Friday, 13 August
Friday the 13th, and we are overnighting at the Nanutarra Road House – there is absolutely nothing here except the road house and some caravan sites.
Karratha received a small shower of rain during the night (most unusual we were told as it only rains in Karratha during a cyclone) and the wind had once again picked up. We managed the hitching up process without drama, or strained backs, and were on the road before 8.00 am – being part packed up the previous day helped.
The co-pilot took the driving seat today for the majority of the journey, without too many mumbles from the passenger! We encountered a very strong headwind today, which didn’t do anything positive for our fuel consumption – or speed. The road continued to be good, without much traffic. Apart from spinifex, a few scrubby trees, the occasional jump up and ranges of hills, we did pass a few gas fields and mines. We even saw an eagle today. There was also more road kill today – mainly cattle, but given the condition of the few lives cows we saw, they probably died of starvation rather than collisions.
The Nanutarra Road House is about half way between Karratha and Exmouth – a bit too far to travel in one day – and it really is in the middle of no where else! No television, no telephone … However, this is a walk bridge across the waterless Ashburton River with a lovely view to the range of hills to the east and hundred of cockatiels. Cat was rather disappointed that there was no swimming pool!
Saturday, 14 August
An easy and quick pack up this morning – not being connected to water or sullage certainly helped – with the caravan still hitched up from yesterday. A beautiful clear morning, no clouds and NO WIND! The road south to Exmouth continued to be good, although it did become a little on the narrow side for part of the journey. There was certainly plenty of spinifex and red dirt to see, as well as low ranges and hills. There were even some windflowers in evidence – pink ones, white ones, mauve ones and the odd clump of Sturt desert pea. Once we turned off the main highway, even the scrubby trees disappeared and we were left wondering what the termites lived on – there were hundreds of termite mounds in one particular region of spinifex. We even saw some sheep! We did also come across three large, recently very dead cows in the middle of the road – we never seem to come across these types of obstacles when he is driving!
Exmouth is a small beachside town of about 1200 people and has nearly as many communication masts! There are an RAAF base and naval base here, as well as the North West Cape facility (something to do with the USA). Obviously, Big Brother is listening!!!
We are at the Cape Exmouth Caravan Park, which is quite okay. The sites are just big enough (grassy gravel) with gravel roads, so could become dusty if the weather is windy. The amenities are good – and clean.
This afternoon we did a recce around the town, visited the small shopping centre, the Visitors’ Centre and had a short walk along the beach. Unfortunately, the whale sharks don’t visit at this time of the year, so there is no need to learn how to dive, thank goodness.
Friday the 13th, and we are overnighting at the Nanutarra Road House – there is absolutely nothing here except the road house and some caravan sites.
Karratha received a small shower of rain during the night (most unusual we were told as it only rains in Karratha during a cyclone) and the wind had once again picked up. We managed the hitching up process without drama, or strained backs, and were on the road before 8.00 am – being part packed up the previous day helped.
The co-pilot took the driving seat today for the majority of the journey, without too many mumbles from the passenger! We encountered a very strong headwind today, which didn’t do anything positive for our fuel consumption – or speed. The road continued to be good, without much traffic. Apart from spinifex, a few scrubby trees, the occasional jump up and ranges of hills, we did pass a few gas fields and mines. We even saw an eagle today. There was also more road kill today – mainly cattle, but given the condition of the few lives cows we saw, they probably died of starvation rather than collisions.
The Nanutarra Road House is about half way between Karratha and Exmouth – a bit too far to travel in one day – and it really is in the middle of no where else! No television, no telephone … However, this is a walk bridge across the waterless Ashburton River with a lovely view to the range of hills to the east and hundred of cockatiels. Cat was rather disappointed that there was no swimming pool!
Saturday, 14 August
An easy and quick pack up this morning – not being connected to water or sullage certainly helped – with the caravan still hitched up from yesterday. A beautiful clear morning, no clouds and NO WIND! The road south to Exmouth continued to be good, although it did become a little on the narrow side for part of the journey. There was certainly plenty of spinifex and red dirt to see, as well as low ranges and hills. There were even some windflowers in evidence – pink ones, white ones, mauve ones and the odd clump of Sturt desert pea. Once we turned off the main highway, even the scrubby trees disappeared and we were left wondering what the termites lived on – there were hundreds of termite mounds in one particular region of spinifex. We even saw some sheep! We did also come across three large, recently very dead cows in the middle of the road – we never seem to come across these types of obstacles when he is driving!
Exmouth is a small beachside town of about 1200 people and has nearly as many communication masts! There are an RAAF base and naval base here, as well as the North West Cape facility (something to do with the USA). Obviously, Big Brother is listening!!!
We are at the Cape Exmouth Caravan Park, which is quite okay. The sites are just big enough (grassy gravel) with gravel roads, so could become dusty if the weather is windy. The amenities are good – and clean.
This afternoon we did a recce around the town, visited the small shopping centre, the Visitors’ Centre and had a short walk along the beach. Unfortunately, the whale sharks don’t visit at this time of the year, so there is no need to learn how to dive, thank goodness.
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