Day 123-130 80 Mile Beach, Cape Keraudren

Thursday, August 26, 2021

Cape Keraudren Coastal Reserve, Western Australia, Australia

We headed into Broome and got a few bits and pieces in Kmart then went to Divers Tavern to meet Nudge and Carol for lunch. After lunch we did the food shopping and the grog run then headed back to the caravan park.

Next morning we were up and on the road sharpish as we'd heard that Barn Hill Station - our next stop - fills up very early. However what we're discovering is that since we're doing mostly unpowered it doesn't really affect us. The big demand is for powered sites. Anyway we got to Barn Hill and could have had powered if we'd wanted but they were all pretty squished in so we opted for the open area of unpowered. We were nice and handy for walking down the beach. In the afternoon we walked down to the beach which is beautiful and found that there were some fabulous rock pools so we reclined in them and gave the big surf a miss. Jackie and Trevor still had one more night at Barn Hill so she came across for a chat in the afternoon and we were going to catch up later but ended up just having tea and a few drinks beside our vans.

Barn Hall beach

Next morning I was sitting up in bed reading around 6.30am when I spotted Jackie heading to our van. They'd an issue with their battery and it was flat and Trevor couldn't even get the back door of the Landcruiser open to get his tools. Anyway Craig grabbed a couple of tools and headed across to give him a hand and they were able to get it started using the auxiliary battery and they were able to get on the road albeit about an hour of more after they'd planned.

We had a long walk along the beach then morning tea at the site cafe and tried their famous vanilla slice then in the afternoon headed back for another soak in the rock pool. I'd had a message from Susie that they had arrived at Barn Hill too and we'd planned to meet them up at the stage area as they had a live band playing. However Carol was suffering with an ear infection and we could hear the music clearly from our site so we ended up just listening from afar.

On the road again the next day to Eighty Mile Beach. Another park we'd heard horror stories about people lined up outside the gate before 8am to try and secure a spot.

Rocks on the beach at Barn Hill

We stopped at Sandfire Roadhouse for fuel and I gave them a call to see what availability was like and once again plenty of unpowered sites. This park would have to be the nicest one we've stayed in so far. Beautifully set out sites between trees - allowing sun and shade. Spotless amenities, a well stocked reasonably priced shop and cafe which did evening meals - the Monday night special was Meat Pie and Mash, with Apple Pie and Ice-cream all for $19!! We didn't have it but thought it was tremendous value.

We'd initially planned to stay two nights but decided to extend by one more so I could enjoy my birthday in such beautiful surroundings. You can drive your vehicle along the beach here and so each afternoon we'd load up our cooler bags, pack our chairs and go for a drive along the beach and enjoy sundowners watching the sunset. You can't swim on this beach as they're are lots of sharks around. The timing was right supposedly to see the phenomena - the staircase to the moon - low tide and almost full moon. But the moon was rising in the wrong direction for us and so it was never over the water to give the stair effect.

Sunset at Barn Hill

Maybe next month further down the coast. I'd had a message from Susie to say they'd arrived at Eighty Mile so while Nudge and Carol went for a bike ride along the beach, Craig and I popped over for a catch up with Susie, Ken, Maria and Lynton. They just stayed one night and headed off to Port Hedland the next morning.

And so I celebrated my birthday at Eighty Mile Beach. Craig took the four of us up to the cafe for scones, jam and cream. Then Nudge was able to fix up a 12 volt outlet for me on my side of the bed - and what a difference that's made. No more trailing cables or leaping over Craig to try and charge my phone and tablet. I had some bubbles and Nudge and Carol had also given me some. So Carol and I indulged in a couple then it was time to head down for sunset. Carol had invited us to their van for dinner to further celebrate so we headed over there and had a delicious meal - prawn cutlets and salt and pepper squid with hot buns, then crispy skin salmon with sweet potato mash and steamed veggies. I had messages and phone calls from all my special people and felt very loved.

Looking back towards our vans at Barn Hill

What a lucky lady I am!

Pack up time again but only a short haul of just over 100km down to Pardoo Roadhouse and in to Cape Keraudren. Yet another beautiful spot with beautiful turquoise water though very rocky before you get to any sand and no sand visible at all at high tide. But we've a lovely position side by side looking over the inlet and last night we had pork steaks, baked potatoes, corn and brussels all cooked over our open fire. What a life!

We'll have tonight here then tomorrow move on to Port Hedland for a few days where we'll catch up with Andy and Jean Cameron (originally from Tannum but currently working in WA) and Carol has a phone hookup she needs to attend so has to have decent reception so we may stay in Hedland for 3 or 4 nights. Back soon