Day 78 & 79: Reflections

Yes, we have finally arrived home much to some people's surprise, but with the weather turning horrid  we decided to turn the car for home and make a run for it.
We had intended to call on some friends in Bendigo but circumstances were against us and we will catch up at a later day.
Now on my last post I said I would have reflections on our trip and make some observations of the people we went with, so here goes.
To say travelling with many people sometimes is wrought with issues is an understatement: are these people compatible, are their expectations of their holiday the same, will they all get along? Well I'm here to report we all had a good time and no one was killed in the process, so I guess it was successful!
We are however individual and as such have little idiosyncrasies to consider, for example :

• Robin " The Doc" - a thorough gentlemen of which without his consideration I, for one, would have found parts of the trip unbearable. He loves a good discussion but he has a very mischievous side to his nature. He loves to fabricate stories and as such I have christened him 'Guru Bob'. We aware, be VERY aware, when he starts spinning a yarn you are not the next victim of his mythological spells!
• Doug - is a genuine 'nice guy' and has the patience of a saint, especially when he had to erect and lower his camper day in, day out.  He is also a keen follower of regimes, especially when it comes to meals. He eats every night at the same time: 6:00pm, with meat and (mostly) three veg. Always potato, except on weekends as he is usually playing golf and hasn't got time for potatoes. Never does he eat cooked carrots only fresh uncooked as in the McFarlane tradition. His only negative quality I could spot was, he defends (barracks for)  the drug cheating Essendon FC but his droll sense of humour made up for this little indiscretion.
• Bec - a lovely person, with an extremely caring nature with innocence in many of the worlds harsher aspects being a very endearing quality. A great cook, loving parent, grandparent and friend who has a unyeilding faith, even when put under pressure.
• Denis - loves a good discussion and has many opinions on varies topics, non more so than climate change! He is a man possessed/ obsessed with fishing especially on lures. Practicality is not his strong point, but he he is the first one to make fun of this fact as he did when handing himself the "biggest Tool" award for his misdemeanours on the trip. 
• Paul - my beloved husband who loves to be the centre of attention as in the self proclaimed "movie man", or the one who finds "treasures" on the trip and hands them onto unsuspecting people (under the bedding, or tied to the front of their car etc). The class clown would be a good tile he would wear with pride - but you still got to love him. (Well at least I still do).
• Jenny (me)  - what can I say except ......... Well I might leave that up to the people who know me and accepted me on the trip. They had to put up with my little "moments" I had along the way and I thank them for it.

Well it's time to sign off for this trip. Thank you for travelling along with me, I only hope you enjoyed the trek and maybe got a feel for the great outdoors we have in Australia. Maybe I will inspire some of you to experience some of this great land yourselves. Whatever you decide to do, have fun, savour the life you have and enjoy what nature has abundantly provided for us in this country: the scenery and the people.

This the end of this chapter so until next time farewell................... 

Don't go too far though as we head to the Blue Mountains NSW in a months time, so stayed tuned.

Day 75 - 77: Victoria again

Two full days of travelling has bought us back to the home state of Victoria. After leaving Streaky Bay after one last 'hoorah' of fishing, we left after packing the campers, putting the  boat back on the car and waving our farewells to this lovely place. It is a lovely place even if it does throw a few weather 'Wobblies' from time to time. Yes, even this time it took our canvas down at 2:00am and even blew Robin's top of his camper down. Firstly the wind blew from the east then completely switched to the west. Needless to say we were very unprepared for either way and a sleepless night was had by all.
On to Kimba where we stopped and talked to some nice boys travelling on their way to Alice Springs for the dirt go-kart National titles finally ending our trip in Port Augusta where be bid sad farewells to 'The Doc' a.k.a. Robin as he went via Adelaide and we made our way over Horracks  Pass to Carrieton being welcomed by Gael and Norm.
Spending the night here was lovely as we caught up on all the news, as well as checked out Norm and Gael's handy work in the renovation department of there new house. Norm has the veggie garden well and truly underway, with many varieties to be eaten and bartered in this quaint  town.
Heading off this morning and the crops around this neck of the woods were something to behold. Every colour/shade of green, with yellow canola and brown chequer boarding the countryside. Past Burra though it looks a different story with only salt-bush being the main stay.
After crossing the Murray river at Cadel, we slid down the border, crossing into Victoria at Pinnaroo. This way I can go via my old holiday haunts at Galah and check out the crops on the old farm. My uncle will be most impressed(I'm hoping), with the photos  I hope to get of the crops and countryside.
This is my second last blog post: my last will be a reflection of the trip - the places, the people the memories.

