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August 2019

05 August 2019

It's been a few days since we posted last, and a few days into the new month. Having had a couple of days at the De-Grey River Rest Area we decided that we would move closer to Port Hedland, and into an area with a better phone signal (hopefully).

Packing up and making the short 32 kilometre journey we pulled into a plain old bush track not far from the turn off to Marble Bar. Our track can be found here.

Having camped here before and so knew it was a good spot. We pulled up on the old gravel pad and set up camp, but a walk a bit later on showed a better spot up near a caravan that had come in while we were there. So we moved.

Waiting on a part for our hot water service which, thanks to the rough roads has finally stopped heating the water, we are in the hands of a local plumber and Truma HSW repair agent. With Truma saying up to five days and the plumber saying up to seven, we might be here for a few days yet. But what a terrible spot to have to wait!

So in the meantime we have got some things done, Joanne has satisfied her cleaning obsession, made some yummy food and caught up on the washing, taken walks and spent time on her iPad. In addition I have had the chance to put some more photography vlogs together for the YouTube Channel, some drone work has been done and the camera has had a workout.

Each day is a waiting game, and so we just fill it with living.

Our eventual campsite.

Camped under the Milky Way.

The view out the front of our camp.

A closer view of the tree between a rock and a hard place.

Having wandered through the spinifex and then climbed up the escarpment to try and get a shot of the tree in the photo above, I eventually sent the drone up for a look, then, this morning, I tried a happened to look up when outside and saw the light coming through the tree. So, with my old camera and a longer lens, I managed to grab the shot I had been looking for. Oh well, the exercise climbing up there the other day was fun even if it didn't get me the shot I was after.

Later in the evening a vehicle crept in and we said "backpackers". Sure enough it was the latest backpacker mode of transport, a small 4wd or AWD with a roof top tent. They had come in and parked right in front of us, and right where we need to use to reverse and reconnect. A brief chat with them letting them know we were leaving early and they would be woken up to move so we could get out. They then decided that the grumpy old man was better left alone, and moved to a much better spot.

06 August 2019

Six campers in overnight and we were up early, connecting up and leaving well before there was any movement from anyone else. We made the short 50 km trip into Port Hedland for food shopping, dump Point and then topping up the water tanks on the other side of the dump point at the town free camp.

Joanne discovered water leaking from our water filter and so there was a few phone calls and kilometres around town to eventually get the last one on the shelf at Pilbara Boats n Bikes. Then it was time for a fuel top up before taking a drive out of town to camp some 130 km's from town behind hill about half a km behind a rest area. Lots of tripple and quadruple road train trucks from mines were running up and down the highway all the time, way more than we have ever experienced.

Our Track can be found here.

12 August 2019

Well it's been a hectic, interesting but enjoyable six days since we last posted, and we even have a usable phone signal. We are now back at the same camp behind the hill behind the rest area 130 km's South of Port Hedland. But, since we were here last...

We left our camp and headed South towards Karajini National Park. Stopping for a look at the now dry gorge at the Bea Bea Rest Area and passing through more and more pleasant Pilbara scenery with it's red dirt, red ranges, spinifex, white trees and vistas at every turn.

Passing Auski roadhouse we climbed the range and then turned into the Albert Tognolini Rest Area at the top of the Munjina Gorge. Pulling in we managed to snag a good spot with a nice view down the gorge towards the road and settled in. Obviously drone and ground based photography was high on the priority list. Phone signal was barely usable if you stood at a specific spot near a table at the lookout about 150m from our camp, so we were unable to use it.

The view of Munjina Gorge from the back of our campsite.

The rockface that turns into a waterfall when the creek is flowing.

From the top of the waterfall.

The waterfall and gorge below.

Our track can be found here.

Morning has broken over Munjina Gorge.

First light from our camp.

We had a couple of days to kill before our booked site at Dales Gorge Campground in the Karajini National Park was available to us so we just lingered at the rest area, which was a very pleasant stop in itself.

The trip into Karajini was fairly straight forward but through some more wonderful Pilbara country. Turning off the main road we made our way to the Visitor Information Centre for a look at what was there, before heading off to our campsite.

Our track can be found here.

