DAY 124

We decided to have a drive to Sandstone today - a mere 340 km round trip - Sandstone is another gold mining town with some old historical buildings.  On the way the scenery changed quite a lot - from purple wild flowers to red bottle brush trees and carpets of pink and white flowers.  It was a good drive.  

While we were in Sandstone we drove the Heritage trail.  First stop was the site of The Brewery - which was constructed in 1907 to provide the miners of the area.  I have attached a photograph of the plaque which explains the history of the brewery.  The brewery was in operation until 1910 when the railway line between Mt Magnet and Sandstone was completed.

We then travelled further on to London Bridge - this is part of a large rock formation about 800 metres long and varies in height from around 3 - 10 metres.  It is thought to be about 350 million years old - and like the 12 apostles in Victoria is actually falling down.  

Then onto Contradiction Well - which was the first town water supply.  It supplied water to Cobb & Co and travellers who passed through the area.  

We then had a drive around the town of Sandstone and there were some historical buildings and a few rusted out cars.   Also a very colourful windmill.  

All in all it was a long day but well worth it.  

Beer Cooling Cave

This is where the beer was passed to the cooling cave

Bush BBQ

I have always wanted to climb "London Bridge"

Contradiction Well

Rusted Vehicle

The National Hotel  built in 1907

Bottle Brush

Day 123

Much better day today. We left Meekatharra - have to say that we did not really look round but it wasn't a town with much appeal.  We drove through to Mt Magnet.

On the way here we had to get right off the road twice as there was an extra wide load on the other side - we have seen some wide loads before but these left us quite amazed.  They had police escorts and when you see the photographs you will see why.  Just as well we were in an area where there was room to get off the road.

We then passed through a little town called Cue - really nice old buildings.  Gold was first found in Cue in 1892. The Post Office, Police Station and Courthouse which were all built between 1895 and 1897 are still used for their original purpose.  We spent about half an hour walking round and taking some photographs.     The Gentleman's Club built in 1895 is now the Shire of Cue offices.

This afternoon after we had set up in the Caravan Park in Mt Magnet we went for a drive around.  Once again Mt Magnet is a mining town - but this time it is gold.  The population here is about 700.  We went for a drive around the town. Once again there are a few historical buildings.  We went up the lookout at Mount Warramboo which gave us a birds eye view of the open cut gold mine - which is owned and run by Ramelius Resources.  Just a little piece would have done me but no such luck there was none around. 

No arguing with these you get right off the road - 1st lot

Half an hour later - 2nd lot

Post Office, Police Station & Courthouse in Cue

Gentlemans Club - now Shire Office

Open cut gold mine

More wildflowers

Day 122

Not been a good day today - we left Newman intending to stay at Gascoyne River (Middle) - this was a free camp that had been recommended to us by several people.  Well the navigator (namely me) put in the wrong co-ordinates and we were 44 kms passed it before we realised - but in my defense we did not see any signs pointing to it either.  We did come across Gascoyne River (South) which was another free camp but it was very dusty and quite close to the road.  Anyway we decided we would keep going and head towards another camp which was the other side of Meekatharra - big mistake - it was just a layby and again very dusty. So we have finished up in the caravan park - if you can call it that - in Meekatharra.  It is a dust bowl and on each of every two sites only one power socket works.  Fortunately it is not busy and we are only here overnight.

Forgot to mention in yesterdays Blog - on our way out of Tom Price we saw our first Dingo on this trip.  It was on the hill above the roadside but moved to quickly for us to get a photograph.  They are a wonderful looking animal.  

Day 120 & 121

Not much to say about Newman.  We arrived here about lunchtime yesterday and once again it is a mining town.  Where as Tom Price was Rio Tinto this is BHP Billiton.  Every other car on the road is a mine car.  The shopping centre is a little bigger but once again there is red dirt everywhere.  We had a ride around the town this morning, went up the Radio Hill  lookout which gives a panoramic view of the surrounding country side and the mine and then had a look at the Information Centre.

This afternoon we were able to wash the van.  It looks so much better but it took an age to get rid of the red dust (PIlbarra Pink as it is known).  We also hosed down the bikes as they also had a red glow.

We had dinner in the camp kitchen both nights whilst here with a couple from Ringwood (Bob & Glenys) and a couple from Berwick (Keith & Beth).  It is much better when the caravan park has a camp kitchen - makes it easier to mix with other campers.  This caravan park is quite good - the cheapest we have had in the west ($28) - but there are a lot of miners here.

View from Radio Hill Lookout

View from Radio Hill Lookout

Statuets outside the information office

Another Tonka Truck

Day 119

Didn't do much once again today.  Washed the bedding and it was dry within an hour or so.  We then sat and read our books for a little while.  After lunch we went for a drive looking at the wild flowers around the place. There are not as many here as in some other places but we did see some really nice ones.  

Day 118

Well we may have had a few quiet days but we certainly made up for it today.

We went up Mount Nameless - what a view.  It was quite a difficult drive up to the top - very steep and rocky and lots of red dirt of course.  Once we were at the top it was well worth it, the view over Rio Tinto Mine and the Hammesley Ranges was incredible also the view of Tom Price township.  The drive down was a bit more hairy but Graham managed it.  I am always in awe of the wild flowers that grow on the side of the road, it makes me wonder how they survive.

We then went on the tour of the Rio Tinto Mine.  We left from the tourist information centre on a full coach, lots of young children.  After a brief tour of the Tom Price township and explanation of different buildings we were taken out to the pit.  The hole in the ground where they were mining (I think it was mine number 2 that we went to) was massive - but not as big as the super pit in Kalgoorlie.   We saw lots of big trucks and diggers and there was a train in being loaded with iron ore.  The driver on the bus was very informative.  


