Day 12 - Broome

The weather has warmed up a bit now.  It is still cool at nights, but nothing like it has been.  We have been freezing at night, up until Eighty Mile, thought we would have packed the jumpers away by now.  But the days in Broome are up to 32C so it has been just beautiful for swimming.

Today is spent by the pool and down the beach.  I took the kids for a walk to Cable Beach this morning and the tide was right up, then we went back to watch the sunset, with every other tourist in town!!! ... and the tide was out about 300m, the kids couldn't believe the rocks they could see that they couldn't see this morning.  We watched the camels walk up and then it was like peak hour trying to get out of the car park.  We think we prefer Broome in January!!!!

Day 11 - Broome

Can you believe it ..............we are parked opposite the Divers Tavern in Broome and there is a band rockin' the night away about 50m away and we are sitting in our PJ's, having a coffee and doing the blog at 9:50pm!!!!  How times have changed!!!!  We did contemplate putting the kids to bed and going across the road and kicking our heels up, but decided that probably wasn't responsible parenting!!!!!!  So, I think I will be awake until stumps tonight, great music but!!!!!

So, on the road again!!!!  We are getting into a good pack up routine now and things run pretty smoothly.  We check into the Palm Grove Resort at Cable Beach just after lunch.  The kids meet another lovely family at the pool who are also travelling around Australia.  We are meeting more and more of them but most have been on the road for months.  We may yet become hippies and just keep travelling!!!!

We decide to take the kids to the Sun Pictures which is an old outdoor theatre, so we watch Kung Fu Panda under the stars.  We even see a shooting star in the middle of the movie which I thought was a bit special!!!

Day 10 - More relaxing!!!

Today was almost a carbon copy to yesterday, except for one thing, we decide to head to the beach to watch the sunset as we haven't seen one yet, we walk over the hill and the water had disappeared!!!!!  Just as Dad described, it was like someone had pulled the plug out, the water was about 400-500m out and you could see people standing way out on the water's edge and they looked like midgets!!!  We could hardly believe our eyes.  We walked all the way out the water, over what was, just that afternoon the ocean floor, and we would have easily been shark bait had we been out that far earlier today!!!  We did wonder if a Tsunami was looming, but no one seemed concerned!!!  The kids found little crabs that scurried back into the sand and I took some photos, but I don't know if they really do it justice.

Here we are right at the water's edge and if you look out the back you can see people sitting on the beach watching the sun go down.

Day 9 - Relaxing at Eighty Mile

Well, we have run out of excuses, we have the perfect running beach and beautiful weather so Glen and I take it in turns this morning to go for a jog along the beach before breaky.  Just beautiful!!!

There is not too much to do here except relax so we decide to make the most of it as there won't be much opportunity to laze around in the future.  Thought we had better get the school work out also, much to the kids disgust, very hard to get motivated to do school work with a beach over the hill, so my apologies teachers, I don't know how much we are going to get done!!!!

Tori's creation

We spend the rest of the day at the beach, the kids just spend all their time collecting shells and making creations out of them.  Cody gets great pleasure out of finding the dorsal fins off small sharks that people have caught.  The colour of the water reminds me of Warton Beach at Esperance,  such a pretty blue.  So a very relaxing day and I actually start reading my book!!!!

Day 8 - Eighty Mile Beach

Thanks everyone for posting comments.  It's great to know you are all with us.

Well, today we got an early start as I think half the caravan park here in South Hedland is on day shift and it started at 6am, but that suited us fine as you can't book a site at Eighty Mile, it is first in best dressed so we wanted to arrive by lunch time.  However, before leaving I must first retrieve Cody's speedos from the rafters of the ablutions with a mop, as while I was doing the grocery shop the arvo before, Dad had sent them to have showers, goodness knows what went on in there but apparently it was all Toris fault!!!

