June saw us start with a day at Kings Park, Perth. A little overcast and drops of rain, but OK for a visit to one of the best City parks in Australia. It was also West Australian Day so a lot of people were out and about. We had a nice breakfast at the cafe and then a walk around, then a drive around. A great view of the City and Swan River from this parks high vantage point
The awning was replaced and I must say that the blokes that fixed it did a great job. Had to wait another day for the fridge to be fixed and after I picked it up and left Perth, it appears not all is well with it...I would swear now, but it wouldn't get me anywhere as I am not driving back there to yell at them. After Perth we stayed at a Camp spot at Cliff Head south of Geraldton and as it was like a Beach house, we stayed there for two nights and met some lovely people, Jo and Jeff. It is amazing how many nice people are out there and I am so glad I don't live in Sydney anymore with all that arrogance :)
Moved on further north and found another rest area after doing some shopping in Geraldton. The rest area must've had 30 vans there of all shapes and sizes. Plenty of room for all and even had a couple of toilets, although they were the drop type and a bit whiffy. It was right on a nice river and would've stayed longer but woke up to more overcast weather, so headed on up to Denham in Shark Bay and we are currently staying at the Blue Dolphin van park overlooking the bay...pity the weather isn't better as there are some great swimming places here for the girls.
Took a nice drive out to Monkey Mia which is about 30km from Shark Bay (Denham) and paid the $17 to enter. We waited a little while until the Dolphins arrived and we thought for a moment it would be the first time they didn't show up...with the luck we have :)...anyway, 5 showed up and were mostly young ones. The girls were a little bit strange as I don't think they knew what they were. They enjoyed it and Keira fell in the water on the beach...silly bugger, but all ok. We were watching the people trying to see the dolphins and they would stand in front of children and other people and when they were calling out people to feed them, a woman tried to push in, in front of a young boy...and then the mother of the boy fed the dolphin instead of him...people are such arses sometimes...Had a nice cuppa Devonshire tea at the Cafe and then headed off as we didn't want to see the Dolphins again as we see them all the time back home...wink wink...
Steph walked down to IGA for some groceries and when she got back we realised we needed some water to take with us for the girls bottles. I went back down and it poured rained, so I went in the pub to dry off ...with a few $10.50 pints !!!
We caught up again with Ross and Merlene we met in Kalgoorlie as we walked in the pub one night and Ross was there, so the next day we went and visited them at their van park....nice people. We also ran into the gang from Muswellbrook who knew Steph's Dad...small world. After we left Shark Bay we camped up the road a bit and the Muswellbrook gang pulled in an hour after us and parked next door....small world again. We found some firewood and had a nice fire for the night and it was the first one the girls have had...and they loved it.
Stopped at Carnarvon the next day for groceries, fuel, grog and topped up the water tanks for another night camping. We found a nice place just near Minalya and was far enough off the road to be nice and peaceful with no phone or TV. Had another fire, but the girls missed this one as they were asleep....was a cold night with the wind. Next day was even cooler with the wind but at least it was a bit of a tail wind for a change
Traveled the next 250km into Exmouth and booked into the Ningaloo Resort right in town as last time I was here I stayed 30km out of town, so I wanted to do something different for the 3 girls. $48 a night which was not worth it for what you get so we are hoping that when we go out to Cape Range National Park, the wind will have died and we can have a swim and then we can head further north toward WARMER weather.. I do like Exmouth though...beautiful water and far better than Shark Bay
We had our visit to Cape Range National Park and went as far as the road took us, Yardie Creek Gorge. There were a bunch of blokes out there on quad bikes/bikes and were trying to cross the creek. They were putting each quad, or bike onto a small tinnie owned by Yardie Creek Boat tours and had a few across, but lost a couple of the bikes into the water. They retrieved them easy enough, but were full of water...not much good to them now as it was salt water. On the way back from Yardie Creek, we visited all the camp sites and beaches to see how they were. A number of the camp areas were no longer there as they had been washed away a month or so ago with the big rain they had...heaps of damage up there and it must have been something to witness. Also saw Goannas, Echindnas, roos and emus on the way back and visited a beautiful beach at Tourquise Bay...love it there ! I got some good photos of the girls with their hats or sunglasses on...cool chicks !
