So last Saturday once Tony got home from work, Nudge was able to borrow his welder and do the necessary repairs to his nudge bar.  I cooked tea and we had that with Tony and then when I asked if I could plug into power to do a load of washing in our van, he very kindly suggested that I just pop it all into his machine and get it all done in the one hit.  Magic!  Once Nudge had finished his repairs we all chatted for a while then headed off to bed as Tony had to work the next day.

Next day which was Fathers Day, we decided we'd keep on the move so we did all the usual things like filling up water, emptying cassettes and getting last minute provisions.  We then headed out of town on the Rio Tinto mine road which follows the railway. This road requires a permit to travel on but we'd already watched the required video and completed the necessary paperwork at the Visitors Centre the day before.  It was a great road and then we branched off towards Hamersley Gorge which was still a good road even though unsealed.  We camped for the night at a spot called Buddhas Rest which was nicely back off the road and only a few kilometres from the Gorge.  Once we were set up we headed into the Gorge.  I think this was the prettiest one we've seen so far - it was so beautiful.  Nudge and Carol both had a swim though the water was decidedly fresh they said.  The rocks are known to be very slippery and after our Lorella Springs adventure, both Craig and I are somewhat wary of slippery rocks!

We had our usual nice campfire which was good as it had turned quite cool.  Next morning we headed to Millstream and Colchester National Park and we'd booked a couple of sites in the Miliyanha camping ground.  Once we were set up we walked over to have a look around the Millstream Homestead then out to Deep Reach pool which isn't really a pool at all but an area of the Fortescue River.  The fearless Nudge had a quick swim but the water was a bit murky for the rest of us.    At night we took our drinks up to the Cliff Lookout which overlooks the Fortescue River and watched the sunset from there.  Then back to camp tea and bed - no fires tonight being in a National Park. Next morning we took a drive to Python Pool.  This is a very pretty pool at the bottom of a deep gorge.  It was a beautiful day and easy entry to the lovely clear water so we all had a swim.  We'd packed a picnic lunch so enjoyed that beside the pool then headed back to camp.

On the move again the next morning and heading to Karratha where we are now.  We're booked into the Discovery Park there and have power, water, a concrete pad and NO RED DUST!  We actually were off grid for 27 days without a break so very pleased with how well our solar power copes - and particularly our fridge as they can be problematic in the heat up here.  So immediately we arrived here it was straight to the washing machines to do all the laundry including the bedding as everything had a coating of red dust.  We have noticed that while there's plenty of red dust in the Kimberly, it doesn't come close to the sticky powdery dust of the Pilbara.  But hey its all part of the adventure.  Next was a visit to the shops to stock up on a few basics.  At night they had a sausage sizzle for a gold coin donation in the van park so we all had that for tea - beats cooking! There was also someone playing guitar which we could have wandered over to watch but he wasn't that good and we could hear him from our van so we just all had drinks under our awning.  

We had a bit of a lazy morning - its nice sometimes to just chill when you've been on the go constantly.  In the afternoon we took a run into Kmart and nabbed a bargain or two and then had a bit of a drive round the town of Karratha.  We all shared a couple of pizzas I'd got at night.

Yesterday we headed north towards Roebourne, Wickham and Point Samson.  Craig lived and worked in the Roebourne area around 50 years ago and so was keen to see what the place looked like now.  Needless to say it bore little resemblance to the town he remembered and Wickham where he was employed in the building of it, is now quite a sprawling little township.  However we did find the old Roebourne gaol and the little bridge into the town which are now no longer operational but which he remembers clearly from his days there - I hasten to add that he wasn't personally familiar with the interior of the gaol!

We visited Cossack a former pearling town before Broome took off, which is now a ghost town but has some beautiful old buildings including the courthouse and gaol.  We'd a lovely wander round there then enjoyed a coffee at the coffee shop before heading on to Point Samson.  We'd heard good things about the fish and chips at the Samson Beach Tavern so went there for lunch on the upstairs veranda.  They didn't disappoint!  We also checked out Honeymoon Cove which is recommended as a nice swimming spot.  However it was quite breezy and the beach seemed quite rocky in places so we admired from a distance.  

On the way back to Karratha we drove into Cleaverville which is a nature based camping spot.  We'd originally planned to camp here till we read on Wikicamps how bad the midgies and sandflies can be.  Craig and I are lucky enough not to be bothered much by them but unfortunately both Nudge and Carol seem to have signs attached saying "Eat Me" and they suffer dreadfully from welts and itches so we'd decided to give it a miss.   Nonetheless it was good to see it.  Back to camp then and a scratch tea as after such a massive lunch no-one was in the least hungry.

Today's our last day in Karratha and we'll head a bit further south again in the morning.  However first of all this afternoon we're going to Dampier to have a look around and of course see the famous Red Dog statue there.  See you soon.