So only a 280km drive today.  We pull in to Pardoo for a quick stop, Cody thinks this is the caravan park as there are about 20 vans parked here.  We certainly feel at home up here in our van and "Big Bertha" doesn't seem so big after all.

What a great day to arrive at Eighty Mile Beach.  The caravan park seems to have a high percentage of permanent residence, or at least a lot they stay here for months on end as it is a massive park, almost like a little village.  Today is market day and people come from all directions to set up their handcrafted second hand stalls.  The kids make friends the instant they step out of the van, then time to spend some pocket money on knick knacks from the market.

Our toe sandals we purchased from the markets.

We have never seen a beach quite like Eighty Mile, as the name suggests, it goes on forever in both directions and is just covered in shells, the tide is out a bit today, about 250 m from the dunes, but no swimming because of the sharks.

Tonight is also $6 hamburger night at the shop, so the whole park migrates, chair in one hand and drink in the other.  We decide to join them all and hook up with a couple of other families also travelling around Australia.  My first "kitchen free" night.....yay!!!!

Day 7 - Travel to Port Hedland

Today we pack up to head to our next destination.  We are a bit sad to go, but are looking forward to some warmer nights ahead.  Our plan is to stop at Indi Station., on Dad's recommendation, however, we decide that as we are passing by at only 12:30pm and we really need some supplies, we will push on to Port Hedland.  The kids are excited about the prospect of a pool and we are excited about the prospect of an unlimited time in the shower!!!!  So we check in to Black Rock Caravan Park, another mining park like the one at Newman so it is cheap but has all the basics we need.  We do a tag team down the street while the kids swim all arvo.  I finally get to update the blog as it is the first chance I have had since Newman.  It is now 9:45 and the kids are still awake so they obviously didn't swim for long enough!!!  Tomorrow...Eighty Mile Beach!!!

Cora, your treats have been just fantastic and they are still going, the kids think it is Christmas every time they open the esky for morning tea!!!

Day 6 - Kalimina Gorge and Circular Pool

We have the best day today in the gorges.  Firstly, we head for Kalumina Gorge.  A grade 3 climb, but not as treacherous as Fortescue, and a wide gorge at the bottom which is great for walking through.  We spend a fantastic morning walking to the end and stop at a beautiful pool on the way back for a swim and lunch.  It is impossible to describe the beauty of the colours, we could just sit all day and admire the surroundings.  Very hard to put it into words.  Something everyone should add to their "bucket list"!!!!

After this, we head to the Visitors Centre for showers and to get some more water.  Karijini is very isolated, not only is there no access to technology, there is no power, no fuel and the nearest bore water supply is from a tank about 10km away.  The camp has long drop toilets and there are two showers at the Visitors centre which is only open from 9:30 - 3:30, so you have to plan your showers.

Anyway, after this, we decide to tackle Circular Pool which we know is going to be awesome.  It is a grade 4 climb and we look over the railing at the the edge of the lookout and the sheer drop down to the bottom is enough to make a Mother sick!!!  But we see people swimming in the pool and decide we have to go down. The kids were awesome, "Mum, don't hold my hand so tight!!"  " Mum I can actually climb a lot easier without you holding onto me", so I was a little nervous!!!!  Shannae, Tori and Glen go in for an obligatory dip in the pool, the coldest one ever apparently!!!!!  And Cody does his rock skimming!!!!   Shannon, we met a couple down there "Barry and Donna" who said they knew you.

So, the trip up was set at a cracking pace with Cody in the lead.  He was up and out of the gorge before I had time to panic, we are all puffing and panting trying to keep up.  He is so energetic and has the agility of a leopard, needless to say he was asleep as soon as he hit the pillow that night!!!

