First visit to see Danni at Numurkah

Well we've just returned from both my first trip away and first visit to see Danni at her new home.  It was really lovely to see her again, although I was very nervous wondering if she'd a) remember me or b) "snub me" as she had done with some of the people from the Respite house where she'd stayed for 4 months before moving to her new home; as it was she gave a really gorgeous smile and pulled me down to sit next to her on the sofa, under her doona!

We went in Laurie's motorhome (along with Skye and Timmy the dogs)  travelling via friends in Melbourne, then up to Numurkah for a couple of days before heading over to Wangaratta to visit the Sisters for a night, then back home again via Melbourne - quite a busy schedule covering around 1,300kms and seeing lots of people on the way. I didn't really feel tired until on the way home - went to bed VERY early (around 6pm) and slept through till the next morning

Hebel, South West Queensland

Have just driven into this gorgeous little town, just north of Lightning Ridge - consists of only a motel, hotel and general store/cafe with a very small caravan park attached.  

The cafe made me stop - of course!  We've booked in for the night - only $15 powered site - free washing machine and good clean amenities - very hospitable, friendly owners as well.

Pre-dinner drinks at the pub

Danni had a good homemade lasagne, I had chicken with hokkien noodles

Mission Beach

After an exhausting few days at Upper Liverpool Creek we all moved down to Mission Beach where we were fortunate enough to both get powered sites at the Council park there — only $15.50 p.n (or $12.50 unpowered).  Pretty basic park but the LOCATION — right on the beach, just a few palm trees separating us from the views below. Also it's only about 100 metres to the lovely Mission Beach shopping centre with lots of CAFES — you can walk along the beach, through the rainforest, or even along the footpath beside the road.

This is the closest shot you'll get of me in a swimsuit!

Danni and Linda walking through the rainforest to the shops

Clearing up the palm trees (he cheated and has spikes on his feet)

Mataranka - Bitter Springs

This was our third visit to Mataranka, we especially like the Bitter Springs which are larger and more natural than the springs at Mataranka Homestead … not to mention less crowded — coaches come into the Homestead springs!

We stayed at a good caravan park about 300 metres from the springs (dog friendly), very relaxed atmosphere and feels like bush camping as you're looking into the forest with fan palms etc, wallabies and lots of birdlife and the Little Roper River at the far end (in unpowerered section).

The water is around 32 C and the pools are deep (well over my head), you can swim around 100 metres down a narrow channel — the hard part is coming back as there's a deceptively strong current.

There's a lovely palm lined walk around the Bitter Springs
with a good safe entry place with steps and handrails. Danni loved sitting on the steps and splashing everyone who got out of or into the water — she then gave them her most charming, cheeky smile so was instantly forgiven! Women Power!!

Skye was pretty keen to get into Vanda's little camper. Biker (her dog) wasn't so keen.

We visited the Homestead Springs and Danni enjoyed a cool drink at the cafe there

Kununurra

We enjoyed a bit of civilisation at Kununurra starting, of course, with the cafes in town.

This is the view from our site at the caravan park we were lucky enough to get a waterfront view.

Broome, Derby, Fitzroy Crossing, Halls Creek

We zoomed into Broome and then zoomed out again not being very impressed by the crowds there and the rather artificial feeling of the place.

Derby was a lovely genuine outback town; Fitzroy Crossing - not very much there but we really enjoyed the boat trip at Geiki Gorge — it's run by local rangers from National Park and only $20 for a one hour trip, well worth going on. There are also lots of walks and an Aboriginal cultural tour which sounded very interesting but as there was a lot a walking up cliffs and to sacred sites it wasn't suitable for us.

We also zoomed through Halls Creek

Derby Pier — they have Australia's highest tidal range - around 12 metres I think - anyway this photo was taken at low tide and apparently at high tide the water is up near top of pier.

