Blog
We walked around the Hammersley Range View walk at the back of the camp site. Again it was hot so we went out early and were glad to do an easy walk. On the way back we missed the track back to the Retreat so ended up beating 50m or so across/ around spinifex clumps.
A day to manage stress and heat. We eventually drove in to Tom Price, hoping that it would be a little more than Newman - in reality it was a little less a Coles and a library, but not much else. It was 100km each way (nearby in this country) and we encountered 3 lots of roadwork and a couple of over size vehicles. The big vehicles are huge "4.5m at the blade" was the constant call from the Pilot vehicle (and that was just a front end loader.
Some what unfortunately the Projecta IDC25L which should both take power from the car (Anderson Plug) and Solar panels has died. It seems the last charge the battery received was on Friday at Kalgoorlie Caravan park (until we unplugged it on Saturday morning). So all day up to the Gascoyne Branch and then to Karijini it didn't receive any power. Fine except Karijini provide toilets and showers, not power! What to do?
Seems like they are getting into what southerners call warm a bit early. The forcast for today is 35, then again Tues & Wed, A bit of cool (29) for Thursday. We had a very quiet day although an early start to do the walk to Joffre Gorge and a late finish stargazing - both before the guide goes home for a wedding near Strasbourg. Otherwise we might have left that until Day 2. In the middle we rested in the tent enjoying the difference the solar blanket makes and a bit of breeze. So doing nothing in 35 wasn't too taxing!
Finally here! In the same place for a few consecutive days.
The coffee at Kumina was pretty good and we filled up with fuel.
Lunch and a top of supplies at Newman. Rang Dad for Father's Day
We are getting better at this packing up and setting up thing. Today without much effort we were on the road by 9:45am. Today's trip took us up to Wiluna, then we hit the red dirt (saved an hour according to Google vs going via Meekathara on made road). We left Wiluna on the Wiluna North Road which for the first few km is also the Canning Stock Route.
Travelled over 3000 kms now and the landscape constantly changes. Red dirt and sage bush. Mullock heaps and mining. Road trains and caravans: of which we are one. The trees and brush are green, there has been a lot of rain in WA and you can see the evidence of it.
Brian and I have settled into a rythmn of set up and pack up, then drive. Personally I am looking forward to stopping in one place for a few days .. that begins on Sunday, at Karijini.
A delightfully light day, just an hour's driving each. It is very characteristic country with the low height trees and lots of scrub.