Carnarvon

14th April Saturday

Fantastic nights sleep, up at 7am. This is such a nice place. It is still a working station and you can visit the shearing shed if you wish. it is so peaceful with wonderful facilities. Decided to stay another night and to help Margaret and Owen get ready for the 40 odd students arriving later today. After breakfast we helped them stip the rooms of bedding and clean them. There was a breeze first thing in the morning when Bob and Sarah left but gradually died down and day got very hot. After lunch sat and read a while th en Colin went off with Owen in a lorry to move some of the white shellsused in the campground. we were invited for roast Lamb dinner by Margaret and Owen along with Brian another camper, had to eat at their van as the students had arrived and they have taken over the kitchen for the week. it was a lovely meal followed by homemade pineapple cheesecake(yummy), by this time Jason the American joined us, it was a really good evening. This really is such a nice place and so friendly.



15th April Sunday

Cloudy start. Moving out today. Rose had a lovely sleep on her new pillow, a gift from Margaret as she had a spare one which she gave to her yesterday. After packing up we sat and chatted till just before noon when we said our goodbyes, exchanged Email and blog addresses.

We are very sad to leave. Text came through from Al and DD, they are heading to Northampton today, when we arrived at Overlander Roadhouse we had a phone signal so sent a reply as to where we were heading, Gladstone Campground which is only 90kms from Hamelin. Just put in $50 fuel at Overlander, price has come down from $1.76 to $$1.67 per litre but still expensive. Only further 60kms to campground, scenery has changed to very little vegetation and some hills.

Final 6kms on dirt road. Camp next to beach and is $5.50 pppn. Toilet is flushing but not working, caretaker told us you have to get water from sea and flush it that way, tide is out!!! Found a good area, very private, only about 3 other campers on site. Early to bed as very tired, lovely sunset.

16th April Monday

Windy night, sunny start to the day. Tide goes out a fair way and no sand to speak of. Had a walk up to a broken jetty, it seems this used to be a port from which wool was shipped,

 now it's a marine park where it is one of the few places the Dugong comes to mate(it looks like a Whale), it is a manatee also the Pink Snapper comes to spawn from the beggining of May,spotted some Pelicans in bay.

 Mid afternoon sat down contemplating a shower when Al and DD arrived (not forgetting Lily the dog), great to catch up with them, they are here till Thursday/Friday, so we decided to stay another night and maybe try some fishing tomorrow. Spent evening chatting with Al and DD. Late night again.



17 April Tuesday

Good night's sleep, sunny but bit chilly first thing. Spent morning reading and went for morning tea at Al and DD's, then decided to go fishing out on the rocks just before the wooden jetty. Reel has seized but Colin gto it moving then lost a ring on the rocks, caught some weed then called it a day. Back at tent Colin took reel apart, oiled it and put back together, seems ok now. Showered and made our way to Al and DD for campfire barbie, they had collected wood in the morning we found a small amount. I took spuds wrapped in foil to cook in the coals, good to contribute. Had another lovely evening, late night 9.45pm.



18 April Wednesday

Chilly night but sunny this morning, we are moving up to Quobba Blowholes for next site. Al brought us over a campfire fork he had made from a wire coat hanger. DD was practicing on her bongo drum this morning. Said our goodbyes to Bob and Sarah then Al and DD, who are having a clearout and tidy up day. Will probably meet up at Quobba. Seeing a lot of goats roaming on the road verge and big eagles. It is treeless, Colin says it's starting to look like his picture of Oz. Arrived in Carnarvon just before lunch to find Coles Express fuel station has closed. Drove into town centre, what a mess with major roadworks, found the library and updated the blog. found visitor centre to find our that you need a chemical toilet to camp at Quobba Blwholes as toilets are closed. We went to a cafe for lunch and talked about whether to buy a chemical toilet spending $150 or stop in Carnarvon for a week, decided to stay in Carnarvon and after getting a few bits of shopping booked into the Carnarvon Caravan Park for a week (visitor centre told us $135 pw but is £160 pw), all sites are powered and nice shady sites, so we will be able to do some touristy things for a change and won't need to fill up with fuel till next week keeping us within budget. Had a curry for dinner which was very tadty, hadn't had a curry for ages.



