We packed up this morning, ate brekky and left the Auski road house caravan park heading north along the Great Northern Highway to Port Hedland.
Once again we enjoyed the scenery as we drove by: the vast open yellow plains, the different sized termite mounds (some looking hilarious with white miner caps placed on top), the occasional cattle straying by the roadside, the bald eagles soaring above, the private roads leading to mine sites including Roy Hill, and the ever present rich, red earth.
Approaching Port Hedland was bizarre with huge white salt mines that looked like sand dunes, massive port facility (largest tonnage port in Australia) and big rust red fuel container tanks in the middle of town. This is so obviously a major mining and port town.
We stopped in town at the visitor centre to get some information about this area heading to Broome. Then we went to have a look at the port, saw the hilarious sight of a newish block of villas with the one at the back having a spa facing the port. In the spa was a guy having a lovely time soaking in his tub looking out to sea. We finished up with a quick drive up a small hill to see the view and a stop at Woollies for some all important supplies - most important being mineral water and some cold moscato and cider. I do have my priorities straight!
Then we drove 50 minutes to our chosen campsite at De Grey River, arriving around 4.30pm in time to enjoy the little trickle of water (all that's in the river at the moment) and to read beneath the trees, along with about 20 other groups in various caravans, vans, cars, tents and trailer tents. A few cows made their way peacefully between the campers, and you could see they are used to having people nearby. Lots of cow pats around is testament to that.
Gadi went for a run with Cadbury and I sat beneath the trees, cider in hand, listening to the serenity (and some screeching birds as the sun sank low). All is quiet here, no noise from the other groups who are all camped respectfully away from each other. Despite the heat (can't do much about it, we are in north west Australia), this is a lovely place to spend the night.
Sweet dreams xx