We were earlier than the 10am check in but as our site was already empty, we just moved in and set up and then set off to explore Dales Gorge. First stop was Circular Pool and after negotiating the steep, narrow, rocky and rough track down we clambered along the gorge floor, up and over large rock formations and small streams of water until we came into a shady spot and to the pool itself.

The best bit of circular pool.

One of the girls ahead of us stripped off and took a swim while we all decided that we would pass on the cold water that took her breath away as she struggled for a bit to come to grips with the water temperature. Photo's taken we headed off back to where we came down into the gorge and headed on some more, passing along under paperbark trees and following the rock wall.

Crossing the creek and up the other side we came to a series of small waterfalls as the creek made its way across the small tiers of rock.

Some of the small cascades.

A closer view

From the small waterfalls it was just a short distance to the bottom of Fortescue Falls and the large pool below it, both of which feed the creek where we were just a short while ago. Coming to the pool and falls we could see plenty of people swimming and then sitting up on the tiers of the waterfall. Mum's, Dad's, kids, and bikini clad backpackers were everywhere and the chance of a photo looked very slim.

We crossed the stepping stones at the bottom and headed up the track and onto the waterfall itself. Thankfully many of the swimmers were leaving and eventually we managed to get some good shots of the waterfall itself.

Joanne atop the top part of Fortescue Falls

The pool at the bottom of the falls.

Leaving the falls we passed the track and ladders up to the top to move on and eventually arrive at a beautiful large pool with two small waterfalls, ferns growing on the rock ledges and the long roots of a fig tree making their way down to the water.

Fern Pool.

So with the day coming to an end we made our way back to the steel ladders and with legs burning, climbed to the top and made our way back to our campsite, thankful to be back.

The next day (Saturday 10th August) and after a well earned rest we were up at 5.30am. Being the first to move in the camp, and probably waking them all up, we were headed for Hancock Gorge where we would attempt the Spider Walk to Kermit's Pool.

The road back to the Visitors Centre was fine as it is bitumen, but as soon as we went past the centre itself we were on a heavily corrugated, rough road, and remained in it the whole way.

Arriving at the carpark we found we were the first there, and so grabbed the best spot and headed off down into the gorge via another steep track until we came to another ladder. Climbing down and walking along the gorge floor we soon came to the first water obstacle and it was time to make sure we were ready for the water from here on.

Walking through the crutch deep, ice block freezing water we came to a long narrow channel with very deep water and a rock wall to try and negotiate to get along. We tried the small rock ledge under the water but that kept disappearing, so it was time to head up a little and to try walking along the rock wall itself, using the small layers to both walk on and to hold onto, a slip being instantly falling into the deep water. Of course, swimming in a wet suit and with a dry back would have meant an easier trip.

Joanne got so far and decided that discretion was the better part of valour and went back while I continued to see if I could get through, which after about 50m I had made it to a safe spot and a small natural amphitheatre.

The first water obstacle on the way to Kermit's Pool.

Starting the rock ledge walk.

The natural amphitheatre.
The rock ledge walk up to the left, the Spider Walk to the right.

Then it was time to tackle the spider walk, so named because you need to have a hand and a leg on either sided of the narrow gorge to continue and to descend further towards Kermit's Pool. But after negotiating just a few metres it was possible to drop down over a large boulder in the crevice and to walk along through the shallow but moving water, eventually arriving at Kermit's Pool.

Looking back to the Spider Walk Section from near Kermit's Pool.

Being the only person there I had it all to myself, and was like a kid in a sweets shop, but I knew I would have to work fast to get the shots I wanted because it would not be long before others came.

Kermit's Pool.

With the hole through the rock on the other side of the pool it was a case of find a way up and along the rock or, swim. Well after getting some photos I tried for about 20 minutes to get up either side and then along the rock ledges, but, being smooth and worn, and by myself, it was not going to happen, not without the possibility of falling into the pool and of course getting the camera gear wet. So, with regret, I did some more video for a photography vlog on it and made my way back up the spider walk to the natural amphitheatre, and that was where I met the first person to come after me.

Re-negotiating the rock ledge walk I arrived back to find Joanne waiting patiently for me. We met and chatted with some other people and then made our way back through the gorge to the track up and eventually to the carpark.

Back in the car we went for a look at Joffre Falls, a small waterfall that descends sideways into what looks like a giant drill hole and stream below. We admired it from above as some people made their way down and along the track, and others swam in the small pool of water at the end.

