This is the start of a new year travelling around Australia.
It is now time for us to pack up, hitch up the van and hit the road again. We have just spent the last 5 months Farm sitting in Dongara (70km south of Geraldton). It has been a wonderful time, family came up for Christmas (Belinda, Tony and Mia) and they left us just before New Year.
Michelle, Chris and boys came up 2 weeks later for a week and then they went back south via Cervantes.
There were no more visitors until the beginning of April as weather too hot, 3 weeks above 40, we had the aircons on full time and stayed inside. There was a magnificent view of the ocean from the front of the house so even though we may have been inside we still enjoyed the ocean view.
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| Sunset from farm. |
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| View from front verandah. |
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| Flooding everywhere |
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| Rain & Hail in January. |
As well as looking after 5500 acres we had a beach house at Jurien to look after so spent three weekends there, mowing lawns and making sure everything was okay. Took the two dogs with us, as soon as the troopy back door was open the dogs knew they were off to the beach and couldn't wait to jump on board.
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| Cila & Jack at Jurien |
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| View from Jurien house |
Anna and Sam managed to get a ride up to the farm so they stayed for a weekend and then were picked up and taken home again. Great to see them.
Easter we caught up with cousin Beverley who came and stayed at Jurien with us. On the Sunday Michelle and boys called in to see us for lunch, they were camping at Cervantes.
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| Solar panels for seismic sensors |
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| $1m Vibrators!! |
One of our challenges while on the farm was keeping a watchful eye on surveyors and the seismological group. We had upto 50 men and vehicles on the farm at any one time. Our main concern was fire as there was plenty of dry feed everywhere.
April was a busy month on the farm as far as visitors were concerned. We had Phil and Pam arrive with Andy and Berta in their motorhomes and stay for a week . It was such a great time, laughed so much, great medicine.
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| Mini Rally |
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| 3 Likely Lads |
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| A course in wine appreciation |
A week after Easter Pam and Phil arrived for another week. They are such good friends and it was lovely to spend some time with them on their own. Before they left Trysha and John arrived and spent just over a week before heading off further north to enjoy Kalbarri,Shark Bay, Coral Bay and Exmouth and we will meet them on the Coastal Highway out from Exmouth. Oh so busy were we but loved every moment of it.
While in Dongara went to a Patchwork group who made me so welcome and had some great Show and Tell.
Our last week before leaving John and Chris arrived home from their 4 months in Tasmania and it was so interesting to hear snippets of their trip. |
| Our whole "Flock 'n Herd". |
Sunday we were off to Bunbury to catch up with Anna and Sam, Jemma and Steven. It was Mothers Day so lovely to have seen all the girls in 24 hours. Great to catch up with Anna's two. From Bunbury we headed to Dongara where once again we looked after the dogs for the night. They welcomed us with open arms.
John and Chris arrived back from Perth Monday, we collected our mail, put new wheels on the van, Tues packed van, loaded bike and Chris made us a lovely lamb roast as a farewell meal.
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| Final Sunset Dongara. |
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| Woodside Farms, Dongara |
WEDNESDAY 16
Finally hit the road north and found a lovely spot at Nerrin Nerrin to stay the night.
THURSDAY 17
Had a long drive today to Minilya Roadhouse and stayed at the caravan park that we know is a lovely spot, have stayed several times before. We even had cattle passing by us to drink down at the river, oh so rural. It appears we transported a mouse from the farm but after two days poor thing was caught in a trap in the storage area. Shows that there no such thing as a free ride.
FRIDAY 18
Today we are to meet up with Trysha and John so off we went to Burkett Road Rest Area to wait, we had planned to stay the night but an awful spot so once T & J arrived we headed to Barradale Rest area. Great spot, plenty of room but rather hot.
SATURDAY 19
Today we plan to stop at Robe River beside the river. A lovely spot and in the morning we were rewarded with thousands of Budgies flying around. At different times of the year budgies are known to fly in large numbers we were very excited to see so many. Even the Kites were swooping into the river and catching fish.
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| Budgies swooping for water |
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| Parked for the night at Robe River |
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| Twins at Fortesque River |
SUNDAY 20
Roebourne is our destination today. Did a detour through Dampier, had lunch by the harbour and then into Karratha. Tried to buy some groceries but shops shut on Sunday in Dampier and too hard to find parking for two big rigs so off to Roebourne. Last time we were at the caravan park there were drive through parks but oh dear times do changed so had to back into a park. Boys managed okay and we settled down for 2 days.
MONDAY 21
Took T & J for a tour of Cossack (early port for the Pilbara area), checked out the Courthouse where Mike sentenced John to 10 years for being a New South Welshman. Port Samson was our next port of call, lovely caravan park there but not for us. Cape Lambert Nickel mine is located here.
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| Helicopter stringing HT wires from Tower to Tower |
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| Port Samson Courthouse |
Wickham was next and here we managed to do some grocery shopping. Trysha commented on how all the shop windows have heavy grills to prevent break ins.
We were no sooner back at the park when another 5th wheeler arrived and it was a Crusier as well. So there we have it, 3 in a row.
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| Three Cruisers in a row. |
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| Sturt Pea, Port Sampson. |
TUESDAY 22
Yule River was our next stop. This was always a lovely large river park but now very small but we managed to fit in. It is privately owned and the owners have now shut off most of the river grasslands to vehicles. Met another Lois and they were heading to Indee Station to stay. Sounds like an interesting place to stop another time. Trysha took a magic photo of a dragonfly on the aerial of our truck.
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| Yule River bridge |
WEDNESDAY 23
Took T & J through dusty Port Hedland and out to the harbour. The Shire have certainly improved the harbour area, lovely picnic spot now, but Port Hedland is a dirty dusty place. Saw a ship being loaded with iron ore and a dredge busy dredging the harbour. We seem to be in the midst of awful winds and the red dust is awful, getting into everything. I'm sure even my grey hair has changed colour. We stayed at De Grey River. Great off road area but we stayed up top as no way we could negotiate the trees. Had a lovely walk down to the river.
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| Port Hedland dredge |
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| Just made it before the Train beat us! |
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| De Grey River |
THURSDAY 24
On to Stanley today, head wind all the way so hard going for the drivers. Great spot all bitumen and no dust!!!!!
FRIDAY 25
Broome is our destination this morning. Had a great trip as there are only a few travellers on the road but by the time we leave here it will be different.
Met up with our friends Pip and Steve who we first met 5 years ago. There was also another couple , Lorraine and Henry who stay in Broome for 4 months every year. They clean the pool for the Park.
Great to catch up with them.
SATURDAY 26
Markets this morning. Oh how I enjoy the markets, there are so many different things to see and the crafts are quite diverse.
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