2024 Lap – great life – retired got nothing on

25. Great Life lapping Australia 2024

Iron Knob

As you drive into this run down old mining town, you notice the dilapidated old road signs pointing you around the mine site to the town. This town was the start of a very busy village of mining workers. However, despite the mine closure, many residents were happy to stay on and keep the town active. Lyn chatted to the public toilets cleaner. She showed there was many years of history in those eyes. She and her first husband ran the pub for many years and through those swinging doors walked many personalities that make up the fragments of broken people who would have needed serious help to get back on the road of fruitful living. Many of those would have lived lonely, and in many cases, broken lives. History is written all around the messy town with only small pockets of population to keep those portions of the town in operation.

At Burra, Lyn defrosted the freezer. The wild migratory ducks from Russia, were intrigued with the ”southern” ice cream. We had visited this little village last year and found the shops were quaint, and the Cornish pastie at the cafe worth returning for.

Our last longish stay

We are members of a farm stay group and found this spot about 30 km out of Renmark. The green grass and clean heated pool were very welcoming. The relaxation button was not hard to ‘turn on’. The dessert at the local tavern was very welcome too.

Geelong and Grand daughter’s graduation

Our delay to return home too quickly was instigated by our granddaughter who told us “if you don’t turn up at my year 12 graduation, it sucks” – a new way of saying “please come”. The school is one that expects quite high standards of both behaviour and academics. She looked great and her family were proud of her.

The returning home celebrations

It’s no secret that we enjoy ice-cream. For some funny reason, the google maps app sent us from Geelong, around Melbourne on the western ring road and over the Christmas hills region down into Yarra Glen. It so happens that 30 minutes before reaching home, we managed to turn off into the chocolatier for a brunch and the ice cream shop. Soon after, we were home. Our gardener certainly has done a good job for us, in keeping the lawns and garden looking fabulous. Thanks Gary.

How did our figures turn out? For those interested, I’ve shown the route we took (the green icons are mostly places we free camped beside the highway and the pinkish icons are paid campgrounds) and the table is the costs and averages of fuel used on the almost 16,000 kilometers traveled. We were towing a 2 door SUZUKI all the way.

Thanks for following us around Australia. We hope you have enjoyed the trip as we have. For those who have done a lap before, I’m sure the memories have come back. For those who are planning your lap, I hope we have helped in your efforts to make your lap a great experience. It’s now into medical appointments and garden maintenance before Christmas. Enjoy another Christmas with your family and friends.

Our favorite location was Horizontal Falls with natures window at Kalbarri, a close second. Until next trip, live safely. (Now to do the movies and photo books.)

24. Great Life lapping Australia 2024

Esperance Area

The beaches and coves around the South West Australia coastline, present a scene worthy of an inviting collectors post card. Each bay presents a ‘wow – what beautiful colours’ feeling. Lucky Bay Beach is considered in the top ten sandy beaches of the world so it was well patronised with 4WDs on the shore, although I waited for them to move for my photos.

The bay with a whole in the rock (twilight bay) fascinated us and we returned to get photos when the sun cared to shine brightly.

The Nullarbor Crossing

Unconsciously, The Nullarbor crossing seemed to be a hurdle that we had thought would be a major venture. Now that we have completed the crossing, we are wishing we had taken it differently over a longer period of time.

My photo of the 4 road trains at Norseman BP service centre, are a sample of the many vehicles that keep West Australia supplied with appliances, equipment and processed food; we didn’t count them but would have been a good number indeed. The roadhouse stops are busy as motorists ‘top up’ with fuel and other requirements to their liking. Lyn has been collecting hat pins and patches along the way. Some roadhouses have a small museum of machinery to display the way things were done in the ‘olden days’.

Back in the 1950s, Lyn had crossed the Nullarbor with her dad and two sisters. She was looking forward to seeing the change since then so I managed to have her at the steering wheel for the full 90 miles with just the one break. She did well and felt that ‘accomplished’ feeling at the end. Long straight stretches are common in outback Australia, but to drive the longest straight is ‘different’.

The border crossing from West Australia to South Australia is interesting. Travelling into West Australia requires a horticultural inspection to safeguard little pests that travel in honey and some other products. The inspection point for travellers from West Australia to South Australia is just before Ceduna more to the east of the state border. Golfers can make the longest golf course in the world a pleasant stroll every now and then at each of the 18 holes. You can see a fairway beyond the kangaroo picture below.