19 April Thursday

Noisy neighbours, talking loudly till late then playing the same Doors album till 12.45 when another camper told them to shut up, it worked. Warm night, leisurely morning and at 11am went for a walk, popped into nsite office and told the girl in the office of the problems in the night, she said she would pass on details to manager. We are situated near to the Big Banana.

Colin got some free stickers from a hardware store where we bought some clips to hold the big umbrella inside the vehicle. Popped into IGA and bought a blueberry pancake mix for lunch(it was scrummy). It has got hot but breeze is very cooling, saw a lot of fourbys with roof tents or towing camper trailers on the road. We can see the big satelitte dish in the distance which we hope to vist whilst we are here. After dinner spent evening chatting with our neighbours Ann and Des, they are from QLD and have travelled extensively in Europe and Ireland, living in Ireland for 12 months, a country they have been back to many times in the winter time (they don't mind the cold which is unusual for Ozzies). The noisy neighbours have already started, Colin the site manager has been to have word and has given me his mobile number if he is needed. we had gone to bed and Col already asleep when I heard site manager talking to the noisy ones and telling them to be quiet, which they eventually did, they left music on but not too loud so could sleep.



20 April Friday

Friday fact - Carnarvon was the first port to export livestock in WA

Cloudy start, Colin came round to assure us noisy neighbours leaving today (yippee), he offered Ann and Des a free night but they wanted to get moving. Went sightseeing to the OTC (Overseas Telecommunication Centre),

 it is a huge satelitte dish that opened in1966, it was from here that Australia received it's first satelitte broadcast, the station closed in 1987 after assisting in the tracking of Halleys Comet. IT WAS CLOSED UNDERGOING RENOVATION. We then went to the Gwoonwordu Mia (Aboriginal Hertiage Centre) PARTS OF IT CLOSED, so just had a look at some of the artwork on show, very expensive to buy, we also saw some beautifull decorated emu egss. Then onto One Mile Jetty

 and we walked it, THE END PART IS UNDERGOING RENOVATION

 SO CLOSED, it is one of the longest jetties in the southern hemisphere and was built in the 1800s so that wool could be shipped and exported to Freemantle. It was a very windy walk and could watch the seagulls just floating in the wind.

After lunch went to visit the Lighthouse Keepers Cottage Museum to find IT CLOSED AT 1PM. In another shed is the story of the sinking of HMAS Sydney II by a German ship HSK Kormoran off the coast of Carnarvon in 1941, all crew lost from the Sydney. HMAS Sydney II Drive was constructed in 2001 with 645 plaques and palms lining the road, with the names of the lost crew. Al and DD rang,they are in Carnarvon and another Caravan Park, Will see them tomorrow. Bed early as both of us very tired.

Hamelin Station stay

7th April Saturday

Hot night and very windy at times. The caretaker came round talking about payment, but as we had already picked up an envelope to put in the honesty box he didn't need us to pay him, as we explained we didn't know how long we were staying. Left sight at 9am to go to Geraldton for the day, said our goodbyes to the Brit couple Al and Leslie. Had a good shopping trip in dollar shops "Crazy Clarks" and "Red Dot", then Woolworths, because we spent over $50 got 8cents per litre off fuel, which was great. Treated ourselves to lunch out I had a chicken and pineapple burger whilst Colin had beef, bacon, cheese and onion burger, they were delicious and very filling. Drove to BCF and found a black stoarage box for $6.50 and it fits into the roof rack. Did find a good metal box in Bunings but just slightly too big. Arrived back at camp at 2.30pm, it has been a very hot day with no breeze. Now got to find storage for everything. Joined Al and DD for tea and chat, weather has got very sticky, great company, they gave Colin a bottle of beer from New Norcia Monastery to try, it was7% and even I liked it. Good sunset and watched moon come up.



8th April Sunday

Rose's birthday, No wind sun coming out nicely. Al popped round and asked us to dinner tonight. Had a lovely day sitting in the sunshine, walking on the beach, colin rang Peter who is at Bear Gully for Easter with the family. Had a swim in the warm ocean then showered before going to Al and DD's, we had corned beef, mashed spuds and veggies followed by bread and butter pudding, compliments to the chef. It was great end to the day.



