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Published: August 13th 2009
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Hi everyone
We have travelled down an uninteresting road from Broome, but have made many lovely stops along the way, each one along a red dirt road to the coast. Unfortunately there has been no computer coverage until now. We arrived in Port Hedland today, and have lots of emails and news to attend to. I will probably send 2 lots of photos, as too many to put on one blog!
After 11 days in Broome, we drove south to the turnoff to Barn Hill Station, then tackled our first (for the caravan) 10k of red dirt road. This is why we paid the extra and got an off road capable van, with the bigger wheels. Barn hill Station has a rustic camping ground alongside red cliffs, beside a lovely white sand beach. We had 2 nights here, walking, swimming and looking at interesting rock formations, rocks and shells on the beach. The fishing was good too, with people launching their tinnies off the beach. On the Sunday night the station put on a 3 course roast dinner, and had a very good abbo band playing, for $15pp. They fed 320 people, we all took chairs, tables, grog, plates, etc, onto
a big grassy area. The band played a real mixture of music, singalong and dance. Monday night we tried there very good pizzas, and for lunch each day they baked bread sticks, order by 10 , pick up at 12. A really good service, not expected here. Barn Hill is situated on Thangoo Station, which is a working cattle station. The property is approx 430,000 acres and stretches 85 kms along the coast from Broome. It runs 8,000 head of Brahman cattle.
From there, we headed down the coast further, then another red , dusty road for 23ks into Port Smith, where we had 3 nights. It's on a lagoon, completely different form Barn Hill. The tide comes in/out really fast, almost as fast as you can walk. Bap and Mardi caught us again here, and we used one of Bap's rods to try our luck at fishing with them, but no luck here. Port Smith put on a fish and chip night, $5 pp, and we had the same abbo band play again for us. Another good night. Chris and I even had a game of golf ($2 to hire clubs and play, they even had left-handed clubs for
Chris to use.) A very rustic course, with red sand greens, very interesting!
Next we came further down the coast to Eighty Mile beach for 3 nights again with Bap and Mardi beside us. We saw some fish being cleaned when we arrived, so the next day I talked Chris into buying our own rod and reel from the caravan shop. Within an hour Chris had casted it , and I hooked a 19 pound thread fin salmon, the first fish caught that day off the beach - there were hundreds fishing, mainly men!! They fish on the lovely white sand beach for the 2 hours up to high tide. This beach also has lots of lovely shells. We could have stayed longer here. We sat on the beach each night , and watched more lovely sunsets, and reluctantly left to continue south.
Our next stop was into Cape Karaundren, 14 more dusty k's off the main highway, where we had a lovely spot at a reserve on an old coral reef. We set up the van a stones throw away from the sea, could see both sunrise and sunset over the sea, and watched whales, dolphins and tame kangeroos.
There was a coral fireplace which we used both nights we stayed there. Cape Karaundren is where the rabbit fence which stretches across Australia ends.The ranger told us when we arrived "Noone ever just stays one night here, mate!" and he was right, we booked in for another night. We swam at the lovely white sand beach nearby too. One kangaroo even visited us often and let Chris hand feed it a carrot, then he hopped into the van and checked out the bathroom.
From there we continued south, again venturing onto a dusty track to Pardoo Station for a night. We drove out on the station tracks to the beach, but it was blowing quite hard. This station had lots of galahs, broglas, and runs around 6000 Santa Gertrudis cattle.
By this time we were nearly out of food and drink!! It was time to hot foot it to Port Hedland and shops and computer/ phone coverage again. Mardi and Bap are here too, but leave tomorrow as they have to be in Perth to fly home for a committment on the 25th Sept. We have enjoyed there company, but we will move slower than them now.
Cheers Lynne
and Chris
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Susi
non-member comment
Hi
WOW Lynne, What a wonderful trip! I so enjoy your emails - your desciptions and the pictures are great. I almost feel like I am there travelling with you. We are finally getting into a bit of Spring weather after a long, cold and wet winter. It makes golf a bit more manageable. Stay well - keep on enjoying the wonderful adventure you are on. Cheers, Susi