Sunday, June 3, 2012
Final run to Perth
Life on The Road
Life on the road is simple, each day we would have a set routine when it came to setting up the camper we soon had it down pat and the home away from home would be set up within a couple of minutes. Folding it back up took about five minutes.
Teresa was very happy with the camper as all one had to do is remove our baggage and the ladder and the bed was ready, not like our old 4x4 camper, where you had to change the seats into beds to sleep. With this new camper we would put our tucker box inside with us and the only thing not there was the engel fridge which one had to walk around the ute to use.
Teresa was very happy with the camper as all one had to do is remove our baggage and the ladder and the bed was ready, not like our old 4x4 camper, where you had to change the seats into beds to sleep. With this new camper we would put our tucker box inside with us and the only thing not there was the engel fridge which one had to walk around the ute to use.
Many thousands of Caravans and campers were travelling around and just about every overnight rest areas were full along with back packers travelling in old cars and vans with tents.
Overall it was Grey nomads in these vans and some would stay in the rest areas for days to save on park fees as most caravan parks charge on average $35 plus per night. $35 now that is a lot of petrol money.
One could not get used to all the mosquitoes and sand fly's bites and flies, but, if you applied a repellent they became bearable to a degree.
Teresa is really good at rustling up some grub and cooking with the basic items, so not much weight was lost on my behalf.
Its really amazing how quickly the days go by, and when we stopped for four nights at the Daly River (a really good break) was good but, it was also good to be on the road again.
If there is a road or track, I normally try to put the car down it.
We noted that most people travelling with vans never really got to see much extra than the main roads as just kept the van hooked up which was stopping them from seeing some fantastic out of the way spots.
T and M
Teresa is really good at rustling up some grub and cooking with the basic items, so not much weight was lost on my behalf.
Its really amazing how quickly the days go by, and when we stopped for four nights at the Daly River (a really good break) was good but, it was also good to be on the road again.
If there is a road or track, I normally try to put the car down it.
We noted that most people travelling with vans never really got to see much extra than the main roads as just kept the van hooked up which was stopping them from seeing some fantastic out of the way spots.
T and M
Drive south to Perth
We set off towards Perth after a very disappointing drive to One Arm Point, our aim was to head home , being from the west we had been up and down the coast several times, so the main aim now was to get home.
With the sun setting when we arrived at a road side stop for the night we soon had the camper erected in a couple of minutes.
Once again this overnight rest area was full.but we managed to find space between all these large caravans and a mob of back packers.
We had noticed the nights were getting a little chiller, than the nights spent at the top end so it was out with the extra blanket.
Once again we set out early to eat up some of the 600 klm to Port Headland.
Quite a few flocks of budgies were out and about and one Kangaroo hopped across the road in the distance.
We also saw a very healthy feral cat run across and disappear into the spinafex grass next to the road.
We took the turn off to the Eighty Mile beach caravan park, the beach here is really worth a visit and if you have a 4WD vehicle you can drive along long stretches of the beach.
The beach was covered with shells and Teresa was soon out looking and picking up shells. She walked one section of the beach, while I drove and waited for her. She did suggest we stay at the caravan park as she
picked up some very nice looking shells, one item was most unusual, we think its called a sand dollar after trying to identify it on the net.
From the Eighty Mile beach we headed on south to Sandfire Road house, here there was a large flock of
Peacocks, as usual they got into our bread supply.
The woman wanted us to take them all away on the ute, but, they are the only attraction at the road house as there was nothing else to see.
At the next road house we filled up with diesel to get us to Port Headland, then headed out to the coast again to find lots of people camping in all sorts of sheltered camp sites. The area has been opened up by the local shire and camping here has proved very popular.
Our arrival in Port Headland was mid afternoon, and after a quick look around at all the activities of mining and the port we had a rest then headed on south to the Yule River for our overnight stop.
We had to que to get in the camp area and while we were looking where to fit in some old bloke came up and said we should take the track down to the rivers edge to find a spot, as there would be more room because the bigger vans could not get through the trees. We found a good spot and our set up routine had us camping in minutes.
We got up early and headed off and at about 15 klm down the road a dead cow was lying across the oncoming traffic lane and a new 4wd 4 door ute was not far away with the bumper and roo bar half way up the bonnet of the vehicle. They must have hit very hard as that roo bar was really bent.