9th April Monday

slow start to the day, Rose had trouble sleeping and turning over in bed hurt, she has a touch of sciatica. DD walked over and invited us to a BBQ that night, we'll take our pork chops we were due to eat Sunday. Finally had breakfast and Colin was typing up journal when a fellow camper stopped to chat, he had been at Port Parham at the time we were their (looks like we are starting to see more people again as we all head north for the winter) turns out he knows about LRovers as he used to work on them. Managed to walk to gazebo just to check Emails and waiting for a quote about shipping LRover home. We were going to do so much today, ah manyana. it seems hotter today, breeze not till afternoon. Colin checked underneath vehicle and all seems ok. After a swim and shower walked along to Al and DD's for BBQ, another good night, talked just flowed. DD gave us her card and a painting she had done of a colourful blue wren, it is lovely. Will miss them, but never know might meet on the road.



10th April Tuesday

Leaving site today, forecast 38degs. Left site 9.30 after saying our byes to Al and DD, sad to go. Onto Hway to Northampton,

 went into visitor centre found lady behind counter to be from Ontario Canada, she let us fill up with water from behind the office. we then went to local Newsagent for internet to upload journal and photos, only charged $4 for nearly an hour. Did a bit of shopping before heading out to the Principality of Hutt River. http://www.hutt-river-province.com/

 Once left Hway land became very desolate with brown wheatfields. Stopped at the border to take photos,

arrived at the principality to be greeted by his Royal Highness Prince Leonard, he gave us a leaflet about how the Principality came about and stamped our passports for $2 each. Paid for 1 nights camping. Sat in camp kitchen with 2 French guys camping in a van. Had a walk up to the museum/souvenier shop,

 and got shown around by Princess Shirley. It was fascinating, they ran rings round the Austalian government at the time of cessation. Well worth a visit. On this site we have met up with a couple for the third time(Parham, Coronation now hear) Bob and Sarah. Spent couple of hours sat chatting with them before cooking dinner in the dark then bed. Slept in LRover.



11th April Wednesday

Up early, lovely start sunny with bits of a breeze. Sold our 20ltrs of petrol to the French lads for $20, glad it's gone. Left site just after 9am to Kalbari. Back on dirt road but reasonably good surface for 30kms then onto the bitumen. Already 30degs in car at 10am when we stopped at Eagle Gorge, fabulous scenery and saw a boat going really fast through the surf.

 drove onto Red Bluff where you can see back along the coast

and the amazing cliffs and toward Kalbari

where we stopped for lunch. had a paddle in the sea,

 lovely to cool down as reached 38degs today, walked to the war memorial and decided too hot to look at anything else so drove from kalbari back to Hway. Very desolate landscape. Stopped at free camp at Galina Bridge for the night, lovely site by Murchinsan River.

Very slight breeze. Sat having cup of tea when 2 caravans pulled in who had been at Coronation Beach. Will sleep in LRover again as it's too hot to keep putting tent up and down. Then a camper trailer came in with a young couple and they had seen us at Coronation as well. Talking with fellow campers and everone is having troubles with their batteries and paying horrendous prices for new ones. After dark we noticed fridge not running all the time. Is it the solar panel, battery or fridge? Heard today Melbourne has snow.



12th April Thursday

Up early, looks like solar panel is charging ok, might be problem with battery. Finally battery started working ok so will just watch it for now. Got a name of a reasonable battery supplier from a fellow camper. left site after 9am heading to Hamelin. It is a bit cooler today, a few Road Trains about, Colin got a "cheers cobber" for pulling over to let one through. stopped at Billabong Roadhouse for tea and sausage roll, nice treat, as were finishing Bob and Sarah came in, they were filling up with fuel and were telling us they visited the gorges at Kalbari and temp hit 50degs. We told them about Galina Bridge and how nice it was and we were going onto Hamelin Homestead for a couple of nights. They followed us in, we were shown round before booking in, the facilities are the best yet with a professional kitchen. Paid $20 p.n. instead of $24 as i'd seen it on internet for $20. Put tent up then tea on patio before sorting out rest of camp. Colin found an ants nest in LRover so took everthing out and cleaned it all. Had happy hour in patio area before cooking dinner, along with all the other campers, a group of young Americans, and various Ozzies. Very good evening, late to bed for us, after 9.30pm.



