Kununurra, Derby to Port Hedland

A while since I posted!

Headed off to Mary pool for a couple of nights. Much busier than last year! Lots of cattle grazing the long acre. Had to stop to let a cow cross, and another one on the side shaking her head at me so didn’t get out for a photo! Chatting to an ex-kiwi. Also an elderly couple from Sydney who have been travelling for years – done all the tracks etc. Come to WA for 3 months every year.

More very quiet cattle. Am told the farmers like their bulls to wander around these camps so they get used to people and become calm. Glad we have our uses.

Cooking a casserole for a change – had chuck steak in freezer for ages so filled it with heaps of veg as well. Probably last me a week! Exztremely noisy cockies this morning – must  be hundreds of them over the river. They were going to town in the evening as well. Start at 6am for half an hour then must head off for a feed. 
Stayed a night at Elledale camp - a seal area in several layers. Amazing big moon.

Next stop Derby for a dental appointment courtesy of the government/ hospital dentist! Stayed at Kimberley entrance park - $35 single ($40 double).  Sticky hot even though it was threatening to rain. Rain around Port Hedland causing flooding so may need to rethink the trip past here!

Good dentist – old fashioned, he stood so I didn’t have to lie back with water choking me! Uses amalgum for strength! 50% pension discount. Just can't eat on that side for 24 hours – them were the good old days

Heavy rain during the night and LEAKING again – darn vent. Didn’t sound windy either so how is it blowing in?  Trouble getting the van off the site – tree in the way. Weird as I had backed in beside it OK. Bloke tells me to hook up with the ute on an angle to solve that problem – learned something useful! Same thing at Leycester camp and I hadn't unhooked either, but did manage to get out of there – just!

Off to Roebuck for 2 nights. The o/n rest is closed and decided not to stop at the earlier day rest one even though it was sealed. Met 3 lots of pairs of women in past 24 hours! One lot were sisters – don’t know about the others. Taped up vent!!!! Tight sites and pretty full.

Need to go to Broome for shower hose – mine has cracked. Still don’t know what the attraction is there – other than the beach? White tape along roof edge where trim looks slightly raise. There is water sitting on the roof over the vent so maybe it pools there and then pours down and in?

Seem to be on NT time still – ready to leave by 8.30. Next stop Goldwire camp for 3 nights. Nice spot with 3 new large covered areas, dump and good toilets, just no water.  Quite a lot of water beside the road south of Roebuck on the big flats after the rain and a big mob of cattle also. Chatting to a  hardcase lot for a while. Spent Sunday morning chatting to 2 other couples, gave one the kindle books. Heaps more arriving today – place is getting full. Several bonfires ready for tonight although still windy. Happy hour with a lively bunch. Gave another guy the kindle books – his wife spends all day in the van reading so they were delighted. Probably 40 vans etc. here last night – plus 30 bikers riding to Sydney camping with  their support van.

Gorgeous 1930 Ford and home made teardrop van stopped in on his big loop around Aus. Does 70kph top speed. All spares and tyres come from the States.

Spent a night at Sandfire to do washing etc then off to Cape Keraudren with the bunch from Goldwire. Had 6 days lazing around, watching them fish, eating FRESH fish, chatting around a fire, fighting off mossies each evening and watching the effect of the tide on the stream we were camped beside. It breached a couple of days before I left so the water started to flow again. The camping rule around here is 12m between camps but because there were 4 of us together we were allowed to get closer. Ranger says there were 140 sites on the night I arrived!  Several areas to camp in and well spread out up on the hill. At least 3 toilets and sump points! At $4.50 pn concession a great stay. Lots of Whiting, Bream, little Octopus, and a small shark caught.
The beach is fenced off all along the river mouth as it is a turtle nesting area and vehicles compact the sand too much.

Dragged myself away and down to South Hedland to a CP o/n - $44 -ouch - but not as dear as Big4 - $52! Big stock up of groceries, filled the gas bottle and a big wash! Tomorrow heading towards Karratha.