Geraldton and East

Did some shopping in Geraldton, shoes and warm clothes. Provisioned and decided to head east away from the coast and hopefully the cold wind. About 90km east we stopped at Mullewa CP. It appears to be a prosperous and tidy town but very quiet like its Sunday not Tuesday.

Turned south east running parallel with the coast but about 100km from. FC south of Perenjon at Bunjil Rocks, nice spot, isolated.

FC at Merredin rest area, east of Goomalling, after stopping and walking about the towns we pass through on the way. Easy drive, leisurely. 

Southern Cross CP for the night. Washing housework etc. Nice clear still days but its cold at night!

On to Kalgoorlie and Boulder. Did the touristy stuff, interesting. 

Bunjil Rocks

Carnarvon, Point Quobba, Kalbarri, Geraldton.

Stopped just one night in Carnarvon not nice CP, red dirt and a grumpy owner. Went north along the coast to Point Quobba $5.50/n. Very crowded but managed to fit into a level spot with good view.  Ended up staying 3 days and would come back. Nice beach walks when the wind drops.

Stopped at Hamelin right on the coast nice. Molly was permitted in the park but not on the beach?

Denham CP nice park overlooking the ocean. Washing and other domestic stuff and a bit of relaxing. Nanga Bay south of Denham CP nice as well. Drove to Monkey Mia saw 2 Dolphins a bit disappointed.

On to FC Nerren Nerren rest area for the night. In early and set up before the hordes arrived. Nice enough spot.

Kalbarri CP another dog bond $30 this time. Then Muchison CP didn't have a site big enough for us? Went to Anchorage CP bit run down but nice. Lots of beach walking with Molly.

Stopped near Coronation Beach overnight FC at Oakabella Rest Area and had a look at Port Gregory not impressed. Good for fishermen probably.  Been windy last couple of days and not all that warm.

Man and his dog

Monkey Mia

Kalbarri

Oakabella Rest Area

Point Samson - Robe River

On to Point Samson after touristy stuff at Roebourne. Very Windy here. Mollie was attacked by another dog, unleashed, whilst I was walking her on the leash, bloody hell.  Had to fix burnt battery cables from our trip into Port Smith the other day.

Provisioned in Karratha before venturing into 40 mile and Gnoorea Point. More disappointment caravans everywhere, a dust bowl, and a gas company drilling 24/7. To late in the day to be moving on so just pulled over on a bit of level-ish dirt for the night. Apparently it used to be good before the cyclones. 

On to Robe River. Now this is better nice little spot.

Rocky piece of coastline but no walking the dog?

Robe River.

Broome - Port Hedland

Arrived in Broome to find it all but booked out and free camping definitely not an option. The folks at the Tourist Info Centre advised the only option is the PCYC grounds where overflow camping has been set up. Drove around did some touristy stuff before booking in. Only stayed overnight.

On to Port Smith. Was expecting something better than this. 18km of dirt to get here? Red dirt camp site. Half a km walk to a large lagoon but how far to the Indian Ocean, who knows. And to be bitten by midgees not to mention a $50 good behaviour bond for Mollie, what da? Needless to say one night was enough. I wonder if the volunteers at the TIC in Broome who suggested this has ever been here? Unlikely.

Pardoo Roadhouse after stopping at Sandfire Roadhouse for lunch. The old pub was burnt down in 2007 replaced with a relocatable roadhouse, YUK!  Couldn't go to Eight Mile Beach because we have a dog. WA not a good place for travelling with a dog!  But had a good night at Pardoo talking with like mined travellers.

FC at De Gray River rest area. Nice spot met some locals from Port Hedland here in their motorhome for the weekend and offering their spot right by the river as they had to return to work.  Work? Was familiar with the concept, once. Both of us are covered in bites

Port Hedland CP. $54/n en-suite sites only, key deposit $20, dog bond $50. Bloody hell this hole state must have been attacked by dogs at some point? Nice park but right on the beach. People on the next site Susan and Richard Forest, their daughter lives in Narrandera, small world blah blah.