Some one was sorting out things in the vehicle and it looked like they were okay.
After a days drive without much happening, we decided to get a camp site early and a sign next to the road said the next rest spot was 38 KLM away,. We had just passed one overnight stop and decided the 38 KLM was not too far away. We drove 138 Klm before we found the next overnight stop, either we both read the sign wrong or some one had removed or covered up the figure one on the sign.
On the road again early next morning I was keeping the speed down as in this same area 10 years earlier a Kangaroo had jumped from behind our vehicle right in front and I just hit it with the left side of the front bumper which caused the bumper to rub on the front wheel until we got a rope and pulled it off the wheel by reversing with the rope hooked on to a bride support. This trip we had only seen a couple of roos in the area and a few Emu's
With the sun setting when we arrived at a road side stop for the night we soon had the camper erected in a couple of minutes.
Once again this overnight rest area was full.but we managed to find space between all these large caravans and a mob of back packers.
We had noticed the nights were getting a little chiller, than the nights spent at the top end so it was out with the extra blanket.
Once again we set out early to eat up some of the 600 klm to Port Headland.
Quite a few flocks of budgies were out and about and one Kangaroo hopped across the road in the distance.
We also saw a very healthy feral cat run across and disappear into the spinafex grass next to the road.
We took the turn off to the Eighty Mile beach caravan park, the beach here is really worth a visit and if you have a 4WD vehicle you can drive along long stretches of the beach.
The beach was covered with shells and Teresa was soon out looking and picking up shells. She walked one section of the beach, while I drove and waited for her. She did suggest we stay at the caravan park as she
picked up some very nice looking shells, one item was most unusual, we think its called a sand dollar after trying to identify it on the net.
From the Eighty Mile beach we headed on south to Sandfire Road house, here there was a large flock of
Peacocks, as usual they got into our bread supply.
The woman wanted us to take them all away on the ute, but, they are the only attraction at the road house as there was nothing else to see.
At the next road house we filled up with diesel to get us to Port Headland, then headed out to the coast again to find lots of people camping in all sorts of sheltered camp sites. The area has been opened up by the local shire and camping here has proved very popular.
Our arrival in Port Headland was mid afternoon, and after a quick look around at all the activities of mining and the port we had a rest then headed on south to the Yule River for our overnight stop.
We had to que to get in the camp area and while we were looking where to fit in some old bloke came up and said we should take the track down to the rivers edge to find a spot, as there would be more room because the bigger vans could not get through the trees. We found a good spot and our set up routine had us camping in minutes.
We got up early and headed off and at about 15 klm down the road a dead cow was lying across the oncoming traffic lane and a new 4wd 4 door ute was not far away with the bumper and roo bar half way up the bonnet of the vehicle. They must have hit very hard as that roo bar was really bent.
Some one was sorting out things in the vehicle and it looked like they were okay.
After a days drive without much happening, we decided to get a camp site early and a sign next to the road said the next rest spot was 38 KLM away,. We had just passed one overnight stop and decided the 38 KLM was not too far away. We drove 138 Klm before we found the next overnight stop, either we both read the sign wrong or some one had removed or covered up the figure one on the sign.
On the road again early next morning I was keeping the speed down as in this same area 10 years earlier a Kangaroo had jumped from behind our vehicle right in front and I just hit it with the left side of the front bumper which caused the bumper to rub on the front wheel until we got a rope and pulled it off the wheel by reversing with the rope hooked on to a bride support. This trip we had only seen a couple of roos in the area and a few Emu's
Friday, June 1, 2012
Cape Leveque
Our next stop on the Savannah way was Fitzroy Crossing, The drive to Fitzroy is very flat and not much to see, however, you do pass through some rocky outcrops, which helps one keep interest in the country side.
We have been to Fitzroy Crossing a few times and have seen the local attractions, so decided to get a few items from the local IGA have a look around town then push on.
Once again the road has not much to see, but, the vegetation did change and a few Boab tree started to appear.
One rest spot had a massive Boab tree, which had several names carved into it. Why people do this is beyond us. Kung, whoever he or she is must have spent days there carving their name on a upper branch.
Our next destination was the finishing spot of the Savannah way for us Broome. YAH Cairns to Broome we did it.
In Broome we drove straight to a caravan park to secure a place for the night and we were glad we did as we got the last available site. We then headed out and about to see all the changes to this town that was a real hive of activity.