Then it was onto Knox Gorge where we enjoyed views of the gorge from way up above. Then it was time to get back to the visitor information centre to try and connect to the Internet via our Optus (no Telstra around here) Internet Dongle, which limited in ability. So after a busy day we made it back to camp and took a rest, looked at some photos, reflected on the days activities and worked on plans for tomorrow before going to bed early.

Our track can be found here.

Morning on Sunday the 11th of August came around fairly quickly, and we hit the road again about 7am and made our way to Kalamina Gorge via the corrugated dirt road and an even more corrugated and rocky road to the gorge, and arrived to find we were first again.

We descended the short track into the gorge itself, and after some shots of a waterfall off to the right as soon as we made it to the bottom, we made our way along the gorge floor, passing the strand of tall paperbark trees, over small rock ledges and boulders, crossing the shallow water a number of times before eventually coming to the end where we could see the arch in the rock high up above a large pool. The water along here is a lot dirtier than the other gorges, and green algae was everywhere, but it was still very pleasant on the eye.

The waterfall at the start of the trail requires a right turn and then a rock ledge climb to get to.

The pool at the start in Kalamina Gorge.

One of many Cascades along the gorge floor.

Anyone for a swim?

Reaching out to the other tree, this little one made for a great shot.

The colours of the rock reflected in the water made for a nice view.

More Reflected Light.

Our first view of the arch in the rock at the end of the trail.

Joanne's phone shot of me trying to get a good shot of the arch and the fig tree.

The arch fig tree.

Other people eventually came along and before we knew it we had returned along the gorge and were back at the start, some 4 hours later. Not bad considering the track is listed as 3km's and 3 hrs return.

Leaving the gorges we made our way back along the horrible corrugated roads to the visitors centre where we paid $4 each to have a nice, long, hot shower (rather than a cold one back at camp) and settled in for the rest of the day.

Our track can be found here.

Not having to be up early this morning meant a sleep in and even a cooked breakfast before we aired up on the ute, connected up and headed out around around 9am, and joining the morning exodus of rigs from the park.

Back onto the main road it was a short trip back to the highway and then to Auski Roadhouse to top up with fuel ($1.80 per litre) and the trip back up the highway. Passing Bea Bea Rest Area and then having to pull over while this oversize with two trucks towing it came along. It was an iron ore shovel, the type that loads the 273 tonne trucks on a mine site and it was perched high on a low loader and taking up the whole road. One of the tyres on the low loaded was not too happy and the smell of burning rubber permeated the air as the load passed so I made a call on the UHF to let them know. The oversize stopped opposite a rest area just after it had passed us and traffic from both directions was diverted around the load as it was stopped in the middle of the highway.

Not far up the track we passed the rest area opposite the turn off to Marble Bar, and where the heavy vehicle inspections were being carried out when we went South a few days ago, and then, before long, after passing what could be the Pilbara's Devils Marbles, we turned into the rest area and took the track out the back to the exact same camp spot we had on the way down. Now to catch up things Internet, this web page, some photo and video processing, and a call to the plumber to see if the part we need for our hot water service has arrived.

Our track can be found here.

13 August 2019

A look out the window this morning revealed a cloudy sky, and with the prospect of some good photography it was an early morning, and although the sky showed promise, it didn't light up like we thought it would.

An interesting sky, but not the one we were looking for.

First of the sunlight on the view towards the Wodgina Mine Site.

So after the morning photography and breakfast it was time to call the plumber to see if our part had arrived. Turns out it had not courtesy of the wrong email address being used for ordering. Oh well. So while the part gets sent by air we are going to kick back for a day or so in our little camp, and the day was whiled away with processing photos, doing the washing and some other small tasks.

19 August 2019

Well it's some six days since we last uploaded, and to be honest, not a lot has happened in that time. We left our camp South of Port Hedland and moved into to town and into the free camp at Port Hedland.

During the time here we have found out that our part must have been loaded onto a Cessna and the headwinds are slowing things down, and it still hasn't arrived in town yet. It would have been easier to fly over to Sydney or wherever it comes from, pick it up and fly back!

