tyre blowout

These are the pics of our blowout tyre on the caravan, we didnt feel it let go so were very lucky

Tyre blowout

Tyre Blowout

Exmouth

sea urchin in the shallows
these flowers are quite common and come in pinks as well though we havent seen any yet

Dampier

one of many beautiful sunsets we have seen
more amazing colours and shapes of rocks at Dampier

Exmouth

the beach at the Oyster stacks is covered with shells
this shell looks like it has been fossilized in the rock

Exmouth

View from Yardie creek gorge which is about 90klm from Exmouth
This gorgoeus rainbow clam shell we found in the shallows near the surf beach

Exmouth

This is where we camped at Neds Camp at Cape Range, Exmouth
Fields of these beautiful daisies were on the way to the surf beach at Exmouth

Dampier

This is Hearsons Cove where you can see the stairway to the stars as we saw in Broome
We thought this beautiful old building in Cossack would make a great Restaurant

Exmouth

Exmouth beach from Lighthouse
Lighthouse

Exmouth

Emu family at watering hole Neds Camp
Thistle at Yardie

Exmouth

cactus flowers at yardie
yellow daisies at Exmouth

Dampier

sturts desert pea at sunset
mother and baby eagles at boat ramp

Dampier

This is along the beach at Dampier
The Gas works

Cossak

Beautiful old Courthouse now a museum
Will the court come to order!

