Barn Hill to 80 Mile to Pardoo
I cant believe it has been 2 weeks since I last updated the site. After we left Barn Hill we had no reception untill we arrived here at Port Headland. We arrived at 80 mile beach at lunchtime on Tuesday and took an unpowered site for one night then powered for a few more. As they dont take bookings you take what you can get till they have something available.
After settling in we took a walk down to the beach about 100 metres over the sand dunes, wow white sand, it was gorgeous after the red sand of Barn Hill. The tide goes out over a kilometre and we walked out as far as we could, the sand turns to sticky mud, you walk on top of the sand then you sink to your ankles, its a funny feeling.The beach is covered with millions of shells and avid collectors are out in full force at low tide, you have to drive a long way on the beach to bet the big ones but the sand gets very soft. The water is a cloudy latte colour until it goes out past the mud flats then changes to a brilliant turquiose, much like Broome. The landscape is so different from Barn Hills red sand and rock formations. We did a bit of beach fishing but its still too windy , about 100 fisherman trying. There had been some big threadfin caught but very patchy.
Tony managed to get something in his eye during the day and it drove him mad, tried everything to get it out but no luck, we finally found a nurse at the camp and she had all her gear with her and fortunately removed 3 pieces of grit and covered his eye with a patch, needless to say he looked for sympathy all day.
The wind has not really abated for 2 weeks now, its a bit like the westerlies that we get in Brisbane during Ekka. Not much to do but walk around the park and see who you run into, we did meet some more people who know my family its happening everywhere we go.
Sunday we left 80 Mile with Uncle Mac and Aunty Vicki and travelled to Pardoo station which is privately owned. It was devasted by the cyclone and has only reopened in the last 6 months. It is a 4klm drive to the creek to fish, we did (sorry I did) well and caught 5 fish. Next day not a thing. We drove about 12klms further along the beach, totally different again to where we had been. Found a huge area of oysters but were a bit late for the tide to get them, we did get enough for a small entree. The tides come in and out so quickly here you really have to be on your toes.
We got up on Tuesday morning to the sound of cattle being loaded onto the truck, the cows had made a real ruckuss during the night, they had been separated fom their calves and were being transported south for the market. There were 210 loaded , then the calves were ear tagged and sorted before being let out into the paddocks again.
On a sad note we learned of the passing of Nick Brida who was a member of the 1988 Culinary Olympic team, of which Tony was also involved, to his family we offer our sincere condolences.
Hello to our darling litle neighbours Jack and Rosie, are you missing me Rosie, I miss you heaps too will send you a postcard soon
posted by Tony & Shez, 4WDriving.com @ 8:00 PM
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