Day 74 - Fishing and relaxation

Today the sun is shining, the wind has died down and Paul and Robin are out fishing. The squid don't seem to be as plentiful as last time but the Whiting (King George variety) seemed to have come on the bite. Paul has just landed back in from fishing by himself, but called for reinforcements as the whiting were very much 'on' and he didnt' want to go over his bag limit.  Poor Robin, he has a cold and not feeling so well today, was dragged off his 'death bed' to chase these plentiful whiting. Only time will tell to see if the story is true.
I've had another day on 'domestic bliss' with washing clothes, cleaning dishes and writing up newsletters for the GLFC. Actually it is too nice a day for this inside stuff so I will upload some more photos for you to find and then be off. Cheers, for now.

One of the colourful characters we found along the track. See if you can find his mate?

Day 71 - 73: Wedgies, stumpys and whales

Here we are once again at the beautiful Streaky Bay. Yes, and once again my husband will try his hand at catching fish and or squid.
We travelled the past 3 days casually across the Nullabor (Eyre Highway), spending  2 nights on the road with free camping. Met a lady at one place who was complaining  they couldn't have fires at night. When I asked where she had stayed her reply was Eucla, and another caravan park. I suggested she try some free camping if she wanted to have fire: I guess only time will tell if she took my advice.
As the title suggests we saw a great deal of wildlife while crossing the Nullabor with Wedge Tailed Eagles being the main draw card on the first day. They seemed to be around every corner: either sitting on the road at 'road-kill', or close by in the trees. Doug and Rob  pulled over a few times trying to photograph the majestic birds, but most of the time they were a bit camera shy. Unfortunately there were also quite a lot of birds killed on the road from traffic coming and going. They are a large bird and when full of food take quite a time to take flight and some even take flight into the truck/ car they are trying to avoid.
The next day we travelled was full of Stumpy-tailed lizards, taking life in the hands (or should that  be feet?) crisscrossing the road. Some made it, some had near misses and some didn't. Such is life of a Stumpy tail!
Yesterday we had time (and the weather was good) to be able to stop at the Head of the Bight to see some awesome Southern Right whales and their calves. We counted 10 with the naked eye, but with binoculars even more could be spotted. Talk about up close and personal! Absolutely brilliant as we spent over an hour there taking in the scenery and also having a bit of lunch. Life is good!
Today we had our sad farewell to Doug who wanted to catch up with relatives in Adelaide and Horsham. We had our morning tea togetherness and bid him safe travels. How are we going to know what time to put the tea on now I wonder?
Well as I said we've been on the road for a few days so a nice hot shower and some washing wouldn't go a stray. Until next we meet ........

Mother and baby: at the Head of the Bight.

Day 69 & 70: Kalgoorlie

Well, I now know a bit more about Kalgoorlie: Super-pits', gold processing and yes....'skimpys'!
We spent yesterday checking out museums, lookouts and walking the Main Street in Kalgoorlie, Hannan Street. There certainly is some lovely architecture here and nearly every corner has a hotel on it, as it seems all mining towns used to have.
The  'super - pit' certainly lives up to its name and is quite mine blowing to think it once was 100's of small mining leases until Alan Bond decided to try and buy up all and turn it into me big lease. The Toyota vehicles (that seem to be everywhere) look like matchbox toys as they go up and down the road in the pit; the trucks like Tonka toys. Next year hopefully there will be a tourist train going up to the pit lookout from the train museum, so this will add an even better dimension to the tourist highlights of the area.
Speaking of highlights of the area it would be remiss of me to discount the colourful past that the infamous Hay Street bought to Kalgoorlie.  Doug was the only member of out party to risk his reputation on going on a tour of a brothel in this street. Sad to say the 'ladies of the night' were very much a part of this place and its history with some of the facts and figures that  Doug came back with quite 'interesting' to say the least. It seems that some miners weren't the smartest when it came to money as one person said he knew a bloke here for 8 years but didn't have a 'cracker' to his name as he had spent it on either drink, betting or women. I just hope the miners of today are a bit smarter.
Well it's back on the road agin today heading to Norseman and then across the Nullabor on the road home.  Till then see ya.

