Exmouth to Kalbarri

Shark from lookout


Idiot trying to be funny




Robin

Sunset Denham

How beautiful, the scenery not to bad either

Wow

Ouch hot water

Lookout

Huge boat

Monkey Mia

Shells Shell

Beach

Sttomatolite

Idiot

Gone mad

Jetty long way out there

Monday we left Exmouth and went on to Carnarvon, a town of produce and seafood, how could you not love this place. We had a couple of relaxing days here eating our way through a large number of cheap fruit and vegetables, the township is still getting over the floods with the only garages which sold gas not in service due to flood damage, lucky we are duel fuel, and dedicated only gas vehicles had to be transported down to the nearest roadhouse for gas. We walked out on one of the longest jetties in Australia, which was once used to export cattle and sheep overseas.
Wednesday we arrived in Denham, where we stayed for 4 night. It is a small town 130kms off the highway, on the way into town we stopped at Hamelin Telegraph Station to see the stromatolites, Shark Bay is one of only two places in the world where living marine stromatolites exist. They are living fossils containing microbes similar to those found in rocks 3,500 millions year ago. After that we went to Shell Beach which is made up of trillions of tiny shells all from one type of animal, a shell which is known as the Hamelin Cockle. Very pretty little beach.
Thursday off the the famous Monkey Mia to feed the dolphins, 3 dolphins came in and a small calf, seriously cute. It was lovely to watch these beautiful free dolphins come and go and they pleased. We then went and hired a small glass bottomed boat to go on a cruise, we saw a green turtle, lots of fish and lots of water. A nice morning which Dawson was allowed to share with us, nice dog friendly place. On the way back to the park we stopped and Little Lagoon, which is almost a perfect circle in shape. It was once a land-locked birrida (gypsum pan) that was inundated by the sea several thousand years ago.
Friday: Ocean Park Natural Marine Exhibition where we saw sharks, turtles, snapper, cod, groper and heaps of other sea creatures, well worth the visit with the young marine scientists providing us with a very informative and entertaining talk. After leaving there we went to Eagle Bluff where there is this 200m long boardwalk high above the bay where we again spotted, shark, stingrays, turtles and fish.
Saturday: Today was spent touring a former Sheep Station located in Francois Peron National Park, there was an old homestead there, plus sharing shed, yards etc , also an artisan hot tub which was 65 degrees, way to hot for my liking. This afternoon we went fishing with Robin catching a small flathead which he had to kiss and say goodbye to, a little baby really, closest I got was a few squid chasing my bait, I will never make a fisherman, apparently a squid jig is needed to catch them. Dawson went home absolutely buggers from running on the beach chasing seagulls, finished the day with happy hour. Another great day, moving on to Kalbarri in the morning.
Sunday: Left at 8.45am and arrive 3pm, after a not so pretty drive, lots of scrubby vegetation and not a lot of anything else. We have fell in love with Kalbarri and have booked in for 8 days, our view in over the Murchison River and the Ocean and Robin is guaranteed good surf, bliss. Love to all, missing everyone feels like we have been gone for a very long time.

Point Samson to Exmouth

Gorges at Exmouth

Gorges Exmouth

Robin's effort at planking

Shell collecting

Love the pose

Gas Plant at Dampier

Dawson with Red Dog

Robe River Camp Site

Dirty Van it was filthy

Well we have clocked over 10,000klms now, whew needing to rest for a bit. The distances between townships seem to get bigger all the time. Point Samson a pretty little spot, stay for a couple of days, the weather is turning ugly, so may as well be snug and cosy in the van as on the road in the wind and rain. Nice to time to clean van and tidy up. We actually pulled over on the side of the road, in the rain, and gave the caravan a wash, it was covered in red dust which in turn, turned to red mud, so there we were washing the van in the rain, got quite a few cars honking there horns at us, bloody silly southerns, that's us. On Tuesday we had a free camp at Robe River , nice place right on the river bank. on our way to Exmouth. It was a large area with about 12 vans parked there by the end of the day. Lots of interesting people to be met, our neighbour reminded me of Ivan Milat, or Wolf Creek, he enjoyed telling me he had a shot gun in the caravan and if anyone came into his van he would,nt hesitate to blast them away. NICE. Plenty of places out here to get rid of a body he assured us. We arrived at Exmouth on Wednesday , happy to stay put for a few days, poor little Dawson had a very stressful trip today, just could not settle. Didnt want to be in the car, as soon as we stopped he was fine. First day in Exmouth I didnt move from caravan, Robin went out and found a place to surf, second day we went on another magical mystery tour with John and Bronwyn. Packed the car with fresh bread rolls, vanilla slices, tea cakes, and off course the local prawns and away we went. They have a couple of breathtaking gorges up here, firstly we went up the Charles Knife Road Canyon where there were some awesome views down into the gorge, then we sent into Shothole Canyon Road, this road meanders over dry creek bed along the gorge floor, where we could see beautiful colourful rock layers of the sheer canyon walls. Bronwyn and I did a bit of planking (just for fun), then we followed this up by a trip on the west coast of Exmouth. Another great day was had. Saturday and Sunday just relaxing and enjoying the beautiful weather. Love to everyone at home, and a special kiss and cuddle to John (Robin's dad) who is back in hospital again having trouble with his hip. Moving on tomorrow somewhere down the west coast past Coral Bay.

