Augusta to Hopetoun September 2011 Part 1

What a week we picked to start out and we had our first blow out on the van..the thrashing remnants ate our plumbing...we headed straight for Augusta and for the most part it was wet and windy, luckily when we had the blow out it was dry.We did get out to the Leeuwin Lighthouse just as the place was shutting..did you notice the dancing cow in the foreground?
We stayed at the Turner Caravan Park, one of our neighbours having breakfast, a young Pacific Gull.

Whilst in Augusta it was Fathers Day so off we went to Hamelin Bay Winery for lunch. Here we met a lovely family who on talking imparted that they came from Albany. Gordon was into flowers and Maree into birds. We exchanged numbers with a hope that we could get together later.
We drove further along the coast line and got a totally different perspective of the Lighthouse, where the Southern and Indian Oceans meet.

Trip to Exmouth June 2011 PART 8

We managed to get into Dales Gorge Camping area...something we had missed last time. The weather was glorious and as soon as we were set up we were off to some familiar sights. I am sure he did this photo last time...but this time everything is so green.
Stephen went down into Dales Gorge (last time we went down Weano Gorge). He walked the base and I walked the rim....
The colours and the fractures in these rocks are incredible. The play of light at different times of the day give varying pictures, something that neither of us get tired of.

Boys will be boys!! Must have been cold!!!
This is our neighbour and interesting soul, Angie. A remote teacher that was on leave and heading for Broome and the ongoing battles with regards to the development up there.
View from the Oxer Lookout..
and the Junction Pool Lookout.

Don't you just love the white on black, backed by the red on green?
One toe caused this ripple at Joffre Falls.

This is a local mountain goat...no really.. Stephen followed this path later.
And proof that he made it to the bottom of the falls. He was stuffed and that was him finished for the day. We had a great few days and then the weather turned and Stephen turned his nose into wind and got us home in 2 days.

Thanks again to the Pilbara and Ningaloo Reef....yet again we had a fantastic holiday....hopefully we will be back in the next two years.

Trip to Exmouth June 2011 PART 7

Decided to go across to Tom Price to catch up with Wendy and Ron. Took the test and got our permit and went down the Access Road. Pulled up when we saw this coming..with toots and waves and approximately 250 wagons, these are beasts of trains

Having done the mine trip at Newman we thought it only fair to give the opposition a go...so Tom Price Mine here we come.

when you see tunnels like these and the train pulling out at about 2k's an hour while being loaded...it makes you think if it will hold...all good!!
We also took the opportunity to go up Mount Nameless. This is the highest accessible mountain in Western Australia. Great view..and it gave us a chance to use Toby's low range that had not had a work out for a while.
We also saw a mine blast from above..quite nifty, with roads blocked off and a cloud a red dust hanging in the air.
With all the rain the vegetation was lush and green...we looked forward to Dales Gorge with the hope that the rain had changed it from the last time we had seen it!.

Trip to Exmouth PART 6

We headed up to see Irene , Phillip & Bridget in Karratha as we hadn't seen them since our last time down the coast in 2008.

We made the trip out to Sam's Island just off the town beach in Dampier. That's it in the distance with the palm trees.
Sam built a "Castle" on the island , despite protest from Hamersley Iron & all and sundry! This is his grave site & that of his cat "Lightning" next to him.
He built it all by himself with materials from the island & the mainland...not bad for a guy on with multiply injuries.
Not quite royal digs. The locals have begun restoration after a cyclone went through several years ago. They have also got water put back on to keep the plants alive.
Then into the Dampier Library to check out the Japanese Doll collection. These were presented to Hamersley Iron on the maiden voyage of each new ship.

While here we caught up with a few of the locals to discuss the up and coming movie "Red Dog". The locals were all excited and many had been involved in some way with the production. In fact our tour operator to Sam's Island, Brad was an extra in the movie...well he certainly had the hair do for it. If you have not seen the film..we feel that it is a must..but then we love the book, the Pilbarra and all that Red Dust...and Dog.
back out to the petroglyphs, truly remarkable.
Yes these are the colours up here!

Trip to Exmouth June 2011 PART 5

With a few other things we wanted to do, we said goodbye to Howard and Colleen. They headed south and we turned left and headed north. First stop Old Onslow.This is the old Court House and Police Station.
The old exercise yard... a stone building with glass on top to stop escapees.
This old town was abandoned due to a cyclone in the 30's and moved to the current site on the coast. Still quite impressive even in this state.
We pulled up on the Ashburton River, which would have been a great free camp except for the Sand Flies.
'New' Onslow has a lovely Anzac Memorial...the sun rises through the arch on Anzac Day..and the Slouch Hats on the seat.

There was the customary Museum but with a twist.. all the items here had been put together by the locals and though topsy turvy....made a great time. Some of the banners (you can see in the background) were old school banners. With the eras depicted in there own way. With Hula Hoops in the 50's, Jacks in the 60's and Bellbottoms and Guitars in the 70's..oh the simplicity of times gone bye.

Trip to Exmouth June 2011 PART 4

All set up at Kurrajong, Cape Range National Park. Pretty much in the same position as last year. Stephen at it again with the sunset and moon setting at dawn the next day.
The wind was foul for the first few days as you can see from our Sunbusters. But the set up was all good.
Stephen managed to launch "Son of Titanic" (another story). No fish here...but...did manage to loose a complete fishing rig...and that is yet another story...moral being tie everything on.

We did manage to catch some fish, this one of Stephen's was a glorious Spangled Emperor.
Cooked with love and shared with friends Howard and Colleen. Yummy!!!!
Just down the road is the entrance to this pretty gorge.
Stephen got this lovely portrait of the Black Footed Rock Wallaby, just before the camera battery died.
On leaving Cape Range we stayed for a few nights in Exmouth itself. Bassie flew into Learmonth and with the timing so close we could not resist seeing him. Luckily for us he arrived at lunch time and did not start duty till the next morning. So we did the Krait Memorial..
then up Charles Knife Gorge...

and finally Shothole Canyon..with Toby in the picture. Both spectacular...then back to Turtle with a feed of the finest prawns for Bassie's favourite dinner.