Day 21:

Eight AM and we were up and out of Newman. Not such a long drive today (278 kms) , but we were awake, the day was beautiful and we were packed and off. The landscape changed dramatically for the better with lovely hills made by Mother Nature and even mountains all covered with soft green clusters of grasses. Would love to know the name of them but ehhhh not a worry. I have been expecting wildflowers but they are at the end of their season apparently and even the pretty purple ones are not as good as could be, still nice though. I saw a proper photo today of how they should look and it is not what we are seeing.

As we travelled Wally said he has been around more corners today than since leaving Port Augusta in Adelaide. We made a roadside stop for our morning cuppa by the loveliest mountain, we had passed Mt Newman and Wally just told me you lot won't know the difference so let's just call it that. The maps are not easy to follow. W has just put a glass of red in the fridge as it is tooooo warm for him to drink, and yes it is 5 pm and still very warm, 33 by the vans thermometer…erch.

Anyway, we travelled on and around hills with the usual road trains. The thing that I didn't like is that the views are cloudy with dust from the mines surrounding the area. Finally, turned left into Karajini National Park and drove another 129 kms to reach the town of Tom Price. Lovely caravan park and I expect very quiet as we are a couple of kms from town. Found a hairdresser in a van near us and had my hair cut thank goodness, starting to feel very slovenly. All this red dust is getting to me, the bottoms of our feet have turned a delicious shade of terracotta, although we shower daily and never walk outside without shoes but it is still everywhere.

So tomorrow we are going on an organised tour of Karajini from 7:30 till late. Been promised I will thoroughly enjoy swimming in the gorges so am looking forward to dunking the body. The mountain behind our caravan park is called Mt Nameless, no creativity these folks. Is a 4WD up to top and I have put my foot heavily to the ground and said 'NO - but of course you can go darling' or the walk is 3 hour return straight up and down. Views are supposed to be fabulous but I will die with only seeing photos as one should.

Meant to say on yesterday's blog post that the trains around Newman are minimum of 2.7 kms long. One was given the green light as we were travelling beside it but luckily we got thru the boom gates before he got there - they sure do move slowly we would have been there forever. The longest they have had is over 7 metres and is in the Guiness World Book of Records.

So the pics speak for themselves. Love to those that read us, only know of two, thanks Gretina and Kim. xxxxx