Bunda Cliffs

Inspiring views of the cliffs of the Great Australian Bight are available at various, but not many, locations during the crossing.

At a location know as the ‘head of the bight’ is a sanctuary for the southern whales that come up from colder waters in the Antarctic for calving and mating. This year, there were 52 whales born in these waters. There are plenty of view areas to enjoy seeing the whales breaching and slapping their fins and tails.

Kimba

It seems that Kimba is the most easterly border of the Nullarbor desert. We rested at Ceduna on the foreshore for lunch and on to the interesting town of Kimba; home of the Big Galah. There’s is a very busy free camping zone at the recreation reserve. The “donations for use” have been put to very good use in the recreation area for the locals. Development for those who have travelled or about to travel the long crossing, is appreciated.

In Kimba, the local ladies have taken over a large tin roofed building and made small areas to sell their wares to tourists. Not the quality of a market, better.Take a visit when you get to Kimba

Here’s a summary of the fuel usage I kept of the crossing.

23. Great Life lapping Australia 2024

Little train on the Busselton jetty and underwater observatory.

This little train is always full of people not wanting to walk the 2 km to the underwater observatory. At 1,841 metres (6,040 ft), the jetty is said to be the longest wooden structure in the Southern Hemisphere. Of course, at each end of the pier is a souvenir shop.

Meetup with an “old” friend.

A benefit of grey nomading is the times we meet up with others along the way. We met Brontë last year where we stayed in Darwin. His wife had not long gone and he won the “best dressed Christmas in July” person with a simple tee shirt, “Merry Christmas” written on it; judged by the other campers. He became everyone’s favourite. Annually, he drives his caravan to Darwin for two months of the winter. The warmer weather encourages him, and to see his daughter there. We had a lovely lunch at Kyrs Restaurant.

Cape Leeuwin

The southern tip of West Australia is where the Indian Ocean meets the Southern Ocean. There sits a lighthouse which has often played a part in ensuring safety for “ships of the night” And you’ll notice a lazy cow is the kid’s favourite.

Elephant Rock

For obvious reasons, this rock is known as Elephant Rock. The waters around it show great ocean colours when the sun is shining.

Peaceful Bay

Like many of the places we have stayed on this lap, Peaceful Bay was never in our thoughts when planning the trip. However, the imagination found it an easy task to add it to the list of places to return to whenever we come over to “the West” again.

Tree Top Walk

The valley of the giants is certainly well created from a natural valley filled with giant Karri trees. Yes, commercially, the work done creating the suspended walk would be well paid for by now with a continuous steady flow of tourists. An enormous structure of steel sways with your walking motion – a little perplexing for those with balance problems, as I found out; but we both made it.

A free camp is always a welcome resting place. Peter’s brother lives on 100 acres with his very hospitable Russian wife. Des is an accountant and works from home for some Aborigine Community Services group. He has a great office lookout.

Albany Whaling Station

The whaling station used to provide work for many when it was heavily involved in capturing whales to provide whale oil, meat, and other resources which were eventually frowned upon when closure took place in the 70s. Jo, in the picture, is now a volunteer guide at the museum. At 19, he left his love of surfing in Perth to find “the wave” near Albany during a two week holiday. He’s still on that two week holiday 60 years later. He took up a job on a whaling ship and now is part of history.

Shell Collection

At the entrance to the whaling station museum is a private shell collection of a local, Hilda.

“After a lifetime amassing this spectacular collection of shells from around Australia we are delighted Hilda has trusted us to display her prized collection here at Discovery Bay.”

“60 years ago I found a really beautiful shell on Middleton Beach and that was the beginning of my collection.”

“My grandfather William Cooper worked as a whaler in Albany back in the late 1800s, so I feel very happy about all the shells finding a home at Discovery Bay.”

The display was well worth visiting to see the intricate shells lined up in their makes and sizes.

Albany Wind Farm

Albany has created a “wind farm” tourist spot. They explain the benefits of wind energy to maybe soften the sarcasm a little. However, after hearing the noise of the large fans, I wouldn’t want one in my backyard. They promote the fact that the wind farm provides 85% of the energy for Albany’s 40,000 residents. That’s not bad I suppose but longevity and recycling itself is a conundrum yet to be discovered. Any takers?

22. Great Life lapping Australia 2024

When you arrive in Perth by road, immediately you notice the freeways are wide and can cope with the traffic well. Many of them have train services running between the carriage ways; all tidy and well supplied.