Had dinner at the Resort restaurant, Pinochios, and my ribs were great, but Steph didn't like her duck dinner much. We were in and out within an hour with the girls and back to keep in the van as the wind came up again overnight. Left in the morning and drove to a Camp site just south of a roadhouse at Nunutaro...and I sit at the camp site typing this. About 200 metres off the road and probably 15 vans here at present and no one is closer than100 metres to us. I set up the Sat Dish so I can watch the last round of the US open tonight and we will leave here tomorrow to head north for another camp spot. Wind has died down. not a cloud in the sky and around 25 degress at 3pm and I just look up to the highway and see a four trailer road train head south...wow, they are big bastards.
Had a great quiet night as it is so peaceful out here on the road side camps. Had a chat to a few people in the morning and then headed off and went into Port Hedland for a few supplies...Fuel, Beer, Wine, Nappies, Water and groceries...in that order! We then drove into the Town iteslf as I had never been there before...and I won't be going there again. Full of red dirt and a small town and I reckon there were more road trains than cars.
Left Port Hedland and travelled a further 90km and stopped at a rest stop on the De Grey River. Bloody beuatiful. Water in the river, about 40 vans and finally a bit of grass for the girls to play on. Met some more nice people here, John and Sue, who just happened to know Ross and Merlene, and we have decided to stay 3 nights. Very peaceful once again. Had a fire, cooked dinner, chopped wood with the chain saw. Fired up the Generator for the first time only to give the batteries a little boost and give the gennie a run. Cleaned my solar panels and when we went for a little walk along the river, we came back to a bunch of cows in our camp...Keira and Zoe loved it. Fixed a blokes satelite so he could watch the State of Origin...even though he was a Qld supporter. I started to watch it on Foxtel a bit later as I didn't have Channel 9, and I fell asleep after half time...bummer. I did see the great result the next morning though !!!
A very nice peaceful 3 nights at this camp and were even invaded by cows two nights in a row. Decided to move on up to Eighty Mile Beach and collect some shells. Arrived around 11.30am and booked in for 3 nights as there is a roast dinner on Sunday night for $20. Looking forward to not cooking ! Visited the beach and got some shells, and then drove down it for a few km's the next day and got some more. A nice bloke behind us has given us some Thredfin Salmon for dinner tonight...should be great. Not many being caught here, but everyone is enjoying the peace and quiet. A lot of the people here come and stay for up to 5 months and all know one another. Nice people and some markets on here tomorrow. It is an Oasis in the Desert and a great place. Moving on Monday for Broome and from there, all will be on the way home as we have gone as far as we can this way.
Arrived in Broome on the 23 June and booked into the Tarangau CP. Hot here !! Other people we met in Perth came in the day after and hopefully I will go on a fishing charter with the blokes one day. Took Steph for a drive around and then we went down and drove on Cable Beach. Went to Ganteume Point and had a swim at low tide which wasn't all that good as there were a lot of Jellyfish about and Steph reckons the kids got stung...they were asleep in 2 minutes after getting in the car :) I went down to Cable beach this morning for a swim and the water was absolutely perfect...Steph didn't want to get the kids out in the heat ????? Anyway, I hope she comes tomorrow morning as I don't want to go at low tide this afternoon again and have the same dramas.
All the caravan parks are just about booked out and we are at this one for a week, then have to move to another one for the 2nd week as I want to stay longer after driving so bloody far to get here. 12,500km !! And it has cost me about $16,000 !!!! Had to pay for a few damages along the way though and have used 3000 litres of fuel in some bad head and cross winds. Using at least 25% more fuel on some occasions...and even more !
Visited Cable Beach again and drove up to the high tide mark, or what I thought was the high tide mark....only for the water to lap my back wheels and nearly bog me...but with a bit of toing and froing, I got it out. Water was bloody beautiful. Girls like playing in the sand, but not too keen on the waves just yet. Met up with people we have met along the way on the beach at sunset to watch the Camels wander past and the girls were suitably impressed. Heaps of people down there, but plenty of room. Had drinks and some nice food at the Sunset Bar sunday arvo with beer and Champagne. Decadence !!! Love it !!!
Moved van parks today to one about 5km out of town which has a large pool and lovely shady trees. We are on a concrete slab and it is nice and peaceful here. Will be moving on next Monday, 7 July and will start to head across the top. Maybe stop for a night or two at Bungle Bungles, then Kununurra and then on to Katherine where the girls are booked in to have their 18mnth vaccinations. So until the July Notes, see you...and more photos have been added
Steph typing now = today is our 10th Anniversary. Gary forgot....
Gary typing now = Too many other things to do packing up and re setting up the van...chasing kids and paying money for accommodation
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