Friday 06 August
Happy Birthday Michelle! 40 hahah yes for all the world to see.
So... back to our trip.... not much accomplished today – big brekkie, cruising around, chilling out at the pool.... then onto Cable Beach for our Red Sun Camel ride. Well, Liam didn’t want to go near them at first. WE thought ‘ oh oh’ but after a while he succumbed to the fact he was going on it whether he liked it or not! He did enjoy it of course, and wouldn’t come off the thing! Was very interesting for Jack to get on one and for it to stand up and get down! Was cool! While we were there we stuck around for the famous Cable Beach Sunset. Well you would think it was going to be the last sunset on earth! The amount of people actually on the beach in cars, then all the people up to in the restaurants and bars! Amazing! Was pretty spectacular though! Liam of course loved going in the water and ‘ shooting ‘ the waves! Jack sat on top of the car watching all the chicks! Lolol

Saturday 07 August
Last day in Broome. Ready to move on....... so last washing day, packing up a little and getting things organised. Firstly we went to the Courthouse markets in town... Pearls, pearls pearls... and more things too. Not much fresh produce though. Off to Woolies for a restock on bits, amber fluid and petrol! Ready to go first thing! In the arvo just pondered around the pool. Quite hot today. Lovely cool nights and mornings.

Sunday 08 August
Away we go! Out of Broome. Not much to see unless you make a sidetrip on dirt roads to the sea. Had a look at Barn Hill- which was recommended, but was packed solid. So headed to Port Smith – lots of families in this park. Had a swim in the lagoon as it was low tide so a long walk to get there from the car, just in case the tide came up! The sand was so fine the boys ( yes all 3 ) played mud zombies! And covered themselves in mud and being silly... was fun! Back at the park, went to the BBQ area to chat with other families in the park. Liam and Jack made some ‘ friends ‘ with the other kids there riding on their bikes. About 10 of them aged between 2 and 9 plus Jack of course!
Had lovely Thai Laska tonight with fish in it ! Was superb! The boys had crumbed fish nuggets!Yummo!
Forgot to mention! We had a little mishap with the van.... one of the 4 winders didn’t go up. So glad Mr FixIT came along on this trip! One of the cables’ nuts had come off.. Phew!

Monday 09 August
Awoke this morning to a walk around the park and some kangaroos on the ‘ golf course ‘! Started off to be a lovely morning.......... BEEEEEEEEEEP! Dead battery... Ooops Sans fault....left lights on! Got a charge start by a fellow caravaner. No harm done. Travelling on the highway , which again had no views or anything to see, we helped an old bloke and his barking dog with a jump on HIS battery! Then we saw a police and ambulance escorted cyclists and a dead donkey! All in the first half hour on the road.!! Strange indeed.... We refuelled a little at Sandfire Roadhouse then trudged on to Pardoo Station , turning right to Cape Kedauren – only 11kms off the highway.... private property which is a ‘ coastal reserve’ so not a freebie,,, but a great spot! We are camped on a rise/cliff overlooking the lagoon and sea waiting for the sun to go down.... Resident bulls stray around as well as some red rock wallabies... windy again but lovely spot. It was a Coastal Reserve so not run by national parks – privately owned. But still charged an arm and a leg just for basic amenities ( ie drop toilet! Oh yes ! the ones we had had beaded doors! lolo) Was a very barren area but again into a river mouth/lagoon . Oh yes ! forgot to mention Daves firewalking efforts! He trod on some hot coals left behind by another camper! So foot in bucket of water for a few hours.... and of course, Lacky me attending his every whim...................lololol

Tuesday 10 August
So off we went and headed for Port Hedland... This was surprisingly a nice town! Lots of mining of course and red dirt. But a beaut harbour area with a playground ! much to Liams delight. There were some big ships in too. Always bustling in a harbour. Did a bit of shopping... fuel , lunch and off we went again... Many salt cones and long long long long trains! At least 2kms long! So , heading south now on to Karijini national Park. Was quite boring the first hour but then came across some wide and big loads... I mean BIG!!! All on the walkie talkies and CB radios. THats how we got to pass them, they beeped us to go on the cb! Cool – gets a use! The landscape was amazing too after an hour.... not sure if it was manmade hills from the rubble from past mines or nature. The dirt was very RED! On top of a hill we climbed we saw even BIGGER loads stopped at a P stop.. glad we didn’t have to pass them! Camped in a freebie at a lookout. About 15 others there. Was a fab spot. Campfire, more fish.... yum

Wednesday 11 August
A cold morning on rise! A worker in a ute came up from the mines to tell us that the big load we saw yesterday on the side of the road was coming through in about an hour and a half ! and they close the road every 5 kms.. Apparantly they only do 30kms /hour and cant pass them! So we quickly packed up! We wanted to get in front of them! WE stopped at the lookout to get a photo shot of them coming through the cutting! Was a great sight! Then we scurried back into the car and just made it by 400metres to get in front! Lolol was a buzz! Heheheeh.
Travelled into Karijini National Park... a worthwhile sidetrip for sure! Went to Dales Gorge first and did an hour trek up and back to Fortescue Falls and Fern Pool. Amazing! In this harsh barren area something could be at the bottom so beautiful. Then onto a dirt road ( we wont say anything about that! What a pain that was! All the red dust! ) Anyway,,,,, into Joffre Falls and Knox Gorge Lookouts, again specie! We went onto WEano gorge area where we had lunch and refuelled from the jerrys. Another couple of lookouts. Junction lookout was great . 4 of the gorges came together. Was well worth a sidetrip and yes, I guess all the bloody dust that settled in the van! Took us 20 minutes to clean it up just to get in the van... not to mention the salsa dip all thru the fridge! Lololol Can laugh about it now! At the time wasn’t so funny! Liam and Jack had a ball. Loved the walks ... and now playing in the playground and Tom Price Caravan Park. Great then I can get this Blog done! Lolol