Kings Park in the central area of the city, is always good to visit as much care is taken to make the grounds look a treat and even makes you feel good. The wildflowers are set in different garden beds for each region of the state.

Wildflowers

Lyn was taken with the work done on mannequins at the door to the visitors center. See how the clothes are made of many crocheted squares, circles and whatever and attached to the mannequins.

Visit to Hawkes Nest

We had a number of jobs to be done on the vehicles before heading for the south west of the state. Our first overnight stop had views out towards the ocean. We felt at ease and replenished with the hospitality from Ken and Kay.

Camping at Busselton

We moved the following day down to the coast at Busselton where we will use as a base for a few tourist days around the coastal good spots.

21. Great Life lapping Australia 2024

Feeding Pelicans in Kalbarri

For over 40 years, some senior citizens of Kalbarri have taken on the voluntary effort of feeding Pelicans each morning at around 9:00am on the foreshore of Kalbarri beach. Yes, some pelicans are just as reliable as the volunteers in turning up for a feed and chin tickle or some first aid when injured from another aggressive pelican. Donations can be given and the funds raised are used to support other volunteer organizations in Kalbarri, like the fire brigade or SES.

Cliffs south of Kalbarri

As we departed Kalbarri, we didn’t know what was ahead until we made our way to the coastal viewpoints along the way. You can see from the photos just how nature has formed the various sandstone cliffs into interesting headlands and cliff faces of significance. Red Bluff Lookout, Mushroom Rock, Pot Alley, Eagle Gorge, are well worth a look.

Pink Lake – Port Gregory

Salt has often been in our view as we have traveled down the coast towards Perth. From Port Hedland where there are large commercial sized collection points down to the smaller region near Port Gregory. Although fishermen keenly fish on the ocean side of the point and harvest enormous weights of crayfish, visitors to the area come to experience the changes in color of Pink Lake where high grade salt is harvested.

We chose to take the Pink Lake Buggy Tour around the sand hills with an excellent commentary on the area and the process involved in the salt industry. As the sun rises, the color of the lake changes from deep pinks to brilliant violets and blues. Part of the color change happens due to the stage of the harvesting of the salt and the density of the algae in the purification stages.

As we were leaving the lake, I thought it would look good from the drone. About a kilometer past the lake, I found a spot to park and flew the drone 1200 meters back towards the lake before filming a few shots. You can see the color split of different age groupings of processes.

The Glass Marble – Geraldton

Friends ahead of us mentioned to stop by the glass marble that has become the icon for Geraldton’s tourism promotions.

Green Head

We found a small fishing village made up of three bays and would you believe that there was a fish and chip shop. The seagulls were happy with the leftovers after we had taken our share of good chips.

Wildflowers along the way

September and October are supposed to be the time when we’re to experience the vast desert of wildflowers. Either we have missed them or we have traveled the wrong roads.

At one wayside stop we stayed a night at, the ranger came to tell us that we should not be using the space. Interesting, there are no signs about to warn us that the sheltered, well hidden from residents, bowl of red dust and gravel, is not a camping area.

The Pinnacles – Nambung NP

After touring around the pinnacles area at Nambung NP, I got wondering how this place existed here but nowhere else on our travels. And it is millions of years old. The logic leaves me bewildered. But then, there’s no need to argue because honestly, no one really knows. The stories seem to fit so let’s set up a visitors centre and make some money.

We journey into Perth on brilliant highways, for a time of meeting old boarding school mates and adjustments to vehicles.

20. Great Life lapping Australia 2024

The highway – again

Found a right hand turn onto this plateau lookout and couldn’t resist pulling out the drone for a look around. Such desolation amongst such beauty; well worth the delayed arrival at the next spot.

Denham

This little town is quaint and tidy. We had visited “shell beach” on the way to this town and found lots of areas are covered in cracked shells used as a driveway topping. One restaurant which looks like a disused church, appears to be built of these cracked/broken shells made into bricks like a stone walled building.

There appears to be a strong link between this town and the HMAS Sydney II which was sunk by a disguised German raider “dressed in Dutch medical ship colors”. The German ship headed towards the HMAS Sydney and, when close enough, attacked the HMAS Sydney destroying the front of the ship with a torpedo, sinking it in a very short time, without any survivors making it to safety. 645 Australian lives were lost.

Monkey Mia

Monkey Mia is world-renowned for its friendly dolphins which visit its shores almost daily.