Day 5 - Sunday 24th July - Fortescue Falls/Fern Pool

So today we get to hit the gorges.  The children are already terrified, before we even get there, as we have given them a big lecture on how dangerous the gorges are and how careful you have to be.  Fortescue Falls and Fern Pool are in walking distance from camp and only a grade 3 climb so we figure it is a good place to start.  Some hand rails and some fencing but beyond that a sheer drop to the bottom.  Certainly not good for the Mother's nerves and I make a mental note that this will not become an annual relaxing holiday destination.  The kids are just great, they take it easy and they are just in awe of the beauty of the gorge walls. We head on straight through to Fern Pool for a swim.  By now Cody has a pocket full of ''skimming rocks" which he proceeds to fire off!!  Shannae, our mermaid, is immediately into the cold waters and Dad and Tori soon follow.  Cody and I like to assess the situation a little longer while the girls and Glen are straight over to the water fall.  Before Dad returns to make sure we don't miss out on our bath for the day!!!  "Cold"  is probably not the right word to use for Fern Pool, however, we soon learn that this is the "warm" pool!!

Fern Pool

We sit and have lunch over looking Fortescue Falls and defrost in the sun before walking along the bottom of Dale's gorge towards Circular Pool for about 1km.  The climb out is less stressful than on the way down, much to my relief.

We head back to camp with the footy derby on our minds and decide to tackle the satellite and see if we can remember how to get the tv going, however, we have no joy, so decide that the Eco Retreat 33km away must have a big screen tv that is showing the footy and besides, its only 33 km!!!!  Well...............yes...............but on gravel..............and not the gravel we are used to!!!  We hit a maximum speed of 60 km and pass various car parts, hubcaps, mudflaps and exhaust pieces!!!  by the time we reach the Eco Retreat I feel like I have just gotten off one of those "Shake your Fat Off" machines!!!  We do have a nice surprise....flushing toilets!!!!.... however, no big screen tv, not even a little screen tv.......we buy a "gold plated" round of drinks and don't find out who won the footy for a couple of days!!!!  The only down side to being out of touch with the world!!!  We decide to have a "movie night" with the kids on our bed....mmm ......a king size bed could have been good!!

Day 4 - Tom Price

Glen's cousin Todd Mazza, and his family, have lived in Tom Price for 15 years.  So today we head in for a visit as Todd has the day off and we need to wash and buy some groceries.  The 100km drive in through the Hamersley Ranges is just beautiful, a very different scenery to what we have witnessed to Newman.  Tom Price is nestled amongst the ranges and it is a thriving mining community with 2 primary schools and one DHS and every possible recreational activity facility that you could imagine.  We plan to wash at the laundromat and get fuel at the cheapest servo, well, guess what???......no laundromat and only one servo!!  Luckily Todd and Leanne are happy for us to do our washing at their place.  The kids befriend Kovu the shitsu, who took quite a liking to Tori's socks and tried to take on Glen !!!

Todd was kind enough to give us a tour of the town, both Leanne and the girls work on Saturday, so we visit them, then Todd drives us up to Mt Nameless, the tallest accessible mountain in WA.  Well, not being a huge lover of heights I have a quiet panic in the backseat on the way up a very rough and very steep ascent, reassuring Shannae that it is just fine and that these guys drive up here all the time.  The view from the top is spectacular, Tom Price on one side and the mine on the other.  We would love to know how Todd and Leanne fared at the annual fun run up Mt Nameless on Sunday morning!!!....not a job for the faint hearted!!!

The top of Mt Nameless

It is great to catch up with the Mazza'a and we get back to camp before the cows and the rest of the wildlife start making their way across the road!!!

Day 3 - Mt Whaleback Mine

This morning we were booked in to go on the Mt Whaleback mine tour in Newman.  This mine is the largest open cut iron ore mine in the world.  It is just amazing.  The mine started in 1968 and they believe it still has 20-30 years left in it with increased production predicted in the near future.  The size and statistics of fuel consumption and money made, weight of vehicles, costs of spare tyres etc is just mine blowing and has to be seen to be believed.  They took us up to a look out which over looked the whole mine. An amazing sight to see.