Drove into Whim Creek to visit an historic pub but the sign said 'Absolutely NO DOGS' so drove out again. What's with these people?

18km to Port Smith

The Lagoon where is the ocean?

Sandfire Roadhouse shed

De Gray River lovely. 

Mary Pool - Derby

Spring Creek FC nice off the road quiet had visitors for dinner. On the next day stopping for a walk at Little Panton River for morning tea and a walk. Same again in Halls Gap then on to Mary Pool on the Mary River a truly lovely spot.

Next day on to Fitzroy Crossing to provision but the supermarket was closed, the local had robbed it overnight, again. Stopped at Ellendale Rest Area shared a fire with other travellers.

Derby and the Kimbeley Entrance CP. Washing, cleaning, provisioning and domestic stuff. Took Mollie to the Vet, not her favourite place, it must be the smell? She has a rash, needed ear drops and immunisation update shots. Trish had her hair cut by a lady in the park and then Trish cut mine.

Spring Creek

Mary Pool causeway

Ellendale Rest Area - sunset

Boab - Prison Tree

WA and Kununurra

Kununurra for tonight. Nearly lost our bird Buddy.  They weren't going to let her pass at the Quarantine Station until they made a phone call to confirm it was OK, what da? Just had to wash out her cage and surrender her food? Again what da? Stopped at the Lakeside Resort, nice. Drove out to Lake Argyle. Lots of change here and not for the good according to our memories of the place, anyway whatever.

A free camp somewhere?

Wash that cage and give me that seed.

Lake Argyle.

Kununurra Lakeside Resort

Mataranka and Katherine

Had a walk around Larrimah interesting old pub then South Warlock rest area for morning tea. Booked into the park at Mataranka had lunch then went for a drive to Bitter Springs and Mataranka Homestead and spring where we stayed 30 years ago. Couldn't stay or swim because of the dog.

Katherine Manbulloo Homestead for tonight but first a walk around town some provisioning and lunch at the RSL. We were here just last year when the Ghan (train) has a scheduled stop around midday and we walked to this RSL and had lunch. Here we are again.  Manbulloo is a bit run down but has lots of potential.

Victoria River Roadhouse, nice place to camp for the night.  Caught up with the washing and other domestic stuff.

Saddle Creek FC for the night after morning tea and a walk around Timber Creek.

Mataranka Springs

Mataranka Homestead

Katherine River

Timber Creek

Daly Waters Pub 30 years on.

Long drive to the Three Ways Roadhouse, where we stayed for the night, but had been advised to bypass Barkly Homestead. It was cold and windy there anyway and driving with a tail wind is always nice. Next morning looped down to Tenant Creek for Provisions before heading north to Attack Creek rest area for lunch and Banka Banka station for the night.

Next day on to Daly Waters Pub. Boy has this place changed. Last time we were here was back in 1979, 30 something years ago, and it was barely staying open. Just shows what a good operator can do.  Its pumping now!

Helicopter?

Daly Waters Pub

That's what attracts tourist?

Northern Territory Border

There are some long stretches of road out here but its easy to be amused.

Stopped at Avon Downs and the local copper put on a show for us doing vehicle inspection right out front. Even stopped road trains, everybody. Glad I was here and off the road before he started as we stopped at Camooweal Pub for a coldie before crossing the border and arriving our camp here for the night.

Some fantastic views to be had at both sunset and sunrise just about every day.

Avon Downs - sunrise

When not everyone wants to listen

Jigsaw junkies do it anywhere

Hey there's a lady stuck in here!

Flinders Hwy westward Oh!

Pentland and Pentland CP nice little park pool and cafe. Happy hour at The Prairie Hotel, nice. Stopped for walk in Hughenden and then for the night at the Lake View CP in Richmond, nice.

Julia Creek FC by the creek just out of town, really lovely spot. These are the spots worth seeking out very quiet and peaceful.