Monkey Mia is a conservation park area that’s a must-visit destination for families and nature lovers alike. Best known as home to the Monkey Mia dolphins, famous for their ritual of swimming to shore most days to interact with humans, and who attract thousands of people to Australia’s Shark Bay region each year, Monkey Mia is also the perfect place to unwind and to discover the wonders of the surrounding area.

For some reason the dolphins were well behaved for us and did what their trainers told us they would do; come and show off to the visitors. They didn’t perform like sea world exhibits but gracefully swam in close to us.

Little Lagoon near Denham

We had heard there is a little lagoon that exhibits brilliance in color at various times when the sun provides a mean light at different angles on the lagoon. How else to capture that display than to “put up the drone”. (What a great asset to have while traveling!)

Eagles Bluff

This bluff is very cute in a way. The head of an eagle can be seen in the headland formation.

Kalbarri National Park – Ross Graham walk

Natures Window

Arguably the scene we have been waiting to be part of for a number of weeks whilst coming towards Kalbarri. It’s been useful holding back in our advancing towards Perth as fellow travelers have alerted us to “what’s coming up” in our similar itineraries from Darwin. I had a BIG warning of the terrain conditions coming up when walking towards this iconic showpiece amongst the treacherous terrain around the natures window area. The warning – BE CAREFUL ON THOSE POLES. (For those who haven’t been aware, I have a Traumatic Brain Injury which has confused the balance mechanisms in my brain. Walking is now more difficult than it used to be)

Anyway, we both made it. And a great feeling of accomplishment filled our minds for a few moments. Those around shared congratulations with one walker offering to film the moment for us. Thanks, whoever it was.

Close-by is the skywalk made up of two cantilevers hanging out over the cliff edge.

We made it!!!

Wildflowers are blooming; we hope to see lots next week on our way to Perth.

19. Great Life lapping Australia 2024

Quobba Blowholes

A rather startling sign greets visitors to the Quobba blowholes, “KING WAVES KILL”. And I guess they have but ironically, there are no fences to prevent you getting up close to the blowholes. Only the authorities know why. Also, only the tourist board for the blowholes knows why they haven’t built a board walk, to prevent viewers testing out their balance mechanisms and abilities on the rocks leading to the vantage viewing spots. We watched for an hour on each of two days. Hearing the buildup in the chasm before the water blow, was a new experience.

We camped for a night in high winds not far along the beach in the sandhills. The location would be quite good in fine, calm, weather. The wind sent us onto “the aquarium” nearby but with the tide out, it’s a bit difficult to get into to view the coral and fish. Then it was on to Carnarvon.

Carnarvon Space Museum

As you near Carnarvon, you can’t blot the skyline out of your vision; the space museum dominates it. We spent nearly 4 hours here. Can I suggest to all who visit Carnarvon, to go experience the modules in the display? Get some photos of yourselves on the moon – if you want to don the space suits provided to make the experience more authentic, do so. This display has to be top of the ladder for displaying something instilled in all our memories the day that Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. Think back, where were you at that momentous occasion in history? What interested me was the fact that there weren’t numerous attempts to make it happen – the event took place without a hitch, and on the first attempt.

We also have thoughts come to mind of what has been discovered or invented during the planning of man’s walk on the moon. People with grandiose ideas bring their ideas to fruition in good time, and we benefit from their mistakes and successes. Yes, even Musk and his satellites revolving around earth will benefit the world for years to come. Thanks innovators!

Carnarvon one mile jetty museum

We didn’t have anything planned one afternoon, so decided on a brochure recommendation to visit the museum a little out of town at the dilapidated old jetty. With school holidays now finished, anything you visit is taken at your own pace; easy as you go. The history of the area has some embarrassing times and also some devastating weather sequences.

Carnarvon has a long history of being hit by devastating cyclones which have, on occasion, brought a number of deaths.

The more embarrassing times included the taking of local folk to an island because they had health problems which were seen as incurable. Most of them died as medical technology hadn’t proved appropriate treatment for the “prisoners” on an island of very sick people.

The museum includes modes of transport used years ago. There are trains, boats and farm machinery for all to reminisce on.

Our time to get home to Victoria is shrinking so we may just suddenly make fast tracks home.

18. Great Life lapping Australia 2024

Exmouth and Ningaloo Reef

Exmouth survives predominantly on water sports holiday makers; fishermen, jet skiers, divers, surfers, snorkelers, whale watchers, and those who like to swim with sharks in a controlled environment. Pre-accident, I would have jumped at the idea of swimming and diving with sharks and tortoises, but these days, I find it hard to get into water and do adventurous activity.

