Gidday from the land of blue skies.
Tuesday was the day we had to face that 9km rough road back out from 80 Mile beach camp so with every thing in its place we slowly drove out. Half way out we heard glass clinking so after Steph opened a top locker a wine glass which had came out of its holder dropped out and smashed in a million pieces on the floor. Then almost back at the main road we noticed liquid coming out of the fridge and flowing all over the floor. One of my stubbies lost its top and with 5 others threating to do the same we vowed that was the last red corrugated road for us. Our next camp was meant to be Pardoo Cattle Station camp 14 km off the main road on yes, another dirt road. Friends that we had met said that it's a working cattle station and really a great experience to stay there and with good fishing from the beach so it created a dilemma for us. Wiki camps had really good feed back on it that said the red road was the best they have travelled on as it gets graded regularly so with mixed feelings I steered the van onto the turn off road in. Silly us ! It started good but as I got into fourth gear the corrigations started and proceeded to get rougher. We looked at each other after only travelling 1/2 a km braked turned around and got the hell out of there, lesson learned. Most other travellers over here drive late model 4x4 's with soft riding suspensions and tow caravans that you can not hear all your stuff being rearranged in the cupboards and screaming out slow down, but when you drive a motor home you are in the same room and are in the middle of all the chaos which can be quite frightening.
Back cruising the highway life seemed all good again and the van seems to be enjoying the trip to doing everything right having just ticked over 12,000 km and still a pleasure to drive. The scenery keeps changing from dry scrubby bush to open plains as we headed into Port Hedland. This town seemed open and very well spaced out and an eye opener as the van pulled up at a rail crossing to let an iron ore train cross that was about 2.5 km long with 4 engines, about a 10 minute wait. It's a huge port with about 15 ships waiting out in the harbour for their turn to be filled up. Words can not do justice to the size of the ore loading facilities with the port having 16 big tug boats. The town's show grounds were trialling a freedom camping ground for self contained vehicles where we stayed for 2 nights and as fate would have it bumped into some more kiwis that we camped with 5 weeks ago. Another good night was had with drinks and stories shared with them and 6 other people 4 of who we had also met before. The town's main centre is quite small but we enjoyed touring around the workers houses and coastal roads in this very busy and noisy port. Thursday saw us heading on to our next planned stop at Point Samson a nice small coastal mining town by the sea but that was the day our luck ran out as both motor camps were full due to the time of the year which also happens to be when (Staircase to the Moon) happens. It's when moon and tide are just right a few times every year so that when the moon is low it shines on the mud flats at low tide that creates a illusion of stairs leading up to the moon and it apparently looks really cool so we shall find out tomorrow. So with our tail between our legs we headed further on to Karratha where finding a nice spacious camp was not a problem.
Talk soon
Xxx