Blogs from Carnarvon, Western Australia, Australia, Oceania

Carnarvon 5th – 7th May 2012 The drive up from Hamelin Pool to Carnarvon we thought would pretty much set the scene until we hit the Pilbara, long straight stretches of road through ‘station country’ of red sand with a few ‘jump-ups’ to cross. The surrounding country was covered in native grasses and saltbush with relief given to the landscape by low brush, mostly acacia. Every now and then we would cross a creek bed or river bed, (always dry), which had stands of low, white trunked gums along its coarse giving some aspect to the unfolding scene. I must say that this semi - arid country looked in good condition after what must have been a reasonable wet season for them up here, we saw few cattle along the roadside but when we did they ... read more

In 2010 I joined as a true racing virgin by unbelievable coincidence one of Australia's most gruesome desert races, The Gasdash in Western Australia. More information about this adventure you will find in my other entry about Western Australia on this blog. Racemaagd ‘De meest gruwelijke woestijnrace van Australië’ staat er in de aankondigingen. Ik krijg nu al de bibbers als ik er aan denk. Een toevallige ontmoeting in Amsterdam heeft ervoor gezorgd dat ik ben uitgenodigd om deel te nemen aan de Gascoyne Dash woestijnrace in Carnarvon West Australie. Deze racemaagd heeft nul ervaring. Er moeten heel wat zaken geregeld worden. Dat is nogal wat: geldig rijbewijs, paspoort, reis- en ziektekostenverzekering, rallysport ongevallenverzekering, internationale rallylicentie, inschrijfgeld (gesponsord door Gasdash) en inschrijfformulier Gasdash, vliegticket, racemotor, comple... read more

Coral Bay(CB) to Carnarvon(C) (11984 km to 12230 km)... read more

It's amazing the contacts you make working in a pub, so it's not really any surprise that after a few weeks working at The Port I was invited to help out at a plantation owned by a couple who drink in the pub. It has to be said the 6am starts did not appeal, but I was bored of watching daytime tv all morning before starting at the pub at 1pm so I figured it would be a productive way to pass my time in sleepy Carnarvon and a good way to get some fresh air and exercise. When the air became as fresh as 7 degrees I had second thoughts about getting out of bed but the frosty air was combatted with every item of clothing I owned, a cup of tea and a camp ... read more

12 August 2011 Dear Friends and Family, It has been a long time since our last blog entry and now it seems there is a lot to say… So, hang on… We are currently sitting in a sandy red van park in Carnarvon 900km's north of Perth. The charm of the town is in its down-to-earth and unpretentious nature which I like. Just as well, as our intended 2 night stay has morphed into two weeks! Funny story, actually, in a painful kind of way… We were camped about 80km's south of Carnarvon in a free park surrounded by about 10 other travelling groups (grey nomads in vans and European back-packers in Kombis) with a toilet but no water or electricity. No problem though, as we have the means to overcome such difficulties! So happily we ... read more