Leaving Broome we started heading East, so no more west coast sunsets, we have enjoyed the sun and surf of the north west lately, now for the Kimberley. It’s been a dry, wet season, this year so no doubt it will be dry river beds, and not as lush as we were hoping.
First stop was Derby, not much to see here, a boab prison tree, which they held prisoners in many moons ago and Australia’s longest feed trough. Also have huge tides here around 9 metres we took a walk out on the jetty, then had a cuppa and back on the road again.
That night we found a nice farm stay at Lake Ellendale to camp. So good of the property owners to allow campers in there. The cows were extra friendly and plenty of birdlife around the remaining water. This one particular cow, thought she would like to go vaning with us, even checked out the sleeping arrangements.
next morning it was time to head out, this was a lovely, peaceful overnighter.
The new triton was due for its first service, so we arrived in Broom early and were lucky enough to book into a caravan park not far from Town Beach and within Walking distance to the service centre. The town is so busy, full of tourists and most caravan parks are full. Once we got the car back we were able to go for a drive around and also do some groceries. That night we went to the beachfront markets and had market food for dinner and also our 2nd Mr whippy, ice cream for the day.
The beaches are spectacular here when its high tide, the water is so crystal clear and blue. Great taking photos of it. We went out to the Jetty, the gardens there are beautiful. The meals expensive.!
The last night in Broome we decided a fish and chip, sunset meal at Cable Beach was a must. And we weren’t disappointed .
Whilst staying at Barnhill Station we were invited by Chris’s 2nd cousin to go out to Bidyadanga Community. It is private property, and Carly is a child protection officer there, working out of the police station. There is between 500 and 1,000 Aboriginals living in the community. There is 5 different languages spoken,and it is the biggest community in W A. Carly lives on site, with her husband and 3 children.
We followed Carly and the Boys, for a drive through the town and out to the beach, it was low tide, so all was good till we both started getting bogged in the soft sand and had to let the tyres down.
On the way back we were taken through the scrub along the mangrove creek. Glad we didn’t have to get out of the car here, as it is prime Crock country.!!
It was a good afternoon, and almost sundown by the time we left.
We arrived at Barn Hill Station around lunch time. Not many places take bookings over here, so it’s a case of pot luck as to weather you get a site. We have had no trouble so far, we plan it so we arrive between 10 and 12. Those leaving have checked out and those coming in have stopped for lunch maybe, anyways it workes for us. We landed a nice spot on the cliff , not far from a track leading down to the beach. And how beautiful is this place.!!.??
The sunsets here were amazing. And the temperature was refreshing but not too cold to go for a swim each day. The beach was covered with shells and colourful rocks. But being a farm stay, you are asked not to take them.
We really enjoyed our time here, Chris feed the birds, I took photos and we walked and swam each day.
I can see why people come and stay here for the winter. For us its a case of moving on after a few days. However Chris was able to make contact with a second cousin he had never met. Carly came to visit and the following day took us out to where she works . More to follow on that next time.
After our couple of days inland we headed back out to the coast. Finally we are going in a Northerly direction. Next stop was Cape Keraudren.We had driven up here from Port on one of Chris’s days off last year, and thought it was a good place to come back to on our way home. As it is peak tourist season over here at the moment, we drove around the camping areas before deciding to set up down on the creek . Some areas on the cliff tops, the vans were packed in like sardines. A nice view of the ocean, but not an easy walk down to the water.
Down on the creek ,we had easy access to the beach and only a few others camped there. The water in the creek was a beautiful turquoise and ok to cool off in.
I think we stayed here for 4 days, becoming real beach bums, did lots of walking and collecting shells, even Chris would come back from a walk with a heap of little treasures. If the van wasn’t overloaded before, Im sure it is now, after our stay here.
From this area of the Cape you can see the sunrise as well as set over the water.
After our time here, an early morning start, got us back out to the highway and heading North again, we called into the Sandfire roadhouse for fuel. Next stop will be at Barnhill Station, a large property that has 80 or more kms of coast line.
Just a few more photos from Chinamans pool in Marble Bar. It may be renowned for being the hottest place in Australia, but you sure can get some cool pics there. Found these extra photos of our day there and thought I would put them up.
Our first housesit turned out to be a great, we caught up with friends, went for beach walks each evening and to top it off Tod cooked us a lovely farewell breakfast, with Darryl and Trish (also ex Kalari work mates) on their return from holiday. We ended up leaving town about lunchtime and made our first nights camp on the bank of the Shaw River, on our way to Marble Bar.
So much bird life enjoying the last of the water in the river. Bush flowers are also starting to come out in this area as well.
A nice quiet spot to enjoy the evening .
The next morning we headed out the Marble Bar road. Chris was interested in seeing the new cutting through Koogan Gorge, that has now been finished since we were here last year. It’s a shame I think, as the Pilbara’s landscape is unique and so naturally beautiful it’s a shame to go carving it up. Guess thats progress 🤔
To make up for this last photo of the cutting here is some of the landscape nearby .