So, during our time here we have got some shopping done and I even managed to catch up with a bloke who used to work for me and to take him out on a photography adventure. Adam used to take landscape shots but is now a passionate wildlife photographer. Check his website out here at adamjbricephotographysite.wordpress.com As you will see, he is mad about snakes, lizards, spiders, frogs and all sorts of wildlife.

So after a brief catch up we arranged for me to pick him up from the mining camp and he directed me to an area where there are a group of old explosives bunkers. Now derelict, full of rubbish and graffiti, they still made for a great subject in the evening light.

Great side light on the flowers in front of the old explosives bunker.

These lambs tail plants were growing all around the area and this scene begged to be shot.

Photos taken it was time to hit the road and continue on about 17 km's down a dirt road to a place known as Trig Hill. Guided by a GPS mark on his phone we eventually arrived and turned into the bush along a narrow track, which in the dark was quite hard to see. We stopped about 100metres of so at the base of the hill and I began to look for a composition with the hill and the milky way. Adam on the other hand, was off up the hill with his headlight looking for snakes, lizards and anything else he could find.

Trig Hill, the milky way, and even a shooting star.

WHilst not finding a snake, he did find two parts of a python that something had feasted on only recently. He also found a lizard and brought it down from the top of the hill. Then it was time for him to get some shots of it, so while he set up one handed, holding the little animal in his other hand, it was my turn to hold the flash tent diffuser. Adam carefully set the lizard up on a rock and while lying down next to it grabbed some shots, the light from the flash directly overhead and illuminating the poor lizard nicely. I thought that the lizard would do a bolt the first chance it got, but it didn't and sat there as Adam had positioned it for some time while he got the shots he wanted.

So, shots over we came back along the dirt road slowly in the hope of finding a snake enjoying the warmth of the road, but it seems they had all gone bush. Dropping Adam off back at his digs it was a short drive back to camp for me, arriving around 9.30 pm.

So, we are here for one more day with the hope that the plane bringing this part is not battling the huge 40km/h winds here at the moment. If the plumber who is the Truma Repair man doesn't get the part by lunch tomorrow he will have to post it us somewhere as we have somewhere to be and will be on our way South once more.

The free camp here in Port Hedland is a good one, and, despite the wind blowing the sand around a bit, is a perfect place to stop for a few days to see the area. And, with a dump point and potable water nearby, it makes a good launching spot to head off to other places.

20 August 2019

Well the part didn't arrive and is due Wednesday (at best), so we have decided to leave town and head South. We could have stayed back as we had a requested and were granted permission by the Council to stay, but as there was no guarantee on the arrival of the part, and we have a booking in the Cape Range National Park for Friday we have moved on.

Leaving camp as the wind got up again we were glad to have a side/tail wind, and after topping up the water we stopped for fuel and then the laundromat before heading out of town. Turning off onto the Coastal Highway was a pleasure and it was nice to be away from the mining traffic and the hustle and bustle of Port Hedland.

The road was indeed very quiet as we made our way along, stopping only to get some photos of the Sturt Desert Pea that was in full bloom for quite a large area around Whim Creek. We also stopped in for a look at the old Whim Creek Hotel which is now closed and awaiting its new owners to get it up and running again.

Blazes of red across the landscape as Sturt's Desert Pea blooms.

Looking down on them makes them look like Capsicum's with their tops cut off.

Normally a ground cover, some like to climb a little higher.

Before long we were passing through Roebourne and then we arrived in Karratha and what a change since we were there last! High rise buildings, a new hospital, new Police Station, and almost new everything. Traffic lights and more and more houses. But we only stopped long enough for a fuel top up, a quick look around and to refill one of our gas bottles.

Leaving Karratha we were back onto the highway where a few years ago I spent quite a few hours travelling up and down for work. Passing Miaree Pool we we headed for 40 mile beach. Turning off the highway at the Devils Creek Santos Gas Plant, we took the very good dirt road for 10 kilometres and arrived at the camping area. Wow! Just beautiful. Stopping at the caretakers van we paid our $16 and found a waterside spot just a few camp spots down from the caretaker and the boat ramp.

So settled in it was time to take a walk along the rocks and beach to stretch the legs after a 311 kilometre drive, which is a big day for us, and to check out some sunset photography locations.

Sunset over the rocks at 40 mile beach.

And in the opposite direction, the Belt of Venus over the rocks.

