Around Australia Trip

Day 25 Saturday12th May

Woke up to another great day in paradise! Overnight low of 21deg.
Left C/Park by 0750. Had to stop at the shops as we used up the last of our spuds last night. Well what really happened was that Brenda was boiling some spuds, she came outside the van for happy hour, and forgot about the spuds. So consequently we burnt the crap out of them. So she was banned from wine for 10 minutes, or until my dinner was cooked!!!
Our first stop was at the Pardo roadhouse, Brenda freaked out here as there were lots of our “brothers” here. As usual, they had a car that wouldn’t start, so they were pushing it around the servo trying to bump start it. One of the funniest things I have ever seen, lots of noise and instructions from the wings!!!
We arrived at our new “garden’ at 1130. The place had not changed, just as good as last time., plenty of green grass sites. Caught up with Rick and Tracey haven’t seen them for a couple of days!
We then went surf fishing for Salmon. Did alright, caught 5. Tracey caught a shovel Nose shark, but we let that go. Ricks boy Wes, scaled and cleaned the fish. So we decided to have them for Dinner tomorrow night. Our first Night in Broome.
As per usual happy hour was a great success, we had to stop so we could have dinner.
For those interested Here are the fuel prices for this section of the journey. Pt. Hedland $1.47 ULP. $0.86 LPG. The Pardo Roadhouse LPG was 99cents a litre and that was only180 Klm’s up the road.
Rich telephoned us as he wanted us to pick up a packet of Smokes. He went to the Sandfire Roadhouse, some 50 K’s up the road. But the joint had burnt down and they only had one pack left. How desperate can you be?? Turned out the fire was caused by an Electrical Fault
Ok, off to Broome tomorrow. Just about 380 Klm’s away. We are booked in there for a 5 days but we are hoping to make that 7 days.
Ricks next door neighbour in Rosebud Baz, is flying up so this could be a fun week!!!
It’s time to open the Grandfather Port !!!
We are looking at this as about half way for us!!

Day 24 Friday 11th May
Woke up today after another very warm night overnight low of 23Deg.
Packed up headed off by 0815. First stop Whim Creek pub for breakfast. Brenda rated the coffee here as bloody awful!!! We had a bit of a shock here, Last time we were here, it was a very friendly pub nothing was to hard for them! But as the Mining boom is in full flight. The mining Companies are buying anything with accommodation attached. This was a great old country pub a bit like Ettamagogha( don’t know is that’s the right spelling), but now it’s lost all it’s charm. When we were here last there was a Joey hopping around and a snake slithering around inside the bar. Now it’s all very business like! These mining Companies have bought up lots of the caravan parks too.
This proved true as we got into South Hedland, headed for the park we knew, but it has been sold to the mines. Completely pulled down and Motel style accommodation in it’s place @#$%^.
Still we went to one that we have stayed at before and it’s very nice, right on the banks of a river and no bore water!!!
Here I did a few renovations on the back of the car, so as we could fit in the Engel fridge better. Must have cold and easy to get drinks!!!!
Once again I had to do the romantic beach walk ( yeh I know!!). The water was quite warm but didn’t go for a swim as they said there could be Stonefish around, Pass!!!!! So back to the park for a swim in the very safe pool.
Once again the time has come for happy hour, a few drinks read of the book, then dinner. Doesn’t get much better than this!!!!!! The sunset was also magnificent( I need to get back amongst the boys!!!!).
To date we have done 6888 Klm,s

Day 23 Thursday 10 MAY

Well another day in paradise! A very warm night 23degrees, top temp today of 34 deg.
Up early and off to MacDonald’s for Breakfast! Actually we went there to use the Hotspot, so I can send off 4 pages I have been hanging onto for 4 days. All got to much for Brenda, she went shopping and left me to it!
Had to do a bit of shopping after though. As we needed a few things. Like a wheel nut that I lost somewhere. Toyota couldn’t help me(something about the Mags being after market!!!). But Bridgestone had one that fitted and the best part, he gave it to me for zilch!!
We had an afternoon of cleaning, van, car. Then off for a swim and back for happy hour and then dinner!
We caught up with the downloaded e-mails, then off to bed for a early night.
If you are interested the fuel prices were:- ULP $1.50, LPG .90. Diesel $ 1.45.
Forgot to tell you as I was backing in I ripped off the mud flap on the van. So spent 45 minutes fixing that.So I thought I earned an extra beer that night!!!!

Day 22 Wednesday 9th May
We couldn’t get away to early today as the snorkel gear shop was closed and we couldn’t drop it off until 0830.
Off at last, we stopped for cooked breakfast when we reached the North Wets highway 170 klm’s away. Great breakfast bacon, eggs, Mushrooms and toast and coffee. Got to feed the driver it’s hard work all that concentrating!!!
We stopped at a Roadhouse called NAUTARRA for some fuel. Got a shock! It’s nearly time to mortgage the house for a tank of ULP. $1.72 per litre, LPG $1.00 per litre, Diesel $ 1.68 per litre. Remind me not to complain about Melbourne’s prices!!
As we drove along saw Rick and Co by a river so we pulled in for lunch. Because of the price of fuel, we could only have Cheese on toast but hey it did have a sauce smiley face on it!!!!
Rick and Tracey are headed for a different C/park to us this time as they can’t get their rig into the one we have booked. So they are about 5 minutes away.
Got here at 3.45 very warm and a bit humid. Brenda had the radar out again so off to the shops( gee this is fun!!!!) saw Rick there, he said in his words “his park is shit “. So therefore only staying one night, he’s heading off to Eighty Mile Beach. We have been there before it’s a great location right on the beach. Good swimming and fishing.
Well Brenda and I had to have happy hour on our own tonight not as much fun but boy did the beer go down well!!

Day 21 Tuesday 21st May
Well it’s move home again today! We got sick of that garden on to the next. Temp tody is 17-31 degrees!
Left the C/park at 0830 onwards and still upwards to Exmouth. Only a short ride today some 155 klm’s. arrived the usual coffee and off to the shops. Brenda has this radar that can find shops no matter where she is!!!
We hired some snorkelling gear and head for the Turquoise Drift. Anyone that has been up here knows what it is, but for the uninitiated it’s a magnificent Bay of turquoise water full of fish and Coral, that you walk down to the end of the beach about 1klm put your snorkel gear on and just drift about 50metres off the beach, to a point about 1 klm down the beach. And on the way stick your head in the water and look at the brilliant view!! When you done that you walk back and do it all over again! The current is quite strong and just carries you along and you don’t even have to swim, just float, great stuff suited me, no work involved!!!
Some say better than Queensland’s, but I think it’s not as colourful. But heaps of fish from very small to quite large. Not supposed to feed then ! But “ I saw this bloke with a Moustache feeding them with a Ritz cracker. They actually took it right out of my hand “oops I meant his hand”
Back to the park for a swim in the pool there, then of corse yes you guess it “HAPPY HOUR”
Whilst having a cleanser or two Rick told me about this ENGEL Fridge that he saw on the notice board. So we went to have a look at it. Liked it so bought it. Now my happy hours are even colder!!
Big day a bit worn out with all this work so off to bed for a early night. Up early in the morning for a big drive to Karratha some 500 odd Klm’s away.