Pt.Hedland

This is Stu's crane in Pt.Hedland
Salt piles

Port Hedland to Exmouth

It seems like ages since we have been in contact, in fact over 3 weeks. After we left Millstream we headed to Roebourne, Pt. Samson and Cossack for a quick look before we went back to Pt.Hedland. We spent a few more days with Stu and Kylie, went out for Fathers Day lunch for a lovely meal. Weather is starting to get hot there now dont know that I could spend a summer there. Monday 3rd we left after a great couple of weeks and doublebacked to Roebourne, a bit more sightseeing through Cossak which is a ghost town now but the old buildings are beautiful. When we got back to the camp we met up with Richard again who we had met months ago at Timber Creek, it was great to see them again.
Tuesday saw us with a short drive of about half an hour to Karratha and the dearest van park we have stayed in, $38 a night, we did a bit of shopping ,very good shopping centre.I really am in need of some biiiiiiig retail therapy!!!!Next morning we had another big day, over to Dampier (kidding about half an hour) and stayed at the Transit park, only small 17 sites, run by a great gal called Mitch, she knew everyone by first names and was a great character. We spent 3 days there and did a bit of sightseeing. They have the enormous gas plant there, dont do tours through anymore but have a great information centre. It took over 4500 workers to build the plant and they are still extending. Much of the gas now goes to China, and the ship that takes is naturally runs on gas. On then to Hearsons Cove but unfortunately it was low tide so not much to see. Apparently it is the best place to see the stairway to the moon each month. We cant get over the landscape, it looks as if someone has put truckloads of gravel in huge piles, most unusual. There is also the biggest salt production in Dampier, the sea water is pumped into large ponds and left to evaporate, dont know what happens during the wet season I guess production stops.
Friday saws us leave Dampier, do a fuel top up and last minute shop and off to a free camp at Barradale right on the banks of the river (?) It was lovely spot run by main roads but once again the toilets were absolutely disgusting, everyone preferred to dig a hole rather than use them. Surely if Main roads are providing these rest stops they are responsible to look after them. Apart from that it was a lovely spot and there were over 40 vans there for the night.
Next morning we left at 8am and drove to Exmouth, arriving at about 11.30am. As we had been out of phone range we checked our messages as soon as we arrived. Unfortunately 3 were from our daughter Kerri. She and Scott had been on a holiday in NZ, a first wedding anniversary trip( yes one year already). Scott had a terrible accident skiing and has had to have a major operation on his right leg and has pins inserted in the knee and ankle. They are in Invercargill so now have go get him home as comfortably as possible. Scott we wish you a speedy recovery and are thinking of you.
After setting up, which we have down to a fine art now, we went for a drive to familarize ourselves with the place, quite a pretty town. Over to Bundegi beach where there is a big ship wreck and the most beautiful coral, we saw hundreds of huge clams, Tony found an octopus under the rock but we couldnt entice him out. After that we drove up to the lighthouse for a 360 degree views of the beautiful turquiose ocean.
On Sunday we went for a drive with Richard and Mary down to Yardie Creek which is all part of the Cape Range national park, it is a no through road so about 90klms both ways. it was a beautiful drive and Mary and I went for a walk to the top of the gorge which looked back over the ocean, it is the only one that has permanent water in it ( the gorge not the ocean!!!!) We had a picnic lunch under some sheoaks then headed back. On the way we went into a lot of the parking and camping bays to have a look as Tony and I were coming back later in the week to do some fishing. We had a great day, thanks Mary and Richard. We have spent a couple of extra days in Exmouth as we were waiting to hear how Scott was, and if Kerri needed me to come back home for a while. I was emphatically told no I was not breaking my trip, how do you argue. We decided that we would do the 5 days over on the Cape so got ourselves organised. Tony went off to do a few last minute things and was in the supermarket when a voice called out, it was Darren and Bronwyn and their 2 boys from Wyndham, they are on 4 weeks holiday down the coast. It was great to meet up with them again. We had home made vege soup and roast chicken with Richard and Mary amid much laughter, we have shared some great times.
Wednesday saw us go round to the Cape which is only about 4oklms, we got into Neds camp which was supposed to have a boat ramp but it didnt, oh well we just had to do without it. They dont have a booking system with the park camps, you pay your park fee with the ranger and they have a whiteboard with all the camps on it and how many spaces are left, they are all small. When you have chosen they cross it off the board and get in touch with the camp hosts, who are all set up with radios so when you get there they already know you are on your way, we took a generator site just in case we needed it. It is a really good way of doing it. During peak season people are lined up at 5.30am at the ranger station just so they can get a spot even though the office doesnt open till 8am, boy you have to be keen dont you?
We got set up but had trouble putting up the awning because of the wind, we had it anchored down but after 2 days took it down as the wind was so strong it would have ended up ripping it to pieces and its only new anyway, $600 worth just for the vinyl. Tony spent the afternoon getting the boat and trailer ready just in case the wind dropped. By early afternoon it had so out we went along with a few other boats, we had a good day catching our limit of 8 cod,threw back a lot of small stuff as we didnt know what it was and they are pretty strict over here. We were mindful of the wind picking up so decided to call it a day, well it was a hairy ride back and only a 3.5 metre boat, I wouldnt be too keen to go out again in those conditions. Next day we went out again and it was perfect, Tony put in a 200lb line and 3 times a huge fish, ( I think shark) bit of the hook and off he went. We also managed to lose our sand anchor under a rock and couldnt get it off, almost flipped the boat so cut the rope and let it go. Had a really good catch again, no sooner is the line in the water and you have a bite. Three days we went out and caught our quota so have some good meals of fish. We spent Sunday arvo cleaning up, as there is no fresh water we had to clean the boat as best we could , not keen on having salty water running on the Nissan. Monday we set off, called in for coffee with R and M and off to Coral Bay. First impressions, not impressed. We are way over in the workshop area of the park when there are many spots in the main camp, if we dont like it after a couple of days we will ask to be moved. Fuel is dear here $1.67 a litre and food is expensive.
As we were setting up yesterday we went to put the support legs down and got a shock when we looked at the back right wheel of the van, the tread has peeled off for nearly 18inches right down to the wire dont know where it happened but we were very lucky. I will put a pic on the web site next time. Tony has gone out fishing with Peter whom we met at Barn Hill will be home at lunch time so wont take anything out of the freezer just yet. I have spent the morning doing this and the washing as we have lots of stinky fishing clothes. will catch up with you all again soon