Our track can be found here.

21 August 2019

Our visit to 40 mile beach was a very pleasant one and one that we are sure to repeat. The sound of the ocean was beautiful to fall asleep to. Waking this morning it was not long before the strong wind was back, but thankfully when we are back on the highway it will be behind us, sort of.

We made our way out to the highway along the now smooth 10 km track, passing the Santos Gas Plant and finding the fresh water tap they have put along the fence for travellers to fill up on. It's just a pity we didn't need any.

Along the highway it was the usual Pilbara highway scenery with its red earth, white trees and spinifex. We were also part of the caravan caravan that was traversing the highway, and although we had plenty of time, we still caught up to and over took five rigs as they snail paced along the highway.

Passing some of my old work haunts at Erramurra Camp and Mesa A it was amazing to see the changes in the area and how far the mines had moved along, and talking of moving along, half the earth was doing that in the strong wind. At times it was hard to even see the road.

We eventually arrived at the Barradale Rest Area, our intended sop for the day and managed to get a nice spot near the fence on some gravel. Setting up and settling in we had beaten the rush which followed us not long after we had got there. And before long the inevitable happened. With about 10 acres of room to park, one caravan decided to try and squeeze into a small spot behind us, and about half the length they required and about 2 metres from the back of us.

Being outside when the woman was trying to tell the driver how to get in, I asked if they were going to stop there. She had this weird look on her face like, why wouldn't we? I then mentioned to her that this was not a bloody caravan park and they didn't need to be right on top of us, and that there was plenty of room for them to find a spot. She obviously got the message and they moved away, looking for a spot for their nice shiny new caravan, then, after not finding one in the remaining 10 acres, went back out to the highway and moved on. Bloody holiday makers!

So after the fun and excitement the rest of the day and evening went pretty quickly and without incident.

Our track can be found here.

22 August 2019

Waking this morning it appeared that there was still plenty of room around, even with 53 other campers in. Joanne went for her usual walk and returned telling me to get up and go down to the river for photo's. Ok, well, if I have to.

I wasn't planning on any photos here as I still have plenty to process, but, if Joanne says there is something to shoot then there probably is. So I walked the short distance down to the dry river and on arrival I could see what she was talking about. If I had come down here yesterday when we first arrived, or even driven down here to find a camp, it would have been a very busy time for the camera.

Walking along the river bed was hard going in the sand an leaf litter, but the white tree's were amazing, and I didn't know where to look first. But, I had to work quickly because the sun was gaining height and strength so the harsh light was almost on me, and the scenery.

I just loved the way the branches all bowed down in this early morning shot.

The sun was getting harsher but the view of this avenue was still quite soft on the eye.

Such a pleasant scene despite the harsh sun in the background.

Back at camp and with breakfast over I decided to get the drone out and get some aerial shots and some video, and by the time I landed, the place was almost empty.

The Yannarie River and the Rest Area.

The only water in the river for a very long way was about half a kilometre from the road bridge.

We eventually left, making our way along the highway and passing over the sand dunes as we went, the wind was still helping somewhat which we were thankful for, especially when overtaking, which we did a number of times again today.

Eventually turning off the highway and towards Exmouth we were battling a side wind all the way to the Exmouth road and then a headwind for the short journey to the Termites Rest Area, our intended camp for the day, especially as we are not due in the National Park until tomorrow.

With nobody else in the rest area we managed to get the up wind spot and just as well we did because the wind got up even more and the dust blowing down the other end was so bad we couldn't see the other end at all.

Termite Mounds as the sun begins to lower in the sky.

Our track can be found here.

23 August 2019

The weather closed in during the night and we awoke well before sunrise to a cloudy, wet, soggy day. With some hope of a photo or two and maybe a dramatic sky it was time to go exploring, and I am so glad I did. The sun did manage to come out for a few brief moments and when it did I was poised with a composition ready.

With only a few moments of brilliance in the sky, this was the shot of the day.

With hope of some more dramatic sky I began checking other termite mounds for compositions and of course ended quite some way away from camp. Then, of course when I was far enough away, the sky got darker and as I began a hurried trip back, the rain squall got me and by the time I got back, I was rather wet.

After drying off and enjoying breakfast we headed out towards town, and we were the first of the seven of us to do so. In town we got fuel, did some food shopping, picked up the mail and generally got ready to be off the grid for the next few days.

