WA 2022

Broome down to Karijini NP

We leave BROOME on the 1^stof May. 

Our first stop is a couple of days at Port Smith in Their Caravan Park.

We have stopped here before but after this time I don't think we will again.

We went snorkelling but the tide was going out, so it was a hard swim back across the lagoon against it. We only saw some tiny fish nothing much.

They say there aren't any crocodiles here in the Lagoon as its fine sand and the crocs can not dig their nests in it. The sand collapses in on them . I hoped this was true as we snorkelled twice in the Lagoon . The second time we made sure the tide was on its way in.

Next we pulled up for a night at the Sandfire Roadhouse on the 3 May.

Larry went to park the van while I paid and as I was leaving down the side steps to go to the van I found a baby Perentie . Varanus giganteus. Its Australia's largest monitor lizard , that grows to 2.5 metres with the average size about 2 metres.

I only had my phone so I took some quick photos and went and got my camera but it had gone.

There are still pea hens and peacocks all over the place and a camel, they have been here for years.

Its on to Cape Keraudran for 4 nights, we like this place its shire run. The camp ground we like over looks the ocean where when the tide is out there are rock pools with octopus . But this time with mothers day its full of local families with lots of kids , most fishing so its had to find a place to swim with out having to get past fishing lines. It has a mangrove area we walk round . But because of the time of the year we do not find some of the birds we do usually or the fruit bats. We find lots of hermit crabs and octopus .

Next its on to De Grey river rest stop but it to is not the same as the river is fenced off because of a burr weed that has become a problem . So fenced to stop the further spread of the weed.

Any how we have to go into Port Hedland to do our early voting for the upcoming national elections.

Because we are from interstate we can not vote at some of the smaller towns we have to do it in either Broome or Port Hedland . Voting for us started on the 9^thMay and we were nowhere near Broome so we vote in Port Hedland.

It is expensive in this big mining port so we stay at the Race course for free as long as you are self containe with your own water, toilet and place to store grey water.

We got to vote easily then went to the laundromat to do the washing.

We drove out to pretty pool for a swim . Its where the ocean flows into the sand dunes and makes a pool. The actual beach area is for clothes optional beach so we swam in the pool.

Shopping took up part of the next day and I was able to but some Green ginger wine. But here as with most places in north WA you have to have proof of id and you can not buy more than 1 bottle of wine or box of beer. That is if they have it as fortified wine and most spirits are banned up here.

We next head towards Marble Bar again with a overnight at Des Steckfuss rest area.. We were the only ones there apart from travelling mine worker putting rubbish in the bins on their way to work.

Marble bar for 3 days , we had to stop at the caravan park as nowhere else to stop with the van.

We went out to Chinaman's pool and Marble bar pool but did not go this time to the fossicking area for jasper this time.

Then its out along a part dirt mine road to get to the Great Northern Highway is bitumen from each end as far as the mine sites at each end and pretty bad this time between them.so 75km bad, big ruts and road works making it worse after the last rain.

We have been having and are still getting bad wet weather which is unseasonal for here. Its usually finnnished by now and the dry season is here.

We stopped the night at the road junction with all the road train trucks.

Then are usual stop along this road Two camel creek then Bea Bea and then its into Auski road house to top up power as still a bit cloudy with not much solar going in to batteries. Then the Usual Albert Tognolini rest area and look out. At all these we can go for walks and see different things. We have been slowly making our way to Tom Price and Karijini NP as we do not have to be there until the end of May.

Found lots baby dragons at all places , it must be the season .

We head into Tom Price to shop and get our flu vaccines . Did not do too much as weather rainy again so I did not even get into their nice pool this time.

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