Lots of Boab trees - this was a big 'un

Geiki Gorge

On the way to a free campsite near Fitzroy Crossing

Barn Hill Station

Barn Hill Station is about 120km south of Broome — we spent a few nights here — it's a great place with a good atmosphere. There are lovely views over the ocean and at night you can see the lights of Broome in the distance.

On Sunday evenings they have a roast meal (with station beef) and live entertainment and on Wednesday evenings a sausage sizzle — Danni loved that.

The station covers 430,000 acres with 85kms of coastline and they run 8,000 head of Brahman cattle. Enormous unpowered sites are $15 and each one has it's own water tap. They also make their own icecream which is DELICIOUS!

Barn Hill is around 9km off the main road - a good sandy road though

Skye got the best trim she's every had from Terri a fellow traveller at Barn Hill — she also cut my hair. Terri had never cut a 'human's' hair before but bravely cut mine - she said it was like cutting a spaniel's ears!?? Whatever, she did a fabulous job, one of the best cuts I've had.

Port Hedland

We're spending a few days here at Port Hedland - giving mail the chance to catch up with us, restocking fridge etc. before continuing on our way north

Once again we were fortunate to have lovely neighbours

Aaaahhhh, the joys of travel in the North west

Karijini National Park

We've just spent 5 marvellous days at Karrijini National Park — the gorges are just awe-inspiring, some up to 100 metres deep with cool pools at the bottom, and wonderful colours.

Even though Danni and I couldn't walk down into the gorges we still very much appreciated their beauty gazing down from the lookouts.

Hancock Gorge, Karijini National Park, Western Australia is one of the oldest landscapes on the planet. Some rock here is 2.5 million years old.

Australian songwriter John Williamson's "A Thousand Feet" evokes this area for me.

A THOUSAND FEET — John Williamson

It's not a hard place it's a soft and gentle land
Gonna lay my bed on the soft and gentle sand
Hear old man time whisper in my ear
A thousand feet have been through here
Hear the desert wind play a lonely tune
Through the desert oak on a rusty dune
Stay a while and it's all so clear
A thousand feet have been through here
Inka ninka pitjikala
Take it slow take a look around
All the signs are on the ground
Bird and snake and lizard, kangaroo
An ancient man has been here too
Hear the desert wind play a lonely tune
Through the desert oak on a rusty dune
Stay a while and it's all so clear
A thousand feet have been through here
©1998 Emusic Pty Ltd

The national park was a great place to camp a really well organised campsite with bushland between each site and you could do easy or hard walks around Dales Gorge from the camping area and only $4.50 pp.

The Visitor Centre which is shaped like a goanna moving through the country is symbolic to local Banyjima Aboriginal people. The tail represents their history, the head the future direction of the traditional owners, and Aboriginal Law is in the centre or stomach. The high, weathered steel walls of the visitor centre mimic the sheet-sided gorges that are a feature of the park.

The building is designed to withstand the fires that are a regular feature of the area. The construction materials, lack of openings and minimal places to trap debris, all help reduce the threat of fire entering or damaging the building.

Tom Price Mine

We went on a tour of the Iron Ore mine at Tom Price — the coach ride was the highlight for Danni, she entertained everyone by squealing with delight when we went round corners and up steep slopes.

One of the big mine trucks, these use 20 litres of fuel each kilometre — makes me feel better about my 5 kms to each litre!

Loving the coach trip …

We had to wear hard hats and safety glasses each time we left the coach —Danni found a unique way to protect her chin.

We stayed overnight at the caravan park in Tom Price — was quite expensive at $33 per night, and I only realised the next day that dogs weren't permitted … OOooops!!

Diesel at Tom Price was the cheapest since Perth and the town is nice and green and tidy.

Pilbara

The past two days we've travelled from Exmouth to Tom Price in the Hammersley Ranges — WOW what an area — the landscape is just magnificent. It takes ages to get anywhere because I have to stop and take photos all the time, much to Danni's disgust!!
This area has been the best part of this trip so far …