Karratha / Dampier.

Approximately 24,400 people live in this area which is the hub for ore mining, off shore gas production and salt.

Ore trains transport the ore from the mines in the Pilbara region to the port of Dampier for export around the world.

One of the biggest productions here is the North West Shelf Gas Project. It is an extremely large complex producing in excess of 12,000 tonnes of gas for domestic and export use a day.

Bulk carriers line up like taxies waiting to be loaded with gas, ore or salt. It's intereting to watch the movements as they manovere into position.

The Karratha township it's self is approximately 20 klms from Dampier and is also a hive of activity.

On our way to Karratha we had an overnight free camp at a roadside stop called Robe River with 15 other vans and motorhomes, a very popular spot so you had to get in reasonably early to get a spot.

We met an adventurous guy from Canada who was riding around Australia. He had started in Melbourne about 10 months ago going in a anti clockwise direction and having a great time. The main thing about this guy he was riding a "POSTIE BIKE" and enjoying every minute of it. (pics in album).

At Karratha until Monday and then off again further north.