The town is busy with school holidays on and many families getting into the sun from Perth’s winter. Beyond Exmouth is where all the water sports and activity occur. There is a lighthouse atop the hill at the northern part of the peninsula with views to all directions. The road goes another 70km further south with lots of access points to small beaches from which you can snorkel or dive or be patient waiting for migrating whales to surface and play. There is an abundance of whales these days. Since the Japanese whale culling became unlawful, the numbers have increased enormously.

Yardie Creek Boat Cruise

At the end of the road from Exmouth, is a little boat that does tours up the Yardie Creek. The guy that drives the boat and does the commentary is a real oker guy with a warm sense of humour. All the kids get involved with finding the Rock Wallabies that inhabit the gorge. The kids counted around 30, some with young in the pouch.

We had made the decision to return to Bullara for their Friday Burger Night before we left for Exmouth and made a booking. Their scones and cream are worth more than one serve too. Our stay ended up being for 4 nights.

Coral Bay

Coral Bay has a reputation of being busy and expensive so we just did a quick 80km day drive from Bullara. They say some units are $1000 per week and campsites near $95 per night. The sandy beach is safe for shallow swimming and snorkeling. We still haven’t ventured in for a swim in West Australia.

We have moved on from the Exmouth region now.

17. Great Life lapping Australia 2024

Karratha

The rain came on Saturday morning for a few hours; enough to turn the red dust into red mud. However, apart from keeping us inside for the morning, we weren’t put out too much. Saturday evening, we found a swish Italian restaurant with genuine Italian waitresses. The girl that cared for us had a very strong accent but a great sense of humor. There are so many backpackers from Europe, South America and Japan in the Pilbara and Kimberley regions. Makes you wonder how many Australian backpackers are seeing the world in their youth.

Sundays, the town is dead. Nothing open and no one doing anything, so we found some motor home owners we have met up at various campgrounds and spent a few hours talking into the sunset. They are taking off to Karrijini in the morning and we towards Onslow more towards Perth.

On to Onslow

Always interesting when you arrive at a roadhouse or small cafe in the middle of nowhere; busy as. The cappuccino machine performs to the max to “bring drivers back to life”. At one stop, it was evident that electric vehicles weren’t on the wanted list – the recharging point had security fencing around it.

We weren’t far from Onslow and came to some roadworks. The water truck had been through to dampen the road for setting ready for a next coat of blue metal. With the speed limit at 60kph, we got through quite quickly, not realizing we were preparing both the motor home and Suzuki for the car wash. We didn’t know until we arrived at the check in at Onslow Caravan Park. My sense of humor is usually “laugh because it was funny” but Lyn is a little different “$&@?!&$”. (Disappointment written all over her face). And right after you get through the security chain, a sign that says, “No washing of vehicles in the caravan park”.

Onslow

We found the water towers at the towns entry very colourful. They were quite different in that they depicted some of the lifestyle of the locals when Europeans arrived. The paintings of the marine life was well done too.

This little town prides itself in having lots of memorabilia from years gone, on display in the little museum. The volunteers were very well versed in what made this town tic from when the region welcomed miners and farmers to the Pibara.

At one end of town, is an interesting sculpture that depicts a sun rise. We had an early morning just the once, to see the sun rising within the sculpture.

There is a sculpture along the coastal walk of paparazzi dogs. I do not know why the sculpture exists here, but there was some way-out explanation.

Onslow is in the midst of expanding its ports and access from inland for mining companies who are now eager to export minerals from “them there hills” and gas from “way out there”.

Bullara Station

This cattle station covers an area of 250,000 acres; that’s BIG. There are at least 1700 head of cattle that regularly get rounded up by helicopter for tagging and health tests. The station closes in the second week of October to spend the next month preparing the camp ground property for the cyclone season. All the old farm equipment, which is on show during the open season, has to be secured in case a BIG cyclone arrives. Reopening happens in April.

There is a “we’re happy to have you” feel about the way staff settle you into your site and advise you of just how the station works in busy season. I found a couple who are members of my facebook group “Working on the Road in Australia”. They were ecstatic to meet, of course. Haha.

The building around Bullara are all restored from original wool sheds, shearing sheds and shearer accommodation. The showers and toilets are made to “the old days” specifications; rustic and often with an ingenious motivation. There is a coffee shop and a bar in the wool shed. Scones and cream are top of the list for the morning teas prepared by courteous staff from many countries around the world. The pies use meat from the property. There are copious amounts of red dust, but it’s an experience to remember.

