we had many people stop and chat, take photos of the gorge before moving on again.

One friendly older couple in a 100 series Landcruiser came in and had lunch- with stories of where they have been and the disaster breakdown of their Ultimate off-road van, stuck on the side of a remote part of Greg’s track for six days before recovery arrived. They were very well prepared and carried more than enough food, water and recovery gear so they were not concerned. They think the camper van hit a large termite mound and broke the suspension arm on the trailer. Fortunately, they have satellite phone and could arrange assistance. The tow was over 4 days and the expense out of pocket was close to $10,000.

It was uncanny they were talking to us about this, as last night we had a tow truck with an ultimate van on the back, which happened to be theirs. So it has taken the recovery six days to get them from the track and another few days to here, before the tow truck continues to Port Hedland for repair. Their insurance will pay for accommodation up to 12 days so they were on their way to organise somewhere to stay in Port Hedland.

Billy has been enjoying the river here at Doolena through the day to cool off.

22^nd July Saturday

Cool morning again as we wake up and enjoy the beautiful view.

We had the owners of this massive property come for a visit and said there are no crocodiles in this creek at all.

A whole flock of pelicans landed on the water this morning, there would have been at least 30 or more.

After breakfast, we all have packed up and driving to Marble Bar to look at what they have to offer. We stopped along the highway to take pictures of the iron etched signs welcoming travellers to Marble Bar(camera). We had brochures on Marble Bar we picked up from Port Hedland information centre, so I am reading up on what is there.

Once in MB we required  coffee and morning tea – called Harry’s Clappin Mad which we found very easily and  sat outside on wooden seats discussing the plan for the day.

We decided we would travel for the day and leave the trailer etc back in Marble Bar.

History of Marble Bar:

Australia’s Hottest Town during summer months when the mercury climbs to over 38 degrees for days on end. The record is 160 consecutive days over 38.7 degrees recorded in the sweltering summer of 1923-24.

Government buildings were one of the most impressive architecture in MB, built of local stone 1895, and today it still provides accommodation for Government departments.

Police station, Mines Department, Courthouse and the small souvenir/ café store are the main buildings.

We drove out to the WW2 Air Base approximately 25kms south east of MB, where we spent most of the day among the crumbling remains of the best kept secret of WW2.  Crumbling foundations of the campsite were visible, and following the map we located most of the other remnants including old relics, the airstrip, bomb site was fascinating.

We noticed the air temperature was very hot so we looked for shade under a tree where we had lunch. From here we have to head back into MB to find Comet Gold Mine and have a look at the Jasper pools and take a sample rock with us.

The afternoon has crept up on us so we head back to the cars and make our way in to the later afternoon towards whatever campsite we can find.

Following Wiki we assess a few with Neville in the lead it is easier for him to divert off the road and check it out before we come along. So after about 50kms south of MB we pulled into Glen Herring Gorge with a few other caravans already here, not really a huge area, but we cross a small creek to the other side to our own site. A pretty camp with a rocky base and only enough room for two of us.

Like clockwork a fire was soon glowing and we all sat around with a cuppa and relaxed.

I think it is going to be a very quiet night.

We just missed the sunset shot - sorry about that.

More next week, maybe.