Back to Cloncurry and Top Tourist CP, like this one, third of fourth time here now. Stopped for the night at Mt Isa and met some traveller last seen at Hughenden. Brought a new radio CD for the Motorhome and installed it. Housework, washing, and relaxing. Tomorrow we leave the state.

Pentland - The Prairie Hotel 

Richmond - Sunset

Julia Creek

Julia Creek

Gordonvale to Charters Towers

Toured slowly down from Gordonvale stopped at various beaches to walk and look staying at others like Kurrimine Beach, Googarra Beach, Cardwell and Balgal Beach. Checked out lots of beaches but its all very crowded.  So kept heading south. It was raining when we went through Townsville so kept going to a CP in Charters Towers.

The Plan now: Drive the Flinders Hwy to Cloncurry and continue on to Camooweal and the Northern Territory. Away from the madding crowd, hopefully. 

Balgal Beach

Balgal Beach

Cairns Bramston Beach

Heading south to Cairns had to stop and change a tyre at Mt Carbine, scrubbing and going out of balance.

CP in Cairns for a couple of nights while we had the front end re-aligned then on to Gordonvale as the tyre guy there is the only Michelin dealer in the area and I want quality tyres. As it happens there is a heavy vehicle mechanic workshop next door. Due for a service so ordered six new tyres, couple of days to deliver, and booked in for the service.  Crank batteries were playing up as well and were at the end of there use by so had two new ones installed.  Should be good for a while now.

Spent the days waiting for tyres and service parts at Bramston Beach or Fishery Falls CP, both nice places to hang for a bit.

Mt Carbine - tyre change

Mount Molloy to Mossman

Bramston Beach

Taking notes for her blog?

Cooktown and Helenvale

Headed east from Normanton, destination Cooktown. Stopped in Croydon and the CP there for mothers day and dinner at the pub. Brad rang his mother. That was nice of him to remember or did I text him first?

Georgetown another CP. Then FC at Archer's Creek 16km west of Ravenshoe on the Kennedy Dev Road. Atherton for provisions then FC at Mount Molloy for the night.

Stopped two nights at the Orchid CP in Cooktown then moved to the Helenvale and the Lion's Den Hotel. Friends own this pub and camp ground and we stayed for free. Timed it well arriving on the weekend as they have live bands and its very popular with the locals as well as tourist. Good to catch up but they were very busy keeping things on track.

Molly and Buddy checking a tourist brochure for things to do.

Somewhere on the Mulligan Hwy to Cooktown

Wife-beater, shorts and thongs. Its the uniform up here.

Helenvale south of Cooktown top of the Daintree

The Gulf

FC halfway between Cloncurry and Normanton on the Matilda Dev Road, Bang Bang rest area. A walk around Normanton then on to Karumba. Stayed two nights in a very full CP, right down the back.  Enjoyed a beer and dinner at the Karumba Point Hotel watching the sunset, nice.

It's fishing heaven up here. Lots of tinnies everywhere. The most common rig is 4x4 with tinnie on the roof towing a caravan with a fold up trailer secured to the back bumper bar.

The Pub waiting for sunset

Sunset spectacular!

Tinnies everywhere

Fishing heaven.

Mt Isa

Augathella and Tambo stopping at each to walk the dog around town. Met Gerry and Bruce again. Ilfracombe CP and a spa and swim in the hot bore pools, nice. Dinner at the Historic Wellshot pub.

Winton CP two nights and bike riding around town. Looks like another town in decline. On to Cloncurry and we stayed in the Top Tourist CP it has a pool and its hot here! Stopped at the Blue Heeler Hotel along the way, interesting. Met a couple travelling like us who were from Leeton, small world, blah, blah.

Mt Isa for some shopping and a couple of nights then back to Cloncurry.

Ilfracombe hot bore pools

Blue Heeler Hotel

Blue Heeler Bar

Me and my doggy Mt Isa