Day 67 & 68: Niagara Dam and Lake Ballard

Sometimes when things are looking a bit doubtful when it comes to camping sites, you happen across a fabulous place by sheer chance. Even though we have all the books and apps we still need to odd bit of good karma (luck). You see we happened upon a place called Niagara Dam and the ambience of the place was amazing. The scenery: you would have to go a long way to see better as the colours in the rock formations rivalled the Painted Dessert in many respects. The history of the place was somewhat dubious as the dam had originally been made to store water for the train travelling from Kalgoorlie  but before it was finished artesian water was found. Such is life!
There were some lovely walks taking in the natural environment, the historical facts and just the beauty of the landscape. I must admit I did follow the 'old codger' at one time only to be thrown off track. Fortunately for my native instincts I was able to lead us back to the track, via some old mines and some superbly coloured trees. All ended well and hopefully I have some lovely photos to prove the point - all will be revealed!
Today we headed out to Lake Ballard renowned for its iron sculptures of human forms. They are dotted all over the landscape and I swear the water was there in the distance, only it kept on disappearing as we approached.
We have now landed in Kalgoorlie and will spend the next couple of days touring the city of gold. Besides the 'Big Pit' and Hay Street ( which my husband has to go to???.?), I'm not sure what else is to see. Mind you the trip into this city was amazing in several ways:

1. The flowers along the side of the road, including the trees had to be seen to be believed. Yellow Grevillias, red Hopbush, purple ?..., pink?     And white ?... Made for some lovely picture moments.
2. The landscape coming into the city: with all the mountains having flat tops. I'm not sure if the children in Kalgoorlie would know what a mountain actually looks like. Lots of dug up ground,  probably mine exploration from the past - who really knows?

Well tea is awaiting, so best get going, until me meet again.......

Day 64 - 66: Friday the 13th

We have made our way south and into a little place called Wilunna, just at the start of the Canning Stock Route. Actually we stayed at No:2. Well last night with a nice campfire and plenty of stars.
You may recall yesterday being Friday the 13th and this had some significance to us as the night before we left Newman we had a black cat sleeping at the back of our camper. I thought it might be a good omen for the day but I'm not so sure on that as we did have a few calamities.
Firstly we were travelling along the dirt road, very well maintained on the whole, but occasionally a few corrugations only to have our kitchen box, which holds all our knives, forks, cups plates etc fall off the back onto the ground, spiralling everywhere all over the road. Unbeknown to us this had happened, but as luck has it Robin and Doug were driving behind us and came upon it. Oh, what a mess! Everything strewed all over the place: boxes broken, plates, knives, spoons everywhere, biscuits barrels and more. Rob was concerned it had to one ours as my husband never let's anything go past him without investigating or making comment on it and as this had not happened conclusions were drawn correctly.
Next this to go wrong was one of our tyres had a puncture when we finally arrived at the camp site for the night. The 13th was certainly a memorable day for all the wrong reasons - or the right ones depending on how you look at it. We still had all our dishes and cutlery and the tyre only went flat when we arrived in camp, so not too bad under the circumstances.
It was great to catch up with John and Veronica Quinn and also their son Mark in Newman. We had a wonderful time catching up on all the news from their neck of the woods as well as our news from home  and the trip. They hadn't heard the news about GSI and Veronica was very shocked as she had once worked for them.
On down the road again heading south. The weather has freshened and even had a bit of rain this morning. Till further down the line........

Day 63: tourist things around Newman

Okay, I know we got a little 'lost' today, but the scenery was still amazing. The Pilbara certainly has some spectacular landscapes to take in as we toured over some very bumpy, lumpy 4WD tracks on our way to see a beautiful natural pool in the middle of nowhere - Kalgan Pool. We first had to obtain a permit from BHP as they own the mining rights to this part of the land. When we finally get there we find someone else has also found the spot and is making use of the pool in a most refreshing way -swimming!
A few boys, while out on a drilling run, had time to spare and refresh in the pool, while also trying some acrobatics on a long rope hanging as a swing from one of the trees. After suggesting that "what if something happens to these lads while hanging upside down from this rope", I was told, only a woman would think like that! (My excuse: being a mother one is trained to think of all consequences of ones actions).
Meanwhile back on the road we had actually started the day off with a 70km run up the highway to a track on the right-hand side that took us to the most fabulous aboriginal rock carvings I have ever scene. In fact the only rock carvings I've ever seen from our indigenous friends. In an old river bed, they were for all to see. It certainly was a privilege to see this type of work still out on the open, non-tourist-y-fied for all to enjoy.
All of us stood in wonderment of this exciting place and the history that relates to it: All we needed was an interpretive guide and we would have been made. As it is, we still have some lovely memories and some nice photos.
Time to get some shut-eye, so till next time - nye night.

