Day 53. Today we are doing a day trip with Ross and Robyn to Roebourne, Karratha, Dampier, Cossack and Wickham to explore the huge mining and gas operations. First stop Old Roebourne Goal built in the 1880's, a sad reminder of the harsh treatment of aborigines who crossed the early settlers. Next Dampier and its huge port operations - Woodside-operated North West Shelf Karratha Gas Plant, Woodside's Pluto Gas Plant and Rio Tinto's Iron Ore and Salt Operations. A...

Day 52. Strong winds overnight so had to get up at 2.30am to let down our awning which was flapping in the wind, of course could not get back to sleep after that. Today was a washing day but after breakfast the winds calmed down so we all went for a walk to nearby Honeymoon Cove and the small port area featuring lots of heavy lifting boats and working platforms used for the iron ore operations and offshore gas fields. Ross and I went fishing for the afternoon at...

Day 51. Our drive out of Port Hedland fascinated us as we saw more huge port cranes and conveyor belts for loading iron ore onto the long Chinese bulk ore ships and a maze of train lines running in from the Pilbara mines. Also, huge piles of salt from the salt evaporation ponds. We travelled down the West Coastal Highway past Whim Creek Roadhouse and onto Roebourne, first settled in the1860's. The scenery was beautiful with the dark red rolling hills full of iro...

Day 50. A very windy early morning upon departing Eighty Mile Beach and down the Great Northern Highway to the Pilbara town of Port Hedland. Arrived into the Big 4 CP at Cooke Point at lunchtime with our friends Ross and Robyn. Ross and I did a little fishing in the nearby tidal Pretty Pool Inlet. A drive through town and huge port area fascinating. The Port Hedland Cup was in progress at the racecourse, lots of people all dressed up. We noticed lots of very nic...

Day 49. Awoke to a strange fog all through the van park. Everything damp. Big Sunday breakfast of bacon and eggs and then off to the beach fishing just before the big high tide at noon today. Found a spot amongst the dozens of other fishermen all hoping for the big one! Landed four small threadfin salmon but no real keepers. Great experience with the warm surf all around our legs and the endless blue turquoise water. Some dolphins cruising offshore. A quick swim...