13th April Friday

FRIDAY FACT;- STROMATALITES ARE AMONG THE OLDEST LIVING ORGANISMS ON THE PLANET

Fantastic nights sleep, much cooler this morning, heard the Americans this morning at 6am slamming doors. Very leisurely start to the day, finally drove out of camp approx 11am to visit the Stromatalites,

they are colonies of living organisms that resemble the oldest and simplest life forms. The ones we visited are relatively new colonies being approximately 3,000 yrs old, they grow at Hamelin Pool due to the high salinity of the water, they grow at the rate of 1cm every 10yrs. Driving on the road to Shell Beach we are in Shark Bay Wolrd Heritage Site. Shell Beach is made up of millions of small white Coquina Shells,

 in some spots theshells are 10mtrs deep. It was very crunchy walking to the sea and we waded about 300mtrs out and only go up to our thighs, as it is so salty we had a lovely time just floating in the sea, it is quite fascinating. On the road back we stopped at a sign for Useless Loop

(it is a road that goes nowhere). Back at camp joined everyone on the veranda, we have a few new campers, Bob and Sarah have spent the day chilling and have invited us to eat with them tonight. Did all the washing. We had roast lamb for dinner and we provided to dessert of fruit and custard(from a tin) lovely meal with good company. Magaret and Owen (managers) went to bed early and left last campers to turn off lights. Bed about 9.30pm.

Easter week

31 March Saturday

Moora is the largest town between Perth and Geraldton. It was a cold night will get out big sleeping bag tonight, sun popping it's head out. Colin sent a text to Sandra before putting vehicle back together, took out footwell but can't get to anything. Went to local Autopro and able to buy the nuts,bolts and oil Colin needed, then walked to local school to look at old cars. The cars are on a creative car cruise raising money for the charity Variety (supporting local projects for children). This particular school needed to replace it's old school bus and had raised $35000 themselves and Variety gave them the other $35000 to puchase the new bus. There cars we recognised such as a Forc Capri,

Mustang, 2 Rolls Royce

even an old ute and Holden Panel Van.

It was good to see something else other than scenery and museums. The local Lions were doing free hearing tests near the camp so I booked in for 4pm, I passed with flying colours, so when I don't hear Colin it's because he's mumbling. Rang Marion and had a long chat and then rang Karen who is just recovering from a virus, it was good to hear about her house move and catch up.



1st April Sunday

Up early, washing done, bacon butties, sunny. Colin finished putting the vehicle back whilst Rose did the laundry and checked AULRO for where to get parts needed, again very helpful with people giving us names and phone numbers to contact. After lunch had a walk round town taking photos of the murals,

discovered the place was flooded in March 1999

and had to be evacuated to Perth. It was a once in 300 year flood. They had 2 further floods later in the year. Moora was voted "community of the year" in 2001. At the war memorial saw sculpture of "Digger Scrapiron".

Nice small town, bigger than you would think at first. Decided we need to fatten up a bit, Rose can pull her black skirt over her hips again, so we had burgers and onions in buns with chips for dinner, followed a bit later by chocolate-and we are still healthy!! Went for a walk after dinner to the clock tower, it has stained glass panels in each of the 4 sides which are lit up at night,

 really pretty.



2nd April Monday

Yesterday Colin tightened up new wheelbearing and discovered a crack in the chassis. Spoke to Tracey the caretaker and she told us about a mechanic, when we got there they did'nt weld but there was a guy in the unit behind that did, the young lad could do the welding while we waited, he even spotted another bit of welding and done that for a total of $100, did a very good job, Colin even found a scrap of metal to make a bracket to hold the kettle on the back door. Will stay another night in Moora. Visited the Telecentre and caught up with blog and finished reading the update Emma sent us in January, it was great reading about the good times they had at Christmas and New Year. Spent afternoon sorting stuff out ready for the off tomorrow. Had another healthy dinner cooked on camp BBQ. we have fellow tent campers, they are French and took nearly an hour to put up a pup tent, they look to smart to be campers.