Adjunct to Newman

As an adjunct to the day I thought I might share a small observation on the 'typical' person that works in the mining industry (according to me). And I might be very wrong! ( I have been know to before).
Sitting at camp here we are surrounded by more than 600 accommodation rooms (according to Graham our caravan park assistant manager), where the many shifts come and go of the various people who live here on the FIFO lifestyle.
As they trek through and around our camp we say 'hello' to receive a half-hearted G'day, or a grunt of some description. I'm thinking that maybe:

1. They are too tired to talk to us
2. They don't want to talk to us as we are beneath them or they are jealous of our lifestyle
3. They are actually robots!

There appears either an apathy or arrogance in the people who work in this environment. They are obviously here for the money and as one girl we did get to talk to us said " working in the mines, well you sell your soul to the devil ", and I think she might be right.

They become so obsessed with the almighty dollor a lot of them seem to forget there is a life out there to be lived: not just material "stuff" to obtain. The attitude "I would not get out of bed for less than $600 per week"  is one I've heard many times, including from one worker today. 

How does the bulk of Australia survive? Very well I think if you consider family life, work/life balance, and realistic expectations. Surely there is more to life than money?

The girl we talked to said, to survive up here you need a:

1. Tough skin
2. Remember this is only temporary and there is another life
3. Have a strategy plan to get out!

Amen.

Day 61 & 62 - Mt Whaleback mine, Newman

We have arrived at Newman and started out the day by going on a tour of Mt Whaleback the largest open-cut iron ore mine in the world! Believe me it certainly is impressive with up to 29 layers to the bottom and an expansion to eventually 40. Where once there was a mountain, there will be (eventually) a lake with mega millions of tonnes of iron ore being sent out of here, via Port Hedland to Korea, Japan, China etc. Don't be disheartened though as our
guide said this morning "we'll get them back as Toyotas!"

Paul, being Paul, wanted to know what engine was in the big Wabco truck outside the Information Centre. After asking the lady at the inf desk, she said she didn't know. Paul said as an information person she should know these details and as such had till the morning to find out these details otherwise we get 50 % discount off our trip. She was up to the challenge and true to her word, she found out all the information that was required and even more. Now that's helpful!
The township of Newman is typical of any iron ore town - red dirt everywhere and in everything. No such thing as a clean car or washing here for very long. It is supposed to be 33C here today but the wind is quite strong and i think it is blowing the sun-rays away, plus the dust in.
BHP Billiton pretty much runs the town and the caravan park we are in and has accommodation for many, many workers. One fellow i was talking to this morning, as he was doing his laundry, said he had one more shift before he was flying home. (10 on: 7 off). most of the resident workers have 4 days on: 4 days off. The township has a population of about 8,000 with some indigenous, but it seems to me the rest are employed by the mine. Walking down the street if you don't have an orange shirt on you are the odd person out.
Tomorrow we will head out to the Opthalmia Dam, which apparently is quite unique and is based on the system they use in Israel: taking water from the water basin below, without allowing too much water to evaporate on top. (Not sure I know how it works, but maybe I'll learn more about it tomorrow).
I am about to upload some more photos, so hopefully you can enjoy our trip along with us.
P.S. Bec & Denis have been in contact with us and are having a nice time at Pardoo Station, so hopefully they will have some more stories when we next catch up as well.

Day 59 - 60: Marble Bar

Here we are in the famous Marble Bar hotel ( Ironclad Hotel to be exact). The temperature outside is  about 37 C, but inside a pleasant 26. We arrived in town this morning after spending the night tucked in a nice camp area along a waterway just 100 kms north of here. Apart from the mine trucks rumbling along the road all night and the invasion of insects we had a very pleasant evening.
We have spent a bit of time discovering the area; out to the two pools Chinaman and Marble Bar, collected a small sample of Jasper rocks and been to the lookout overlooking this famous area. Still much mining going on in the area by the number of trucks on the road, let alone mine vehicles in town. Talked to a lovely lady here who is on a two week secondment from the Mining Dept in WA. Her job is to grant leases dependant on native title, other lease holders etc.
We are slowly winding our way south as when we head out from here Newman will be next on the horizon although we may not make it that far in one day. Never mind we have plenty of time to wind our way home.
Had better go as my meal has arrived. Cheers from the 'hottest town in Australia'.

