Hello from far north-west WA; some call it the Pilbara! It feels like we've been around the world and back again as we headed inland to escape the wind ( you might remember), and have now found a nice area to camp the night outside Karratha, on the side of a creek bed, with lovely trees but unfortunately just a few mozzies as well.
Since my last report we have seen some of Karagini NP and walked some, of the Dales Gorge. You may have noticed I said 'some' gorges as actually I only did one as some of the boys decided we really didn't need to see anymore, especially when it required taking your vehicle off-road and heaven forbid, get it dirty ( like every other vehicle around here).
We did meet up with Di and Alan Thomas from Bairnsdale who have also been travelling the outback, only in the reverse direction to us. Great to see them, but because we talked too long, also saw the beautiful Ferny Pool ( which the others didn't), Paul didn't want to hold the group up any further, so we had to ascend the gorge and walk the rim. The others made their way along the bottom, which I wanted to do, but time didn't permit???.?
So this morning it was up and out of the park going onto Dampier to see Red Dog, big boats and Karratha where the mining industry is in full swing. I have never seen so many 'dongers'' where the fly in: fly out miners are accommodated during their shifts. I just wonder what will happen if and when the mining industry declines? Will these towns survive and if so what will be their reason for being here? Big prices they may make now, but what does the future hold?
Meanwhile back in the Karijini NP we had another film night, this time it was 'Australia' we put on and boy did we pull the crowd! It was three deep at times, all the vans (well almost) were there and seemed to enjoy themselves, even the family from Israel. As we were too late arriving to get into the real camp area, they put us in the overflow area, so we had the place to ourselves with ten other campers, tents and vans.
We were requested, by some of the others the next night, if we could put on another movie? All the boys were fired up until a gentleman came and explained "he couldn't talk to his partner, over the loud sound from the movie!", so the minority won - no movie. Damm!
Well we are to go back on the coast again tomorrow and take a chance on the wind not being there??.? To do some fishing (maybe again). We have lost Bec and Denis for the night as they went off to see their family up here at Point Samson. Maybe they will join us tomorrow on the coast or maybe Bec will want to stay with her grandchildren a bit longer. We will have to see what eventuates. Till then......
PS - We dropped Elaine off at Parabadoo to catch a flight home today as she was not enjoying the red dust enough and missing her grandchildren too much as well. Happy travelling Elaine; thanks for the snorkelling lesson though.
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