Well there’s no sleeping in with this lot.! Could hear voices around 6.30 am. Fire had been stoked and I could see all 5 including Chris having their morning cuppa. Ok, so lets get this show on the road. Packed up and on the way by about 9. It didn’t take me long to realize why our friends have such a early start, because by 10 o’clock they are talking about pie shops and morning tea.. next it’s lunch and then it’s time to do a few more kilometres before pulling up to make camp around 3pm.
Found a great area on the Gascoyne River.
So much birdlife here.
With plenty of daylight left I was able to go for a walk along the bank and take some photos. 
There wasn’t much firewood where we pulled up so Chris and Neil went off and found enough wood for the night .
As there were no other campers around , they set the fire up in the middle of the track.! As you do.! 
Another night of laughter and drinking.
Port Hedland to Mulga Downs
Our friends arrived at the Kalari depot around 10 am. We were all set ready to head out on our much anticipated wildflower trip with them. So let’s go, a bit of shopping in Hedland to start off, then headed south. All chatting on the C B radio, pointing out any points of interest.
Not sure how far we travelled on the first day, but we pulled into a clearing off the road in the Mulga Downs area.
We set up camp and Neil showed us how a campfire is made. A few drinks and dinner by the fire, was a great way to start out. A beautiful evening, so we sat out under the stars till bedtime.
Marble Bar ..Day trip
Yesterday we decided to go for a day trip out to Marble Bar, it’s only a couple of hours drive from where we are staying. We’re both starting to get itchy feet, to be on the road again. We left about 9am and called into Dooleena Gorge just before Marble Bar.
Like most riverbeds up this way, the area was completely dry, but still worth a look and a couple of photos.
Then it was into Marble Bar.
We had lunch at the Ironclad Hotel.
We were quite surprised at how busy the town was, and our burgers for lunch were huge and delicious.
Then we went for a wander over the rocks at Chinamans Swimming hole. 
Very slippery to clamber around and by then it was quite hot, around 30 degrees, but worth it to see all the amazing colors through the rocks, which are smooth and look like marble. Took lots of photos here.
On the drive you could notice the wildflowers starting to come out and came across a patch of WA Sturt Pea. 
Just beautiful. We have a couple of weeks off from the 4th Aug. So looking forward to catching up with good friends Tom and Kathy and travelling South with them to see more of WA’s wildflowers. So till then keep well and happy. x
Port Hedland update
Well we’re still here, and quite enjoying it, been 3 months now. No winter and the temperature sits between 12 overnight and 28 during the day, starting to warm up now, so almost time to move south. So far our plans have worked out well, with us both getting plenty of work. We’ve made new friends that we will keep in contact with and hopefully catch up with over east some time in the future.
Chris’s previous boss and his wife live across the creek behind us, so we go over occasionally for a night out and I feed the chooks when they are away. 
Walking across the dry creek bed is interesting, coming home at midnight can be a bit tricky, as chris tends to get lost and fall over (drunk as) , makes for a good laugh, all by the light of a full moon.
Over the last week we haven’t had any work due to shortages at the mine, so as well as Chris having a rest we’ve been able to go swimming a few times.
South Hedland has one of the best aquatic centres we have been to, and we’ve swam in lots of pools, on our travels.
Last week I spent some time in at Port, watching the tugs bring in the boats to be loaded, it’s a favourite pastime seeing how these little vessels manoeuvre huge ships around.
Also just out of town are the salt pads, a good place to take photos of salt being scooped up into big piles, ready for loading.
Hope I’m not boring you with all my photos, but this is certainly a unique place, when you take the time to look around. Cheers for now. X
Port Hedland WA
Hard to believe we have been here in Port Hedland for 9 weeks now, and what’s even more unbelievable is I’m quite happy here. Chris is back carting copper out of Telfa mine and back here to Port. So is doing an average of 16 hrs, 6 days a week. I also have been given about 20 hrs cleaning a week. Certainly no time for boredom.
When we arrived here, there seemed to be a problem with the gearbox in the car, had it looked at in town and sure enough it needed to go down to Karratha.
Thankfully the gearbox was replaced under warranty, although we were without our car for 5 weeks. Just as well we got here and not held up on the road somewhere, were able to use a work vehicle when needed. We had a trip down to Karratha, lunch, and a nice day out, when it was ready to be picked up.
Had a drink at the renowned Whim Creek Hotel, on the way home.
I haven’t taken many photos yet. The sunsets are beautiful, 
and the lights around Port are magical.