3rd April Tuesday

Up early, cloudy start but not cold, leaving Moora today, left at 9.30 after saying goodbye to Tracey (oops forgot to pay for last night) On the road to Mingenew, passing through Carnamah saw a sculpture of a man so stopped and took photo,

there is a quarry nearby, might have something to do with that! Just driving into Three Springs and saw a helicopter with a man strapped to the side,

looked like he was inspecting a pylon, rather him than us. Decided to stop at Mingenew Springs Caravan Pkfor the night, it is another town on the "painted highway".

Arrived just about lunchtime, talking to the owners about the helicopter and they told us thats the way they put the lines onto the pylons(bloody dangerous), after lunch walked into town and saw the Big Weatsheaf sculpture Known locally as Big Ears

in Cecil Newman Pk. Mingenew has the biggest grain receival in the Southern Hemisphere. Went into the IGA to get a few bits and met a young English girl who was bought up in 30 Orpwood Way, Abingdon, Rose lived at number 13(surname Skeets)she lived next door to Jemma and Michelle, who were friends with Karen whilst we lived there for 4 years, what a coincidence. Back at camp sat and talked with the owners again Carol and Brett, they went over to the U.K. in 2009 for 5 months to follow the Ashes Tour. Good afternoon. Cooked our $3 steak in camp kitchen, had a walk round site then early to bed.



4th April Wednesday

We have a misty start, cant even see the wheatfields across the road, but it is warm, left site 9.10 sun trying to come out, then it started raining. Heading to Geraldton via Dongara, stopped before Geraldton for a coffee and a silver camper pulled in behind us, they were an English couple who had travelled extensively including Africa in a Unimog then U.S.A. we carried on talking to them for about an hour. Finally carried on to Geraldton and then onto Coronation Beach (30k north) where we stay for the Easter weekend, on internet cost was $6 per night but reality is $15 per night. After set up tent had a 50mtr walk to the beach. There is not a lot of beach but a lot of surf, water isthe warmest yet. In the distance you can see the grain barges off Geraldton Port. Got speaking to a couple on the beach with their 2 kids, they have been travelling over 12mnths and if a job offer comes good they will settle in Perth. Her name is Karen and her mums name is Robyn-another coincidence. He has said that he will buy the petrol from us, what luck. It has turned out to be a very hot day.



5th April Thursday

Warm night, had a walk to beach, surf not as high as yesterday but windier,sun is out. Rose had a walk to gazebo at back of camp,you can see for miles up and down the coast. The English couple we met came into camp today at lunchtime, then after lunch the heavens opened with driving rain, didn't last long before blue skies again.Walked to beach to watch the kite and windsurfers,

brilliant sight seeing the speeds they get up to in the surf.

 By the time for bed the wind had got up so took down the awning just in case.



6th April Friday

FRIDAY FACT;- IN AUSTRALIA THERE ONLY 3 PEOPLE PER SQUARE KILOMETER, MAKING IT THE LOWEST POPULATION DENSITY IN THE WORLD

Very windy night, wind has changed direction and coming straight in to tent, jumper weather to start the day. Mid morning walked to high gazebo Colin took photos of the barges,

beach

 and camp ground

whilst Rose found we had internet access and checked Emails. A couple called Deirdrie and Alan came up, they are in a purple caravan called "Rambling Rose",

it was the same people as at Moora Caravan Pk. Sun has come out and forecast is for 30+degs today. The campsite has filled up and there appear to be a lot of day trippers. Ian a Brit bought over a book for us after lunch so we were able to give him one back. Just after 2.30pm went over to have tea with Alan and Dee ("Rambling Rose") lovely chat about books, travelling,familly, weddings, just about everything really, nice people good characters. Had pancakes and custard for dinner-delicious. Lovelly sunset tonight, just a bit to late to take photo. Wind has died down a lovelly warm evening.