Heading out to the National Park we found the campsite we had booked at the Kurrajung Camp and settled in. Joanne was so excited that she took off for a look at the beach before we had even unhitched and set up properly.

Our track can be found here.

24 August 2019

Up early for morning photography before breakfast and then heading off to explore the National Park.

While getting this long exposure the wave almost got me as the camera and I balanced on the rocks.

The Belt of Venus in the sky and some long exposure photography while trying not to get wet.

Same shot but slightly different.

Heading South we went to the end and explored Yardie Creek, and the short walk up to the lookouts and then a little of the additional walk before the crowds got there. There are boat tours you can book that take you up the creek, but we didn't bother.

The Gorge and Yardie Creek looking East.

Leaving Yardie Creek we visited other campgrounds and beach spots. Other than where we are staying Osprey Campground would be very nice (if you can get in) as the beach is very nice and good for swimming and snorkeling, and Sandy Bay is a short 630m walk from there as well

Sandy Bay makes for a very nice swimming and snorkeling location.

Fossilised Coral can be found all over this part of the rocks.

Passing our campground we went North as far as Oyster Stacks before returning to camp for lunch and to relax.

Our track can be found here.

25 August 2019

Day three of our visit to Cape Range National Park was a fairly relaxing one. Not getting up early for sunrise photos meant a sleep in until around 7am. Then it was a morning of checking out camps, bays and beaches that we hadn't seen. The wind was up early and that put a little dampener on the proceedings and so by lunchtime we had had enough and went home for a lazy afternoon.

Our track can be found here.

31 August 2019

Another five days and a few kilometres have passed once more. Our stay in the National Park was a good one, and one we both enjoyed. We were up early and on our way, heading back into Exmouth for the usual dump point, then a line up for water, then it was a look in the RV shop and fuel on the way out of town. We made our way back to the Termites Rest Area and spent a peaceful night with quite a few others, the last of which was two blokes in a car who parked about a metre off our rear bumper and put up a tent!

Our track can be found here.

The next morning we were up and on the road fairly early, the men in the tent behind us still asleep, though I recon they might have heard us leave :-)

Making our way to Coral Bay we stopped in for a look, and remembered why we don't like the place. Well, to be honest, the location is beautiful, but the wall to wall caravans, caravan parks, backpackers and the like just make it so unappealing. Taking a short trip out to the boat ramp we parked up in the carpark and admired and photographed the beautiful view, complete with turquoise water and boats at anchor.

The boat ramp at Coral Bay enjoys some of the most beautiful ocean.

Heading out of Coral Bay we made our way South, crossing the 26th Parallel on the way, and heading out of the tropical zone. Following a fairly bland part of the highway we passed sand dunes and low lying scrub until we came to the very dry Lyndon River, where we pulled up in the large rest area and being the first in, got the spot that suited us and not that that was left when all the other good spots were taken.

Our track can be found here.

Waking in the morning to fog it was the perfect chance to try some photography using the fog to mask the blandness of the background. Having spotted a white tree that was leant over yesterday it was this tree that made for a perfect subject in the fog.

The only tree with any character at Lyndon River and a foggy start to the day.

Photography and breakfast over we made our way down the Coast road some more and as the fog eventually lifted we met the main North West Coastal Highway, and after a short seven kilometres pulled into Manilya Roadhouse for some fuel. This is the roadhouse that was owned by Luc Longley the basketball player, and the same one that gave us nice water when we cycled through back in 2003.

Fuelled up we pulled out onto the highway and immediately crossed the Manilya River, the rest area on the other side quite full and not many of the campers there were moving too quickly. The large white gum trees would have been a great photo in the fog this morning, but...we were not there to witness it.

Back on the highway we were wrestling with the traffic and it was with relief that we turned off towards Pt Quobba and approximately 50 kilometres later we saw the large sign that welcomes everyone with the words "King Waves Kill".

The blowhole was at work, but we turned and made our way down to the camping area. Going to the end we came back and took up a sheltered position behind a dune rather than parking up with many others. Of course they had the ocean view out of their back window, but they had the wind and the spray all over them as well.

At $22 a night for nothing but a camping spot among the old shacks, a toilet and a dump point it is a tad expensive, but, the location was worth every cent.