These tyres weigh nearly 5 tonne each and cost $40000, imagine having to change a flat!!

Anyway, after the tour ended at around 11:30 we headed for Karijini with only 230km ahead of us.  We decided to take the punt and see if we could get a spot at Dales's Gorge, lucky for us there were places available so we set up camp for a few nights.  No phone service, no internet, no newspapers and no tv.........blissful!!!

Day 2 - Newman

Well, and early start this morning with little sleep after we heard every single triple tear past at high speed.  Tori reckons she counted 9 trucks, Glen and I think she might have been about 291 short!!!!!  We head off at 7:30, a bit dewy but the lake is an absolute picture in the morning with the ducks stirring the water.  First stop Meekatharra. (sp?).  We pull in for fuel and a toilet stop.  Glen in a rush to pay for fuel and move out the way for the next person, sees us heading out of the toilet which he then proceeds to go into himself, much to Shannae's disgust "Mum, Dad just went into the ladies toilets"  He then makes a hasty retreat and into the correct one.  The cashier gets a laugh too!!!!  Poor Dad!!!

After a 230km drive we have a lunch break at Kumarina Roadhouse then head to Newman, van is towing well and the roads are fantastic to drive on, straight and flat, don't think that is going to last long though!!!  Getting a sore hand waving to every truckie and caravan, which is all we seem to see on the road!!

Arrive at Newman, it is 26C, so of course the kids want to go for a swim, as you do when you have a pool at the park and your bathers packed.  The water temp was absolutely freezing, so then a walk to the awesome playground across the road.  The kids have been great in the car but they really enjoy a play.

So, another 516km under our belt, we knew we would have a few big days of driving to start, looking forward to stopping at Karijini.

Day 1 - Lake Nallan

Well, we had a very smooth departure leaving at 8:30 which we were pretty happy with.  Mixed emotions knowing we were leaving for so long, very scary.  However, great to be on the road and not have anything else we can possibly do.  Crops are looking great as we drive out so a load off our mind.  First 100km I spent trying to think what we had forgotten, but can't think of anything major which is good.   Stopped at Paynes Find for lunch and a stretch.  Next stop was Mt Magnet where the kids had a play on the playground and quickly made friends with one of the locals "Bobby".....quite a card!!!  And finally we found the beautiful Lake Nallan.  The lake was very full so road access was a little difficult, however, the parking bay was well hidden and it had a great little area for a barbi so we decided to camp there the night and not even unhook.  Not much wood around, but Glen headed across the road so we ended up with a roaring fire at the end of the night.  A nice couple from Perth also camped next to us.  They have just come down from Broome so interesting to talk to them about their travels.  So 489km under our belt and another big day tomorrow.

The time has come

We can't quite believe it.  The time has finally come and we are frantically packing with only 4 sleeps to go.  Glen and I are getting very excited, after having had some fantastic rain, it has made everything seem so much more enjoyable.  But, what to pack, winter for the first couple of days then "bring on the sun", a bit hard to think sunscreen and insect repellent at present but that will be a reality in 2 short weeks.

So when we started planning this trip about 10 years ago our initial thoughts were to take a camper trailer, but with the addition of each child and after each trip to the Dowerin Field Day, our ideas have gradually gone from a camper trailer with a boat and motorbike, to a pop top, to a 3/4 pop top and then eventually to the triple bunk, toilet/shower and 2 Tv option, 24 ft "Big Bertha" that we now find ourselves proud owners of.  We do love the luxury of not having to build our home at every stop, however, the downside is, "She .....UGE", but, hey, we're in no hurry, which is just as well!!!!

So , we head off on Wednesday, first stop Lake Nallan, 20km north of Cue for a night of free camping.  With a max of only 16 forecast we hope to get away relatively early as we are looking at 470km, which is a long haul with "Big Bertha" on the back.  We plan to arrive with enough time to collect some wood and build a fire before frost bites kicks in.