Broome to Point Samson

Grader at Port Headland Salt Mine

Real Estate Port Headland

Barn Hill Station Beach

Cables Beach Sunset

Camels on there way to Beach

Croc at Derby








Well we stopped at Derby on route to Broome and saw our first real life saltwater croc. Robin spotted him off the jetty, blackfellas swimming just up the beach, mad. Arrived at Broome and had a very early night, bed by 7.30pm having trouble adjusting to WA time, Monday saw us doing the touristy thing around Broome, everything very expensive and I believe overrated, I believe Broome is a place you love or dont. An example of the costs a self guided tour of a pearl farm only costs you $50.00. Cables Beach nice but cant understand why it got to be in the top 5 beaches in the world, Broome not doing it for us, Moved on Thursday to Barn Hill Station, which is 120km south of Broome. Well what can I say, only 9klms of red dirt road, three gates and numerous speed bumps and we arrive at the Station, our power site cost us $25 per night, but we couldnt use our electric kettle, toaster, microwave. just lights, thats all you had to pay more to get more luxuries.
The amenities had to be seen to be believed, concrete slab floor , tin walls, and no ceiling, lucky it wasnt raining, lovely at night sitting on loo looking at the stars!!!!!!!! Apparently it had a bowling green there, again something you had to see to believe. A walk of 500m and we are at the Indian Ocean absolutely amazing, so much prettier than Cables Beach, the rock formation and the lovely sand and shells was beautiful, Robin and I enjoyed a swim without another couple in site, so isolated, it was just gorgeous, as said the amenities not fantastic but the views and the beach will always be a highlight of this trip for us. We arrived at Port Headland on Saturday but decided we didnt want to stop there and pushed on to Point Samson,. Port Headland was interesting enough with the mining and the salt mining but a very dirty mining town, with everything closed on a Sunday. Real Estate is incredibly high here with the mining companies buying up the houses, but unfortunately a lot of the miners work two weeks and then fly home for two weeks taking there wages with them and so these towns look like ghost towns. Cant comment on Point Samson yet, but the weather is wet and windy and cold, 18 today, actually had to put of a jumper today. Catch you all next week. love R & R

Katherine to Broome

Monday 2/5/11, We walked to the Katherine Hot Springs which was a bit of a disappointment, very muddy water (due to the floods), didnt stop the blackfella's though they were in the top spring which was crystl clear, no alchohol allowed, but they seem to have there own laws, ha ha
(check out the picture) The locals are very friendly, but they dont really care about their countryside, filth everywhere, . It is May Day in Katherine today, Public Holiday, apparently it is safe to get back in the water, No crocs, blue box jellyfish , stingers etc. I just wonder if the crocs no it is May Day.
Tuesday: Went to Johnny's today and bought a new toy, a Satelite Dish, oh yeah now we have 81 channels, pretty groovy,. We are 10kms west of Timber Creek to give it a go, Perfect very happy,, no phone or internet connection, but yes we do have 81 channels. It is a gorgeous spot to camp with the Victoria River just metres away, keeping well clear of the waters edge. One complaint and that is the Barking Owls, they seem to be following us around the top end, very noisy buggers.
Wednesday: We have now officially been to every state in Australia, arrriving in Kunanurra WA today. We past Bullo Station today where Sarah Hunderson wrote all her books, we can now truly appreciate how isolated they are out here, also we got out of the car today, and got up close and personal to the Braham Bull, massive beast, great photo, I though there was a fence between us, but no there wasnt, glad they were nice bulls. We went to Lake Argyle which is truly beautiful, the lake is at 200% capacity, lots and lots of rain,the Ord River is really flowing fast.
Thursday:Met up with John and Bronwyn at Kunanurra, and John invited us to go with them to Wyndham , so off we go again, with the two dogs, picnic lunch, and a little bit of grog on board.We are travelling through the east Kimberleys , amazing, awesome, we just travel in silence enjoying the views. Our first stop for morning tea was gorgeous with John trying his hand at catching a barra, but no luck. Nice cup of tea with choc chips muffins, life is very good. We have arrived at Wyndham now at the Five Minutes Lookout, looking across the Cambridge Gulf, again another amazing view. We visited a croc farm and very laid back operation, very grubby but the local tour operator certainly had us laughing with his outback humour. Saw the largest Boab Tree in captivity, (dont know how they captured it) but there it was. Huge tree. On our way back to the Park we stopped off at the Grotto, in the middle of nowhere and we had to climb down 135 steps to the most beautiful pool, surrounded by layer upon layer of 250 million rocks
we had to be a bit like mountain goats to get there, but so worth it. Another great day.
Friday: Went to Zebra Rocks gallery today, and purchased a cute little bracelet, and fed the cat fish in the River, followed this up by going to Kimberley Jewerlers but unfortunately the bracelet I fell in love with there was just a little bit out of our price range $33,000. stunning, diamonds with a huge pearl . Saw diamonds, pink, brown,white, green and one worth 250,000 got out of there fast. Across we went to Nina"s and got very lucky, thanks to my gorgeous kids and partners, and of course the best hubby in the world, I walked out of there a very happy lady. A beautiful Broome pearl pendant, it hangs off a gold bar, which has three diamonds on it and then my beautiful pearl . Lucky Lucky me. Going out to dinner tonight with John and Bronwyn perfect finish to a perfect day.
Saturday: Another hugh day driving with us staying at Mary Pools free camp, more people here than in most of the caravan parks we have been to. Dawson having a great time off the lead, we had to cross a water crossing to get here, and there are these stupid people bathing in the water, croc signs everwhere. Off to Broome tomorrow, getting very tired with the long dinstances we have to cover to get from A to B, still have the West coast to get through, we are going to have a few days rest at Broome before we take off again, I even got to tow today, thought I would give Robin a rest, but he didn't get to rest much we me continually asking, Robin there is a road train coming, what do I do, Robin there a lot of support vehicles with cyclists coming at us taking up both sides of the road, poor Robin didnt get much peace , anyway I managed and we did arrive in Broome. More next week. Love to all.