Karijini to Port Hedland

We leave Karijini a little bit sad as it is a nice place but we need to see other places in WA and NT during the winter months when there is very little rain to stop us travelling the roads we want.
Saturday night is spent just outside Tom Price in a parking bay so we can be up early to get water and top up food and fuel.
The next part of the journey is down the Rio Tinto railway road, the private road which we had to get the permit for. This part of the road is 200kms linking to the Millstream- Chichester National park road. The maximum speed trucks and us towing can travel down this road is 60km an hour, so road takes us just over 4hours with a stop for lunch and cuppa, 4 wheel cars can travel maximum 80km.



In this time we have 10 empty trains pass us going back to Tom Price and Newman, but no full trains going to port. We counted carriages and each time we got 244.


The road has some corrugations but mostly it is fine at this speed just have to be aware of road trains travelling either way, they have right of way of course, to long to stop especially on dirt/ gravel road. It is not until we get close to the park and the Fortescue river to we get any river crossings, these have gone down a bit after the last flood. The road into the park is in a worse state and the river crossings deeper. As the river weaves its way through the park we have to cross it a couple of times and a couple of other creeks. With the ground made up of dirt and rocks in this area makes most of the roads have a solid base so as long as we go slow and not make waves for water to get into doors we are ok, even when some parts of the road have washouts.

This park is doing it tuff as fire hit in January and floods a couple of weeks ago, so some places are closed and the plant and wildlife population greatly reduced.
We are camped in camp site close to the old homestead which is know the information bay 7 museum.

After setting up we walk around the homestead and its grounds that have walking tracks and information boards. The water course and its pool on the grounds we are not allowed to swim in as they have Aboriginal significance, and some of the other water courses are out of bounds as the water here is pumped to Karratha as their water supply . The only pool left to swim in is called Deepreach and it has metal steps and a day use area with bbq and seats. The ranger tells us of a Olive Python that was living under these steps but no one has seen since the floods. So while we are there for a walk around and swim we go looking for him but do not find. This is a shame as its the second we have tried to photograph and have not been able to. They do not harm people, are not venomous , can bit if defending themselves. We hope this one managed to survive the flood water.
 
The swim is very deep and cold water and because of flood the water is still moving quite a bit, but it was refreshing.
 
 
We only stay here for 3 days walking every day to different areas. We move on towards Karratha as we have booked the Toyota in its 50,000km service on friday. Its not far to travel but it is still a dirt road for 30km then we join the surfaced road for 70kms into Karratha. We have not booked anywhere too stay and have the option as 3 caravan parks and a nature camp 30km outside of town on the coast. Well the parks all want up to $50 a night so we go to nature camp for 3 nights at $10 a night.
This is 26 km out on bitumen coast highway then 16km on dirt to ocean. Its a rocky shore but quite nice walk looking in rock pools at the right tide. We found couple of octopuses but were not quick enough to get a good photo just a tentacle as it disappeared under a rock.

Friday was spent In Karratha walking around waiting for the car to be serviced , having lunch then doing food shopping when it was finished. It only takes half hour to be back at our camp for a relaxing beach walk.


Saturday we move on towards Port Hedland, stopping at Balla Balla inlet for a couple of days. This is 15km along a dirt road towards coast from Whim creek[ copper mining town].
First we check out the inlet and find lots of people fishing and setting up for the weekend . After a walk around and taking photos of mud skippers and me getting my foot and shoe stuck in the mud, we go back to where the camping area is along the Balla Balla creek.

After finding our spot we walk and find the creek is just a trickle with pools along it which are of clear water. The cows use some of these pools for drinking but not the one infront of us so we bucket the water up the hill for washing clothes and us. It is decided that because of good water we will hand wash the car and caravan, good job we here for 3 days. Between working on car & van we walk and stand outside at dusk and have a cold water shower, not bad. 

WE do another road side stop at West Peawah river rest area they are putting in a new toilet block but not finished for us to use, have to one. Lots of people here for the night.
We move on to a campsite beside the Yule river for a couple of days lots people here first night too. Only 4 second night . We walk up and down river as it is not full only water in places. If it was full we would not be camped here it would be 4-5 times wider than in Benalla. We found a black neck stork with some egrets fishing where the water is very narrow and shallow. Then we find Blue winged Kookaburra and a Rufous night heron. This place is nice and peacefull before we head into Port Hedland next day.


We are in Port Hedland for 2 nights as they have both a Woolworths and Coles we thought we would stock up for the Gibb river crossing in maybe 3 weeks. Shops are going to be very expensive soon, as if they are not already getting that way. 

Port Hedland started way back in 1863 with its first jetty in 1899 and another for the pearling luggers in 1908. The town started to expand in 1960s because of the iron ore mining in the Pilbara and today is one of the worlds busiest working harbours. Working to load 300million tonnes of product a year, this is iron ore and salt. Rio Tinto also have a salt works here producing manufacturing grade sea salt to ship overseas.
This place has grown and now has a residential area called South Hedland, where we are staying in van park. There is a couple of overpasses between the port and here over the rial and highway.
Population 18,000 with climate max 26-40 min 14-27
Most people here work for either mining company , in harbour on railway , salt works or their supporting retail trades. The pharmacist told me they do not have many pensioners here as when people retire they move, don't blame them, I do not like it here.
We have watched the loaded ships getting towed out with about 4 tug boats, walked along the mud flats in a couple of places, visited the site of the salt works and shopped and even though it is hot it has been overcast the 2 days.

  We head out tomorrow Broome is 600km away so this means a couple of stops, can't rush and miss anything.