Day 56 - 58 Sad Farewells

It is a balmy night at Eighty Mile Beach with the surf rolling in, the palm trees swaying and the rest of the crew getting their 'beauty sleep'. Nighttime seems the best to get connection with the Internet.
We had a lovely day wandering along the beach, picking up shells and the boys (and Bec) actually caught some nice Blue Nosed Salmon for tea. They were all geared up for a shark but unfortunately ( maybe???), something big on the line decided it didn't want to be caught today and continued out to sea with bait, tackle and line still on. Actually some people caught Mulloway and shark, so ours could have been anything. The beach certainly was quite a sight though at high tide, with nearly all the park out on the beach with various stages of fishing gear, cars driving up and down and all sorts of fish being caught. The beautiful turquoise water made for a magnificent scene; even the sea snakes didn't dampen spirits on this lovely day.
Yes, it was a lovely day in many senses of the day, but also a sad one as we sat and reminisced about our trip - the places we have seen, people we have met, the little "trials" along the way and the history of this great country we sometimes take for granted. You see, as of tomorrow we leave Bec and Denis and continue our trip home, while they stay a little longer and catch up with family. We have discussed many and varied subjects, solved of the worlds problems and even spent our tattslotto win, even if we haven't actually won it yet! But, Denis did find the 'lost' ticket tonight, when Bec took his wallet for a 'wash' while scrubbing shells for her grandchildren, so all is good in this little patch of Aus.
My bed is calling, so till next time, so long.

Day 55 - Turning South

Hello from Broome where the build up to the 'wet' has started. We started this morning with a sea fog at Middle Lagoon with everything having that damp feeling about it. Poor Bec had done some washing late in the day hoping  it would dry overnight but, alas it was not to be so it is pegged out at the back of camper tonight in Broome. (The humidity again is not going to help this drying process, so it might be another day before it can be folded and put away).
We left our little hideaway this morning and headed back south, traversing the dreaded Cape Levique Road for the finally time in this journey. 100 kms of corrugations, dust and varying road surfaces makes an interesting drive. Throw in the many other campers, cars, trucks coming towards you or passing without you knowing they are there and you are on full concentration all the time.
I have to hand it to the children up in this part of the country as they travel 30 kms on this type of road, plus another 20 kms on bitumen, every day, 5 days a week to get into Beagle Bay school. I believe they need a medal for fronting up to this trip everyday. Students who have to take the family car, or public transport to get to school really don't know how lucky they are!
As I said we are now in Broome and have stayed in a caravan park near to Cable Beach where we drove down to watch the obligatory sunset and camel rides. Yes, we really are tourists in many senses of the word! But we weren't alone, on no, there were several 100 other there as well, so we melded in very nicely to this part of the environment.
Tomorrow we head back south towards 80 Mile Beach, and finally turning off towards Marble Bar, which although  I want to see, I'm not looking forward to the the temperatures they are talking about already. For the next week it is predicted to be between 37 - 39C, with overnight still about 22C! I don't do hot very well. I guess we can drive through with air con on can't we??.?.
Need to get some shut eye now, so will sign off for now. See you soon.

Day 48 - 54: Beagle Bay, Middle Lagoon, Lombadina

For the past, almost week,  we have spent at Middle Lagoon out from Beagle Bay on the Dampier Peninsula. We have fished, swum, whale watched, read, relaxed and rejuvenated ourselves - both in body and mind. Mind you it is a bit of an effort to get to this place but the effort is well worth it in this little slice of heaven.
Today we have taken to tour up to the furthest most point of the peninsula and Cape Levique, Lombadina, Bardi are just a few of the communities that inhabit this neck of the woods. I'm actually writing this as I sit having a drink outside the general store in Lombadina.
Denis met up with a fellow who has been at Middle Lagoon since June and has been fishing practically every day. He offered to take Denis out to catch a Spanish Mackerel, which Denis duly took up. Many hours later they returned, with Spanish Mackerel, Blue striped Emperor  and others.
I spent hours on the point one day watching the many (and I mean many) whales pass by the point. Some even put on grand displays of acrobatics, with breaching many times only about 400 mts from the point. Mothers, babies all on their way back to Antarctica for the summer months.
I actually went out in the boat with Paul the other day and although we didn't actually get to take home fish we had some fun with big ???? fish, taking all the tackle and bait several times. Then on catching a small fish happened to see a BIG shark follow it in. That was enough for me thanks, you can take me home now!
Well it is time to move, so until we next talk - see ya!