Carnarvon

18 August 2012

In Carnarvon for 5 nights.

Ma & Poppa


19 August 2012
Crossing the Tropic of Capricorn

Email update 20 August 2012:

Hi All

The weeks are going very quickly now and we have been on the road 13 weeks. Travelled 10000km and are in Carnarvon.

After leaving Eighty Mile Beach we travelled to Port Hedland and South Hedland to stock up the whisky food and fuel.
Didn't stay overnight there but travelled to De Grey River and then West Peawah Creek. Both of these were free camps.

Then we arrived at Karratha for 3 nights which is a very progressive area and took in the sights of the Pilbara which has fantastic scenery and some wildflowers. Saw some very long trains loaded with iron ore going to Dampier.
Also visited Dampier before leaving to continue down the west coast to Exmouth. 2 more free camps on the way. 

We stayed at the Lighthouse Caravan Park at Exmouth for 4 nights. Toured down the coast (Yes the Indian Ocean) to Yardie Creek and the Cape Range National Park. The next day  we travelled down the gulf road and drove into the most amazing gorge area with views to the gulf and into the gorge.  From Exmouth we went to Coral Bay for one night. It is a beautiful bay area where you feed the fish along the bank and they swim around your feet. The colours of the water were amazing and you can see Ningaloo Reef in the distance. A lot of people go snorkeling. Then we travelled onto Carnarvon (arriving Sunday 19th)
which is known for its horticulture and tourism. Lovely fruit and veges grown locally. We are here for 5 nights and start the tourist thing tomorrow as today we washed and did the shopping.

Our little L turned 4 yesterday and we missed her very much.  She had a birthday party with her daycare friends. She had an Angel Trampoline Party. Sounds like she had a great party.

Looking forward to Monkey Mia and the dolphins after we leave here. I am a bit over the red dirt, dust, wind, salt and  sand. The car and van just get covered with red dust and this morning we woke to a fog so this afternoon Bruce spent washing the van to rid it of
the red dirt and salt from Exmouth. Before we leave here the car will get a wash. It is peak tourist season over here and most of the traffic is caravans and grey normads. The weather is just beautiful - no rain. 28deg day and 15deg at night. It should get colder as we head south.

Do check out the blog H has set up - www.poppandma.blogspot.com.au

Love to all Ma and Poppa

21 August 2012
Blow Hole near Quobba Beach

22 August 2012

One Mile Pier, Carnarvon

24 August 2012
Hamelin Station

Goats cross the road near Worramel Roadhouse

Yellow Everlasting Daisies along highway, Denham

Coral Bay

18 August 2012

Arrived Coral Bay

Ma and Poppa

18 August 2012
Entrance to Coral Bay Caravan Park

 Feeding the fish at Coral Bay

Ma & Poppa

Exmouth

14 August 2012

In Exmouth for a few nights.

Ma & Poppa

15 August 2012
National Park Information Centre near Exmouth

16 August 2012
Charles Knife Gorge

Barradale

13 August 2012

At Barradale Rest Area free camp overnight enroute to Exmouth

Ma & Poppa

Robe River

12 August 2012

At Robe River

Ma and Poppa

Port Hedland

Salt pile, Port Hedland

Karratha

9 August 2012

At Karratha for 3 nights.

Ma and Poppa

10 August 2012

Pilbara

Sturt's Desert Pea

Load of Iron Ore

Python Pool

Mulla Mulla and a White Shrub

Mulla Mulla

 

11 August 2012

Dampier, Red Dog Monument

West Peawah River

8 Aug 2012

At West Peawah River free camp tonight, then onto Karratha for a few nights.

Ma & Poppa

DeGrey River

7 Aug 2012

At DeGrey River Free Camp last night.

Going south via Port Hedland for nice coffee, fuel and whiskey.

Ma & Poppa

Eighty Mile Beach

31 July 2012

At Eighty Mile Beach for a week.

Ma & Poppa
Photos below
Email Update:

Hi to all

I am writing this on Sat 4th August from Eighty Mile Beach where we do not have broadband coverage but will send when we get into coverage.

We spent 5 days in Broome and enjoyed it very much. We left there on 24th July and travelled only 170km to Port Smith for a week. No fish (only 4 eatable), gusty winds, no sandflies or midgees, and on the whole we were disappointed that it was not on the beach and access was limited by half an hour of 4wd travelling to get onto a beach.
They provided entertainment some nights and it was very good. A bush poet, aboriginal band (excellent), fish and chip dinner and pancake breakfast. Not sorry
we went there but a week camped on red dirty sand with gusty winds we did wonder why we were staying the week. Then on 31st July we travelled 250km app to Eighty Mile Beach and it is on the beach, not much wind, grassy sites, but still no fish.  (Do have tv and spasmodic phone)  Poppa did catch 4 blue salmon but were too small to keep.
We are here for a week and Tuesday we leave for Port Hedland and Karratha and shops, phone and internet coverage. We have tv here but had nothing at Port Smith(no tv no phone no internet) so we have just let the world pass us by the past two weeks. We had hamburger night here on Wed and Lasagna night on Sun so we do get to eat out - as we say.
Eighty Mile Beach is lovely and we go for a beach walk everyday and collect the odd shells. The shells are spectacular.

We are all keeping well and travelling good so far. By the end of the month we should start to come into the wildflowers. Its 11 weeks since we left home and
the weeks are certainly going fast. Travelled over 8000km so far.

The weather has been lovely and warm the past month but we are heading into the cold and not looking forward to the nights when we free camp with no power.
Having a great time though and every day is different and WA is worth seeing.

Must away as its lunchtime here. You may not get this for a few days.

Love to all. Ma and Poppa

 Fishermen

Sunset

Port Smith

24 July 2012

At Port Smith for a week, no power, no phone coverage.

Ma & Poppa

 26 July 2012
Digeridoo, Aboriginal Band, Fish night

 Port Smith beach

Salt in a crevice on the beach

Left Broome

24 July 2012
Left Broome for a week. Free camp.

Ma & Poppa