The next camp was on a property not far from Marble Bar. A dry creek, but there was a dam and windmill, and a nice view out the window of the hills nearby. Also some sandstone cliffs and wildflowers.
Next day we went to Chinamans pool in Marble Bar. It’s a great place for photos and to do some rock climbing. Not a lot of water there this season, maybe next year we will see it in the wet season, the rocks would be spectacular after rain.
Just had to stop and take some photos of my favourite bush flowers, the Stuart peas. Just love them.
We then spent another night with the birds on the Shaw River.
After catching up with friends at Point Sampson a week or so ago .It was decided that we would House sit while they holiday in Bali. We arrived in time, on the saturday afternoon, to meet the 2 cats and the no so friendly dog, before they flew out. Ruby the dog and I soon came to an understanding, that she would be very hungry, if we didn’t become friends! She must of taken me at my word, as we thought we would sleep in our van, our bed already made up, ect. But no After 3 attempts at putting her to bed, lights off, shutting door and going back to van … each time she started barking and crying , just like a kid. Finally I made the spare room bed up for us, and put her dog bed at the door. As you can see by the next morning she was quite at home on the bed with Chris. And like a child I cannot even go to the toilet without Ruby and the cats escorting me. Guess that’s her meaning of friends !!??
Its been good to have some time back here, as we’ve been able to meet up with friends that worked with Chris at Kalari, and Chris has been able to get more things set up on the new ute ready for the trip home.
I was able to watch the tennis on a big screen, yes, love that, and even Chris sat up watching till the early hours of the morning .
Each afternoon we go for a nice long beach walk, collect shells and watch the sun go down . Its a beautiful time of the day and year here.
The bush is full of flowers now , the only shame is the sand is so coarse and brown. Apart from sun sets the Moon is coming up to full moon tonight, so hopefully I will get some good photos of the Stairway to the moon . The viewing platform is at the end of the street, so I don’t have to walk far.
By the way I don’t edit or add filters to any of my photos I post, In my opinion if they need to be edited then they are not good enough, I love the pastels in the evening photos.
That’s it for now the blog is up to date, bring on the full moon tonight. x
Oh what a mess, just over the bridge at Cane river, we hit not one but 2 cows. One on my side came up on the bonnett, and all I could see was its big red body and legs right in my face. Happened so quickly. Thank God for seat belts. Then we came to a standstill, still partly on the road. Too my amazement I was ok !! Such a calm feeling came over me, till I realised the situation we were in. Chris went back to check the cows were off the road, and warn a roadtrain that was not far behind us. Then panic set in as I had to try and organise a tow truck to get us off the road. Lucky help came with a young chap who already had a breakdown in tow, but said he could hook us up as well and drag us to a safer place down the road. So safe in a pull off area we gave up on trying to get help that night and went to bed. With Chris experience in driving roadtrains, he managed to hold the vehicles steady, and so no damage was done to the van. Lucky he didn’t swerve as there was about a 40 foot drop off, either side of the road where it happened
The next morning the damage was evident. The red Triton had met its fate the same as the 2 cows. Chris rang Mitsubishi Pilbara, in Karratha, to see what they had. Before we knew it Martin, the owner, was offering us a place to stay and a loan car till we got sorted. Insurance company arranged towing to Karratha, some 300 kms away. Just as well we had phone service.
A couple of cows from the herd still about to cross the road. So many feeding on the roads now after the little rain they had.
Our loan vehicle was a top of the range new Triton, very nice. The tow truck driver dropped the van off in the Caravan park and helped us get our stuff out of the red one. It was like sideshow alley when we arrived, people came out of their vans from everywhere, some offering cups of tea, others taking their dogs for a walk[ just to sticky beak] haha. we were given a good spot at the end of a row and looking out into the hills. by nightfall 24 hrs after the accident we were all good for a few days Rand R and think about whats next.
We decided on a new Triton, Karratha had one in stock, so I had the choice of silver or silver, if we wanted to get back on road sooner than later. next it was in the workshop and Chris was able do fit it all out there . They were so good to us.
Obviously he new what he was doing as by the end of the week we were all wired up with tow bar and cameras,and ready to get on road again. A bit of a blip but all is good . One more night in the van park and we were heading for Port Hedland.
After our few relaxing days at 14 mile beach, we left about 10am and travelled up the road to have lunch at Coral Bay . Nice, but very busy, so not our cup of tea, so to speak. I walked up to a lookout and took a couple of photos, before we left.
That evening we pulled into a roadside camp to spend the night before going to Exmouth the next day. Spent the whole day there looking around and getting a set of tyres on the car.
There is a fair amount to see there about WWII.
Also a ship wreck off the point
The beach front on this side of the Exmouth Gulf is very stony, but the oysters on the pier pylons were huge
That evening we were later than normal getting back to the highway, where we fueled up at a roadhouse, and made the decision to do another hour of travel before stopping for the night .We have 300 kms to go before we get to Karratha, where we have the car booked in for a service, the next morning. Driving on into the Pilbara, I took a photo thinking, how special is this place. You can see why people are so attracted to it.
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