Tuesday, 10 August
The wind did not abate at all during the night and today has been rather unpleasant with a very strong E-SE wind helping to keep the temperature down as well (we even had to resort to lightweight jackets!).
This morning we headed to Dampier – only 20 kms away – to view the port facilities and to have a look at the North West Shelf Gas Project. On the way we passed the Dampier Salt works, which made the Port Hedland ponds look small by comparison!
We drove to a lookout at Dampier, overlooking a couple of the islands with the connecting causeways and large iron ore facilities. We actually struggled to get out of the car, the wind was so strong. We then did a tour of the town (didn’t take long) and ended up at the wharf and another iron ore loading works – complete with red dust, of course. The trains are quite small at Dampier, only 2.5 kms long!
Then it was of to the North West Shelf Gas Project and visitors’ centre for a very informative video on the building of the facility and the production of gas at the drilling sites which are 30 minutes out to sea – by helicopter. We also watched an animation video which explained the chemical process in changing gaseous gas to liquid gas – it was actually quite easy to follow! Back out into the wind for a quick look at the memorial to the workers who were either killed or seriously injuring during the construction work, before heading for Hearson Cove.
The nice lady at the Karratha Visitors’ Centre had assured us this cove was a lovely place for a swim and a picnic – she obviously hadn’t seen the sign warning of the recent crocodile sighting! Or seen how quickly the beach shelved! With the gale force easterly winds, this easterly facing cove, with its stony sand, was not really the place to have a swim or a picnic. So we sat in the car, ate our lunch and watched the rough sea breaking on the beach.
A short distance away was a place called Deep Gorge, which contain ancient petroglyphs. The gorge is between the hills of large, red rocks which are apparent throughout the Pilbara region. Unfortunately, there was no track as such and it was necessary to scramble over small, loose rocks and stones in order to see the carvings. We didn’t walk too far as someone sneezed yesterday and upset his back muscles – consequently he is walking very carefully today and bending at the knees when necessary. Hitching up tomorrow may be interesting!
A quick visit to the supermarket this afternoon completed the day’s excitement.
The wind did not abate at all during the night and today has been rather unpleasant with a very strong E-SE wind helping to keep the temperature down as well (we even had to resort to lightweight jackets!).
This morning we headed to Dampier – only 20 kms away – to view the port facilities and to have a look at the North West Shelf Gas Project. On the way we passed the Dampier Salt works, which made the Port Hedland ponds look small by comparison!
We drove to a lookout at Dampier, overlooking a couple of the islands with the connecting causeways and large iron ore facilities. We actually struggled to get out of the car, the wind was so strong. We then did a tour of the town (didn’t take long) and ended up at the wharf and another iron ore loading works – complete with red dust, of course. The trains are quite small at Dampier, only 2.5 kms long!
Then it was of to the North West Shelf Gas Project and visitors’ centre for a very informative video on the building of the facility and the production of gas at the drilling sites which are 30 minutes out to sea – by helicopter. We also watched an animation video which explained the chemical process in changing gaseous gas to liquid gas – it was actually quite easy to follow! Back out into the wind for a quick look at the memorial to the workers who were either killed or seriously injuring during the construction work, before heading for Hearson Cove.
The nice lady at the Karratha Visitors’ Centre had assured us this cove was a lovely place for a swim and a picnic – she obviously hadn’t seen the sign warning of the recent crocodile sighting! Or seen how quickly the beach shelved! With the gale force easterly winds, this easterly facing cove, with its stony sand, was not really the place to have a swim or a picnic. So we sat in the car, ate our lunch and watched the rough sea breaking on the beach.
A short distance away was a place called Deep Gorge, which contain ancient petroglyphs. The gorge is between the hills of large, red rocks which are apparent throughout the Pilbara region. Unfortunately, there was no track as such and it was necessary to scramble over small, loose rocks and stones in order to see the carvings. We didn’t walk too far as someone sneezed yesterday and upset his back muscles – consequently he is walking very carefully today and bending at the knees when necessary. Hitching up tomorrow may be interesting!
A quick visit to the supermarket this afternoon completed the day’s excitement.
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