At Cable beach the Camel trains were just starting to arrive on the beach to give tourists a ride at sun set. the last time we were in Broome their was only one camel train, but now they have three.
The beach was open to four wheel drive vehicles so we took a drive on the beach, the further you go north the more you see Nudes that is.
After a visit to the tourist info office and the supermarket we called it a day and went back to set the camper up for the night.
In the morning we were up early as we had decided to drive north to Cape Leveque as I had always wanted to drive up to Beagle Bay etc. The Tourist office had said the road was very bad for the first 90 odd klm , but, then it was a sealed road.
The road was very rutted, corrugated indeed it was the worst road of the trip.
The surface was red dirt not gravel, but it still made a big dust storm behind and oncoming traffic left one big cloud of dust to drive through.
Just before we reached the turn off the the Beagle Bay Aboriginal Settlement it changed to a nice sealed surface.
The Attraction in Beagle bay is the Church, it is well known for all the pearl and shell work very beautiful indeed.
Back on the road heading north there is very little to see. no birds no animals just scrub and long straight stretches of road. The worst thing about it all is you know that you have to travel the same road to get out of the place.
At One Arm Point was the first sign of life we saw a couple of workers were refueling a tourist aircraft which we did see take off about 30 minutes later with a few tourists on board.
At the small Aboriginal settlement all we saw was signs that said STOP locals only to every street entry in the town. We did go out to the Hatchery and saw the set up , but, only a few people were to be seen there.
The Ocean was a beautiful blue colour and was moving with a very strong current, must have been the tide coming in or out.
Heading south we called into Cape Leveque and a few other camp spots, but, most roads had signs up saying no entry.
Deciding we had seen the cape and what a real waste of time it was going there we started to long Trek back to Broome.
M and T
We have been to Fitzroy Crossing a few times and have seen the local attractions, so decided to get a few items from the local IGA have a look around town then push on.
Once again the road has not much to see, but, the vegetation did change and a few Boab tree started to appear.
One rest spot had a massive Boab tree, which had several names carved into it. Why people do this is beyond us. Kung, whoever he or she is must have spent days there carving their name on a upper branch.
Our next destination was the finishing spot of the Savannah way for us Broome. YAH Cairns to Broome we did it.
In Broome we drove straight to a caravan park to secure a place for the night and we were glad we did as we got the last available site. We then headed out and about to see all the changes to this town that was a real hive of activity.
At Cable beach the Camel trains were just starting to arrive on the beach to give tourists a ride at sun set. the last time we were in Broome their was only one camel train, but now they have three.
The beach was open to four wheel drive vehicles so we took a drive on the beach, the further you go north the more you see Nudes that is.
After a visit to the tourist info office and the supermarket we called it a day and went back to set the camper up for the night.
In the morning we were up early as we had decided to drive north to Cape Leveque as I had always wanted to drive up to Beagle Bay etc. The Tourist office had said the road was very bad for the first 90 odd klm , but, then it was a sealed road.
The road was very rutted, corrugated indeed it was the worst road of the trip.
The surface was red dirt not gravel, but it still made a big dust storm behind and oncoming traffic left one big cloud of dust to drive through.
Just before we reached the turn off the the Beagle Bay Aboriginal Settlement it changed to a nice sealed surface.
The Attraction in Beagle bay is the Church, it is well known for all the pearl and shell work very beautiful indeed.
Back on the road heading north there is very little to see. no birds no animals just scrub and long straight stretches of road. The worst thing about it all is you know that you have to travel the same road to get out of the place.
At One Arm Point was the first sign of life we saw a couple of workers were refueling a tourist aircraft which we did see take off about 30 minutes later with a few tourists on board.
At the small Aboriginal settlement all we saw was signs that said STOP locals only to every street entry in the town. We did go out to the Hatchery and saw the set up , but, only a few people were to be seen there.
The Ocean was a beautiful blue colour and was moving with a very strong current, must have been the tide coming in or out.
Heading south we called into Cape Leveque and a few other camp spots, but, most roads had signs up saying no entry.
Deciding we had seen the cape and what a real waste of time it was going there we started to long Trek back to Broome.
M and T
Cape Keraudren - Yule River Camping
Sun Set Yule River
Yule River
Bardi - Cape Leveque
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