We’ll be back after a week at Exmouth.

16. Great Life lapping Australia 2024

Port Hedland Twilight tour

Fortunately, there were just the four on the twilight tour of the land side of the port. The trains laden with iron ore come in to Port Hedland each hour with 2 “rakes”. A rake is made up of two locomotives and 132 cars each containing 120-130 tonnes of ore. Most trains have 2 rakes or 264 cars and are almost 3km long. It can take half an hour to walk from one end to the other. BHP mining and processing hubs are connected by more than 1000km of rail infrastructure. From Mt Newman to Port Hedland is 426 kilometers. The operations of the mining and railway is controlled or monitored from Perth using solar power.

Dampier Salt

Amongst all this iron ore and other metals are large salt pans where salt is processed from Indian Ocean waters. The sodium concentration in the waters nearby makes good free raw materials for Dampier Salt Mines with major shareholders Rio Tinto. Fortesque owns and operates eight purpose-built 260,000 tonne capacity Ore Carriers to move the salt. Current production is 3.2 million tonnes per year.

A little poem I found on a Starlink page -Hope you enjoy it!

Karen and Bill, in their caravan so grand,

$250k worth, they’d proudly demand.

But when it came to Starlink, their frugality showed,

For an extra $20, they’d rather hit the road.

Through the Outback they traveled, so rugged and free,

But Wi-Fi was sketchy, as you’d surely agree.

Karen would mutter, “Our budget’s so tight,”

Bill’d grumble, “A hotspot? It’s just not right.”

From Sydney to Perth, their adventure was grand,

Yet, without decent signal, they’d just wave their hand.

They’d stop by a town and beg for a free fix,

While their $250k caravan stayed in the mix.

They saw kangaroos, koalas, and more,

But buffering screens left them feeling quite sore.

So next time you hear of a couple in strife,

Remember Karen and Bill and their Wi-Fi life!

Interesting though. There’s truth in that. Its interesting that much wealth is ploughed into vans and cars to tow them but the owners complain about caravan parks charging $35 a night, just for a patch of grass, while they drink 2 bottles of wine every night.

Port Hedland port tour

The movie below is our port tour of Port Hedland. I hope you gain something from the movie, there is so much happening at the port each day. The tour is organized by the Seafarers organization. They are interested in helping those who work on ships for months on end. The crew can go there knowing they have friends on shore who help make their lives just a little easier to bare. The crew can “click and have delivered” food and goods from the seafarers store. We saw a delivery to one crew on our port tour.

We drove out of Port Hedland feeling we had learned a lot about Australia that can only be learned by being there. Seeing all the industrial support given to export this nations rich mineral wealth so that Australians can enjoy the good life that this country makes available to its population made us feel humbled. Over 50% of the mineral exports reach back to every person in their wages or grants to their locality. Gina Rinehart has painted some of her trains pink and gives the profits of those trains to breast cancer research. I applaud innovators who provide freely for us to benefit.

Point Samson

We found the little township of Point Samson on our way to Karratha and decided to stay a couple of nights. Talking to a mother of two kids at the pool, she said how her husband works the mines as an engineer and she homeschools the kids. They change campgrounds each few weeks. That’s the way they have chosen to bring their kids up. Evidence of her work was shown when her daughter commented on Lyn’s pretty bathers. Wow! from an 8 year old.

Many of you know, Lyn still runs our travel agency, Grey Nomads Travel and Cruise. You can see her hard at work in her office making an Azamara Cruise booking. (Anyone jealous of her office?)

Karratha and Dampier

The mining industry is spread well in the Pilbara area of West Australia. We travelled on in to Karratha to find a modern looking town but, like Port Hedland, covered with a thin layer of red dust. The weather forecast is for rain in the next couple of days so we wonder if we will see a clean washed town soon.

Our first duty after lunch is to the visitors center. We had good words about the lady there and they came true. She guided us to the things we could do and visit while here. The first in the agenda was to go to Hearson’s Cove for the month’s “Stairway to the moon”. Many places along the West Australia coast have this every month the best known is Broome.

Dampier

Dampier certainly is a red dust village. We tried to find the shopping center and could only find a tiny IGA and a shocking pub for lunch (the tortillas were great tho). However, Dampier is more known for being another iron ore despatch port, not as busy as Port Hedland. The “north-west shelf” gas project is BIG with some massive infrastructure at the processing plant where the gas is treated before being shipped for energy sources in many countries in Asia.