Quondong Beach

Coral

We spend 3 nights at Quondong Beach. On Friday morning Phill & Shell got some very exciting news their daughter Traci had a baby boy Nate, both are well, so we had a roast dinner & wine to welcome him into the world. During our stay we saw whales in the distances, I’m afraid to far away to photograph, also on low tide we walked around the rocks & saw some coral & other little sea creatures. A very nice & relaxing time was had by all.

A Feather Starfish

Thursday 19th July

Sunset at Quondong Beach

We arrived in Broome at 10.30 found someone who can fix the Air Con for Phill & Shell but they can’t do it until Monday which suits us. We went to ARB Broome & got our new Steering Dampener fitted. We headed out the Cape Leveque Road to Quondong Beach & made camp, we travelled 214 Ks. We walked down the beach & walked sunset very nice way to finish the day.

Wednesday 18th July

When we woke this morning we had cows wandering thought the campground. We said goodbye to Phil & Rhonda they assured us this would be the last time.

We had lunch near Sandfire Roadhouse and we had Peacocks as our luncheon companions. We keep travelling to Goldwire campground, we travelled 370Ks

Tuesday 17th July

We left Yule River after saying goodbye to Phil & Rhonda again & drove to Port Hedland, we looked around at the Port Loading Facilities, there were 2 ships being loaded one was an Australian owned ship, which is quiet rare, it was called the Pacific Triangle, it took 20 hours to load & carried 158,000 tonnes of Iron Ore. We also went to Redbank the viewing area for the Salt Farm & for the trains coming into town but I’m afraid no trains came along.

We had not been on the road long when Phill & Shell had a problem their Air Con, the clutch had burnt out, we kept going north & camped at De Grey River for the night & guess who were there, Phil & Rhonda. We travelled 145 Ks.

Sunday 15th July

When we woke this morning there was alot of birdlife. We had a cooked breakky so we didn’t hit the road until 11.30 & we only travelled 120 Ks to Yule River, Phil & Rhonda came in just as we pull up to camp as well. We did some washing, Phill cooked some bread. The campsite was so lovely we stayed for 2 nights.

Sunset at Yule River

Saturday 14th July

Trains coming & going at Cape Lambert

We said our goodbyes to Phil & Rohonda & drove to Roebourne, Wickham & Cape Lambert, which is one of the Iron Ore loading ports, Port Samson & Cossack, back in the late 1800’s it was the first port in WA, now it’s a ghost town as the ships of today are too large to come  into the wharf. We left & headed north until we found a campsite on a Lagoon for the night, we did about 160 Ks.

Lagoon at our Campsite

Thursday 12th July

We were on the road it by 9 o’clock heading for Dampier where we had a Kodak moment with the Statue of Red Dog; we had lunch on the beach with a very nice view of the Ocean.

We had a look at the Salt mine as well. We’re not seeing the mine sites like we did while travelling up inland but we’re seeing all the trains carting the Iron Ore to be exported. Then we travelled into Karratha, looked at the big Gas plant & did some shopping. We made camp just out of Karratha at Cleaverville, where we had a beach front view to watch sunset, with friends of Phill & Shell’s from Rocky Phil & Rhonda.

Shell & I went to the Phill beach hairdressers while we were camped at Cleaverville; it was so lovely we stayed there for 2 nights.

We have done our sums & made a couple of phone calls & we can get fuel at both of the Aboriginal Communities on the Canning, we just can't get fuel from them on weekends or during their long lunch breaks.

Wednesday 11th July

Fortescue River

We were woken by a light shower at 5.30; it was only enough just to wet the canvas, so we didn’t rush into getting up, by the time we did get up the sun had dry it properly, we were on the road by 10 o’clock to drive into Millstream National Park.

The Fortescue River runs thought the park and it supplies all the water to Karratha/ Dampier on the coast.
At the homestead in the park were we stopped for lunch we found our first problem of the day our back door of the cruiser wouldn’t open, after about 15 minutes the guys got it to open & they fixed it with a couple of zip ties.

We continued on our tour of the park to Python Pool where we found our second problem, a broken steering dampener, Dale removed it & we will get a new one down the track. We travelled 210 Ks today, the days are getting warmer & the nights are milder, we’re having a small campfire every night & stargazing.