Having settled in we took off in the ute and traveled about 60 kilometres along a good then terrible dirt road to Red Bluff. Then we found the even worse track into the Red Bluff camping and viewing area. Camping here was $36 night (no power, no water, no nothing) but the view of the rather large headland was quite nice.

Making our way back to camp we stopped at the HMAS Sydney Memorial and then a few of the spots where you can get up close and personal with the ocean as it pounds the coastline, sending spray everywhere, and where you can easily have a shower in salt water if you are not careful.

Typical Quobba Coastline.

Smashing in.

A 30 second long exposure makes for foggy water and smeared clouds.

Same shot, different shutter speed.

Smashing in not far from the blowhole.

A stop at the blowhole to witness and photograph it was also in order, and it was a good chance to look for sunset and sunrise compositions, both of which were completed along with a drone flight over the heaving ocean as it slammed into the rocks. Joanne did the usual one thousand trips to the beach to enjoy every minute of it. And we pretty much repeated the same thing with visits to the beach and photography the next day as well. Falling into bed tired and with the salt spray all over the place as the Pt Quobba Lighthouse shone out across us and the shore.

Our track can be found here.

This morning was also a photography morning because there were some very nice clouds offshore, and after arriving at the blowhole it was apparent that the swell was the largest we had seen, and getting photo's without getting wet, or worse still, swept off the rocks was a challenge.

Blowhole in action.

A slightly different view of the blowhole in action.

The blowhole and rock shelf from the air.

Come a little closer and we will see...

Getting a shot of Joanne's favourite little waterfall was either get wet, or take it from the air. Guess which one.

Back at camp and with breakfast over it was time to leave and to head into Carnarvon. Stopping in town we fuelled up then picked up the part for our hot water service from the post office, did some food shopping, filled up with fresh water and then took a drive through the car and caravan wash bay to get rid of all that salt on the rig.

Then, it was time to head back out of town and on towards Gascoyne Junction, stopping for the day at Rocky Pool which is just a large waterhole in the dry Gascoyne River. Settling in it was also a chance to fit the new control board to the hot water service and to test it by heating the water for the first hot shower we have had in the van since somewhere along the Tanami Track! Having said that, the cold showers were fine, but at times just a tad refreshing.

Rocky Pool Riverbed Scene

The Gascoyne River at Rocky Pool from the air.

Dry river flows make for an interesting view when looking own from above.

Footprints, hoof marks, tyre tracks and river flows from above.

Our track can be found here.

31 August 2019

So after a peaceful night at Rocky Pool we awoke to fog on the river, but not over the water. The other campers were up and the smell of their fire in the morning drifted through the air. We walked down to the river and began to get some shots of the scenery.

Morning fog along the ends of the river at Rocky Pool as the Belt of Venus rises.

Fog and a sunrise make for a great photo opportunity.

Leaving our camp we made our way along the the 120km's to Gascoyne Junction where, after crossing the single lane concrete bridges, we stopped for morning tea at the very picturesque picnic spot on the other side of the river.

Heading back into town we topped up our fuel and headed off towards Murchison Settlement. Stopping about 10 kilometres after leaving town to air down at the end of the bitumen was a good move, despite the nice gravel road. Passing the road crew rebuilding the road a bit further on and then the road got a tad rougher. Not too bad but we were glad we aired down as the kilometres passed by.

Passing through many varied vistas, types of ground, bush and open plain we eventually crossed the creek and took the track into Bilung Pool. The Pool is part of the creek and is about 20 metres below the rocky surface above where we eventually parked. Being the only ones there we managed to get the only spot overlooking the pool below, though a track on the other side leads down into the creek where (with a camper trailer or roof top tent) you could camp at the waters edge.

The view we settled on after arrival.

Our campsite at Bilung Pool.

Our campsite from the other side.

The river comes to the drop off into the pool. It's such a pity it wasn't flowing.

The pool from above.

Looking West across our camp, the neighbours and the Pool.

Looking East towards the main road and the distant hills.

One other caravan came in and set up camp not far away from us and a few came in, had a look and then left again.

Golden Hour provided some beautiful light and reflections.

Our track can be found here.

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Mark Twain once said "...years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do that by the things you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - and so we will.

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