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Published: August 14th 2013
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What sort of alarm clock do you use? Since retiring the electronic ever reliable has gone and we have a variety of alarms these days, often feathered and quite unreliable, but now preferred.
However, wake up has other implications as well seen around Dampier, a port with incredible output, but one wonders at the downside of such progress.
When we first arrived here we were booked into a low cost camp on the foreshore at Dampier, about 25 ks from Karratha. The harbour is quite pretty yet industrially dominated. They say that 25% of Australia's goods (by value) are exported through this port - Iron ore, LPG, salt and fertilizer. Karratha is WA's second most busy airport including some international flights.
Take the iron ore bulk carriers - they average 200,000 tonnes of ore per ship, generally loaded in less than 24 hours, with up to 6 ships at one terminal and another 4 at a second terminal at Point Samson. (About 40ks away.) The trains delivering the ore from Tom Price and other mines are several kilometres long and hauled by 6 large locomotives.
It is fascinating to watch the loading of a newly
Artistic Mulla Mulla
Karratha round about arrived ship. Within two hours of berthing, the hatches are open and the conveyers are delivering the ore at a great speed. The downside of this is dust pollution, and sadly with the wind the wrong direction, sound pollution that kept Marg awake all night.
We decided to cut our losses and move out 2 days early to Balmoral CG in Karratha - little dust, little noise = happy wife.
Well, that was until my BBQ caught fire!
I'm still not sure what happened or what caught fire inside the enclosed BBQ while it was preheating. I cleaned all the dust out before assembling and connecting the gas canister.
There are important rules with portable gas appliances -
1. Only use them out doors. We know folk who use portable gas heaters inside their tents and caravans. This is both unhealthy and very dangerous.
2. Know what to do when things go wrong.
3. Have a variety of fire extinguishing equipment including a fire blanket
4. Never try using water on any fat or oil fire - you will be cremated!!!!!
For a fire to continue there needs to be 3
things - heat, fuel and oxygen. Generally oxygen is the easiest to remove and that is done with a fire blanket. Once the fire is smothered, if safe, remove fuel source by turning off the gas or power. Where safe, cool the fire.
If there is any doubt about extinguishing the fire, move to safety and call emergency services.
In my case, the fire was confined inside the BBQ and quickly smothered, gas turned off and as no fat or oil was involved, a small amount of water cooled the metal base of the BBQ and the emergency was over. Then Marg arrived. Actually after the explanation she delivered the sooty BBQ to the park dumpster knowing that it will be safely laid to rest or maybe reincarnated as a Great Wall ute.
Karratha is a busy town (12,500 population) where everyone owns a 4wd with gigantic knobbly tires. Well, not quite, but you get the picture. The streets are dominated by white 4wds with mining company tags and flags.
A visit to the North West Shelf Gas Centre is worth the time to get a feel for the size of this industry. It is one
of the worlds biggest off shore gas projects. Each ship load of gas that leaves port has 190,000 cubic meters of gas cooled to -161C. At this temp, the gas is liquefied. If taken at normal temps, 600 ships would be required to move the same amount of gas.
The area has a very long aboriginal history and is home to probably the biggest collection of petroglyphs in Australia. We didn't have time to go visit the site but have pictures of a couple of reproductions. Food was plentiful here which may account for the time being available to create art.
Have you watched the movie Red Dog? Well, Dampier is home for this canine traveller. After reading bits and pieces about this famous dog, we are left with the impression that the only part of the story that is a myth is the dogs colour. We think he was white, but having rolled in Dampier Dust he turned red. We have seen white corellas that are red too.
Next major stop will be Broome in a few days.
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