Unfortunately there is a heat haze over the mountain range so the colours are not quite as good as I would like them to be in our photographs.

After the tour I went into Tom Price and had my hair cut.  Boy does it feel better.  

We then paid $5 at the caravan park to wash the car.  It was covered in red dust and it gets in everywhere.  We gave it a really good clean inside and out and it looks so much better.  Hopefully we will not be going on many more dirt roads.  The next job is the outside of the van and our poor bikes which are covered in red dust.  We have bought a bike cover but until we get chance to clean them there is not much point in putting it on.  

Needless to say tonight we are having a quiet night and an early dinner.

We have decided to say at Tom Price for another night (3 in all) as I want to go out and see the wildflowers that we passed on the way up here yesterday.  

How do they survive?

Beginning of the road to Mt Nameless

Rio Tinto

Made it safe to the bottom

The pit

Just one of the "Tonka" trucks

Train being loaded

Day 117

Drove through to Tom Price, a mining town about 1600 kms north east of Perth.  The town was named after Thomas Moore Price, who worked for the American Company, Kaiser Steel in the early 60's and was instrumental in convincing the mining companies that it was worth mining here.


Tom Price is close to Karijini National Park and we only visited here briefly the last time we were in this area.  Today we did not go into Karijini.  It wasn’t a bad drive only about 148 kms.


We drove through the Hammersley Ranges today yet another beautiful mountain range.


We didn’t do much when we got here, caught up with the washing – we haven’t been able to do much washing for the last week as we have not been on a caravan park since last Monday when we left Point Samson.  We then went into town and did a bit of shopping.  Later this afternoon we caught up with our phone calls, then we had a quick walk around the park, there are a lot of Victorians here.  The first lady I spoke to was from Blairgowrie. 

No photos today but tomorrow we are going on the Rio Tinto Mine Tour and also hope to drive up Mount Nameless.  We have been told by a few people that it is worth going (including Damien who did it on their trip).  Hopefully we will get some good shots.

Day 116

Had a lie in this morning as we decided to stay another night at Albert Tognolini.  Woke up to beautiful blue skies.  We had a drive back to Auski Roadhouse to get some water and once again admired the beautiful scenery.  When we got back we didn’t do much.  Went for a long walk tonight – there is a great lookout which looks down onto the highway and we could watch all the road trains passing from a great height.

Had a text today from Shane, his daughter Shay had the baby yesterday.  Hopefully all is well, it is a little girl and she weighed just 1kg.  She was born at 28 weeks.  We will be keeping our fingers crossed that all goes well for her.

Albert Tognolini 

View from the lookout

Road train struggling up the hill

Add caption

Day 115

Happy Birthday Graham.

Well we were out of phone range today, but every now and then we must have got signal as Graham got quite a few messages wishing him a happy birthday.  Thanks to everyone that remembered and we will catch up in the next day or so.   I had kept the cards that the family had sent to him so he had a few cards to open.

He got quite a few scratchies from Shaz, Day, Emma and Corey and spent about 15 minutes scratching them, out of about 12 he won $3.  Kept him quiet for a while though.  Catherine, Craig and the girls sent him a pen with his name on.

Chloe also sent Grandad some wine gums for his birthday.  Yes Chloe, I kept them for him and he opened them today – needless to say he had a couple before breakfast.

We drove from Bea Bea Creek to a spot that we had been told was really good – Albert Tognolini Lookout  (581 camps 6).  We got here at about 11-30 am and it is really beautiful.  We set up camp where we can look out onto the ranges and had a very quiet day reading our books.  The flies here are incredible and it is once again windy.

The scenery today was incredible – one minute we were driving through flat arid land and the next through beautiful mountain ranges – part of the Mungaroona Range. 

Another road train

Arid Land

  

Mungaroona Range

View from our campsite

Day 114

We have been married 44 years today and they said it wouldn't last.

We set off from Cape Kerauden heading for Indee Station (588 camps 6).  Once again we passed lots of road trains on the road, they never cease to amaze us, the length of some of the vehicles is quite amazing.   We filled up with diesel at South Hedland, rang everybody to let them know that we will be out of range again for the next few days.


We got to Indee Station and after driving 9 km on a dirt sandy road from the highway we finally arrived at what was supposed to be the camp site it was nothing but dirt, dongers and mine shacks and lots of broken down trucks.  We decided that we didn’t think we would like to stay there so we did a U-Turn and came back out (once again 9 km on the dirt road).   When I got out of the car at the gate I dropped Graham's glasses off my knee but didn't realise until we were about 5 km up the road (no we didn't go back for them).  


We had our first bad encounter with a road train, the driver accused Graham of pulling out in front of him (which of course he didn’t, Graham is very aware of road trains and always gives them a wide berth). 


We decided to head towards Auski Road House but when I looked in the camps 6 book I realised there was a free camp at Bea Bea Creek (587 camps 6) which is about 40 km before Auski and as we had already been in the car for 4 hours we decided to make our camp here for then night.   Not a bad camp and will do us for the night.  When we pulled into the camp we met a couple that were going through the gate at Indee as we were coming out and they also decided not to stay and guess what the lady had picked up Graham's glasses (can be lucky sometimes).  Needless to say we were very grateful.


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Day 113

Woke up to another beautiful day but once again the wind was very strong.  We went for a long walk along the beach and to the other camp area.  We have decided just to stay two nights here.   There is no shelter here at all, and the wind is really strong.  We went for a walk at sunset along the mud flats, the tide goes out quite a way and there was a couple from Tasmania who were picking up octopus.  It was quite incredible to watch them, they were picking them out of the water with kitchen tongues.  They were going to cook them up for supper. 

View from the van

Low Tide Cape Keraudren

Sunset Cape Keraudren