We have gone in for dinner on the waterfront a couple times.
They hold night markets, when there’s a full moon, and viewing the stairway to the moon is something not to be missed. 
When the wind and the heat of the day subsides, it’s very pleasant out of an evening.
Now that we have the car back I will go for a drive with the camera one day soon. Hope you enjoy seeing the update, till next time keep safe.
Port Hedland WA
Arrived in Port Hedland. Did some shopping, Then back out to South Hedland. and Kalari’s yard, which will be home for awhile. We are quite well set up here, all undercover, with exta shower, toilet and room, if Chris finds he can’t sleep in van during the day. He’s doing well at the moment, snoring his head off after driving all night. Poor bugger.
They have a great aquatic center only 15 mins away, so go in when we can. The pool is a constant 30deg all year round and open till 7pm. During the day it is still very hot around 38 most days. So I tend to stay indoors, reading ,cooking and playing with photos on computer, keeps me amused while Chris is away driving or asleep. Those that have been to Port Hedland know it is hot ,dry and dusty. RED Dust.!! So doesn’t have a lot going for it during the day.
However the sunsets are beautiful and as night falls, the place turns into a wonderland of lights.
We went into the markets last Saturday night, and were surprised at the hundreds of people there.
I guess enjoying the cooler evening air, although I was still sweating. We had snapper and chips in the park, on the waterfront, and a bit of fun with a crocodile ( a stone one)
Finally I’ve brought this blog up to date. Not sure whats ahead during our stay here, but no doubt I’ll be out with my camera soon, and have more to put on. If you have been following us on here feel free to add any comment, I welcome your thoughts. Cheers till then. Merelyn.
Karijini to Yule River WA
We really didn’t want to leave Karijini so soon, but there’s that little matter of income. Besides the gearbox in the car needs to be looked at, doesn’t sound good, so its off to Port Hedland and back to work for Chris. But not before one more swim in the Fern Pool.
Naturally, it is cause sand, but the perfect spot to spend our last night before our stay at Port Hedland.
Almost a full moon, quite warm and no mossies, so we ate dinner outside and listened to music.
Karijini WA, waterfalls and Dales Gorge
This place is one of the most beautiful areas we have been to. Put aside the heat, dryness and of coarse the flies, it is just magic if you like swimming and photography , thats me! Hard to know what photos to show, I took so many. Firstly here’s some of the main swimming area at Fortescue Falls. There is 300 odd stairs down the cliff face, which makes it easy to access. Coming back up is a different matter. 
Chris waited patiently while I climbed carefully down behind him. At the bottom we had to walk further, to the end of the gorge, before having the best swim, stayed in for over an hour. The water coming out between the rocks isn’t such a huge amount, but it’s so warm, just like a warm shower, loved it. 
After our circular pool swim it was time to make our way back along the base of the gorge on the opposite side. a great walk, through streams and along interesting coloured rock faces, with plants growing out of them. 
At the far end of the gorge, is another waterfall and the fern pool. just what we needed. Crystal clear water, surrounded by ferns, with lots of fish quite visible and happy to nibble on you when you get in the water. how special is this place and how fortunate are we to be able to enjoy it.
That was our few days in this paradise. Sure hope we can do it again one day.
Mt Robinson, Albert Tognolini, and Peace Gorge to Karijini WA
Got sidetracked a couple of times today. Went into Albert Tognolini Lookout for a look
Just breathtaking 
Then into Peace Gorge..Would be good at sunset.
Then onto the Auski roadhouse, nestled in beautiful surrounds 
Then checked into Karijini National Park, and went for our first swim at Fortescue Falls.
Not cold and so beautiful after all the red dust of the last week.
Then a lovely sunset finished the day . Now looking forward to spending the next few days here. 
Wiluna to Mt Robinson WA
Was quite surprised that we had a quiet night in Wiluna, so we were up early to tackle the road through to Meekatharra. We had been told it was a 100klm of bad gravel, and advised not to take it. But rather than backtrack and add an extra 200 kms, we decided to chance it. Not a problem ! It was part gravel, part bitumen, and took us a little over an hour till we reached Meekatharra. Had a cooked breakfast in a nice park there. 
From there it was up the Great Northern Hwy to Newman, an active mining town.
Still very hot and dry and temperatures of 38 plus each day. We are now wanting to get to Karijini for a few days, before Chris starts work in Port Hedland next week. Longest day so far and almost nightfall, by the time we pulled up at a camp at Mt Robinson.
Next day I took a couple of photos of our surrounds 
and then we were off again.
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