Red! Dusty Red! Everywhere we look.
The caravan – inside and out,
the car – inside and out,
our clothes, shoes and skin!
I’m beginning to wonder if things will ever look the same again!
Thankfully Karajini was worth it!
After a wonderful time in Karijini National Park – definitely worth a visit! we headed to Indee Station (a working cattle station) for an overnight stop. This was a good break between Newman and Port Hedland.
After setting up (very basic facilities) we were welcomed into the homestead for happy hour. It was good to chat with the owners, learn the history of the area, hear about the cyclones that had gone through and meet other fellow travellers on the road.
The next morning we were heading to Port Hedland but after discussion over happy hour we heard the road to Marble Bar was sealed and decided it might be worth a visit. Before heading off we rose early and around 7.30am and headed out to Red Rock and the Turner River. Red Rock is ‘a red rock!’, quite large and has aboriginal artwork on the rock. It was fun scrambling over it so early in the day and searching out the artwork.
We noticed fires being lit in the distance along a line – about 6 or more. Heading back to the Station ready to hook up and be on the road by 9am we noticed the smoke was getting very close.
Within 5 kms from the station we were confronted with fire on both sides of the track. Possibly a backburn to stop the bigger burn offs. That was not good for us though. We could not get through. After waiting a while to see if the fire would burn out the wind changed and the fire kept burning forward in front of us. The smoke was thick and all we could do was stay put. After about 2 hours we decided we needed to get out otherwise we would be waiting all day as the fire was just going to keep burning. We managed to pick up some other travellers on the UHF radio who notified the station and a vehicle was sent out to ‘rescue’ us. There are roads all over the property but we weren’t game to head off not knowing where they would lead or if they would take us back into the front of the fire. When the guy arrived he said the drive had been a bit ‘hairy’and ‘hot’ so would take us back yet another way because the heat could blister the paint work on our vehicle. We didn’t really want that!
Well, safely back at camp, we hooked up and got on our way. Only a few hours later than we’d planned but all in one piece and vehicle ok despite maybe a few scratches.
A stock up on fuel and groceries at Port Hedland then into Marble Bar. It was a lovely drive through beautiful mountains and more Spinifex countryside. We made it to Marble Bar just as the sun was going down.
Well 2 nights turned into 3 there was so much to do! We visited the ‘marble bar’ which is really jasper, but very impressive, Chinamans Pool, Glen Herring Gorge and Coppins Gap. A drive around town and a beer at the Iron Clad Hotel then we were talked into staying an extra night and visiting Carrawine Gorge and Running Waters. A 500km return trip took us out towards Telfer on the edge of The Great Sandy Dessert to visit this gorge - a very peaceful and picturesque location.
Next stop back to the coast - 80 Mile Beach. I love 80 Mile Beach! One of my fav spots from last time. A caravan park 10kms off the highway on yet another dirt road! in the middle of nowhere. 200+ kms from Port Hedland to the south and 300+ kms to Broome in the north.
Beautiful beach with enormous tides. Unfortunately they don’t recommend swimming but it’s a beautiful beach to walk and collect shells. We did some beach 4wdriving 10 kms south to the red cliffs and 20 kms north to the creek stopping all the while for shells. A great beach for fishing too but we still haven’t got the lines out – maybe Broome.
Tomorrow we leave here for our last stop before Broome. We plan to spend the next couple of nights at Barn Hill Station. Another caravan park, this time 9 kms of dirt road off the higway about 200kms north of here. We haven’t stayed there yet but everyone was talking about it last time so we will check it out.
Our next update will be from Broome. Can’t believe we’re nearly there. These 4 months have gone quickly. It will be nice to ‘stay put’ for a while.
Cheers
Muz and Jude
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