Python Pool

Tuesday 10th July

Up and on the road by 10 o’clock. We drove to Hamersley Gorge and walked down into the Gorge, which was a nice walk & we had really good views of the gorge & waterfalls. Near there we had a Kodak moment with a giant Terminate Nest.

From Hamersley we went to Wittenoom which is a deserted town in WA, Asbestos was mined there and back in the 1980’s and the Government closed down the town, in the town we saw some Sturt Desert Peas, first of many that we have seen on the trip.

Near Wittenoom we came across two wide loads being transported from Port Hedland, 300 Ks away by road, to a new Iron Ore Mine north of Wittenoom. The first load was 14 metres wide & the second one was 100 metres long but one of the prime movers towing the second load had a breakdown so it was stationary. We travelled 160 Ks.

Monday 9th July

Joffre Falls

Up and on the road by 9 o’clock we headed back into Karijini National Park & travelled to the west end to see Knox Lookout and Joffre Falls, travelled on a bit more to the Junction Lookout & Oxer Lookout. All the gorges were unbelievable to see, we wished it was a bit warmer so we could go for a swim. After we had a late lunch we headed to Tom Price & made camped about 20 Ks from the town. Some of the roads in the Park were a bit rough, but they had signs saying so. We did 208 Ks.

Junction Lookout

Saturday 7th July

Circular Pool

We were up at 7.30 had breakky & said our goodbyes to Trent, Blake & Dave, we had a really great night catching up with Trent, as we haven’t seen him since January. Back on the road at 10 o’clock & headed to Karijini National Park to the East end and went to Dales Gorge & looked at the Circular Pool, then we walked into Fortescue Falls & Ferns Pool. We made camp just on the edge of the National Park, Trent told us about the campsite, it was that nice we decided to stay there for 2 nights, thanks Trent.

On our day of rest we caught up with our washing & relaxed the rest of the day like you do on Holidays. 

Dale at Dales Gorge

Ferns Pool

Fortescue Falls

Friday 6th July

We woke to -1.5 degrees it was a shock to us all. We packed up and got on the road by 7.15 and turned the heater up to flat out to thaw out. We had lunch near Kumarina Roadhouse and got to Capricorn Roadhouse near Newman to fuel and order our fuel to be taken in and left at the drop point on at the Canning Stock Route, we fuelled the Cruiser ok but we were told we’re too late to order as their last drop is in August & there not taking any more orders. We were a little bit annoyed as in the paper work we got when we brought our permit it stated you only need to order your fuel 6 weeks before go on your trip and its 8 weeks ahead of our start date.  We will have do our sums, and work out things a bit better we might have to buy a few Jerry Cans to get thought.

Campsite at Mt Robinson

We headed out the Port Hedland Hwy 109 Ks & made camp at Mt Robinson campsite it’s near West Angelas Mine were our nephew Trent works, Trent & 2 mates Blake & Dave came out for dinner & a sleepover with us. We travelled 654 Ks and pasted 9 mines. 

Phill telling a Story to Trent & Dale

Thursday 5th July

We were back on the road by 8.45; we travelled through Menzies& Leonora, had lunch near Leinster, the road just seemed to go on forever. We fuelled at Wiluna & headed west to Meekatharra we got about 60 Ks out the road, made camp & had another campfire. We saw a few Wedge-Tail Eagles today it was very hard to get a good photo of them. We pasted 19 mines sites and travelled 557 Ks.

Wedge-Tail Eagles

The Road north of Kalgoorlie

Wednesday 4th July

Enjoying our first of many campfires

After leaving Cascade we headed for Grass Patch, Salmon Gums, Norseman & we had late lunch near Widgiemooltha. Back on the road we got to Kalgoorlie were we fuelled up, still heading north we got about 42 Ks from Kalgoorlie & made camp. It didn’t take as long as we thought to set up the camper; it’s been over 18 months since we have used the camper. It was great to be back camping, sitting around a campfire, relaxing.  Between Norseman & Kalgoorlie we past 24 mines that we could see near the Highway, we travelled 433 Ks.

Ready to Leave on Holiday

Its 9 am on 4th July, we are all packed to head off on our holiday in north WA with Phill & Shell