Trish Travels: Ashburton Station-Tom Price

Wednesday 23rd May

Awoke to a glorious sunrise and continued along the Ashburton Downs Rd. Not quite as picturesque as yesterday. A herd of horses as we passed the station. Michael got left behind, as he found plenty of vistas to enjoy. Whilst waiting for him at the junction of the road into Tom Price we were trying to call him up on the radio and got a homestead replying to us, in hindsight we could have saved ourselves a lot time. However, convoy in tact again we turned east for a short while before turning off again to go to Woongarra Pool. Just a short distance along was a closed gate, signed with Private Property and to call or radio (UHF 25! Our station) the Cheela Plains Homestead before entering. No phone signal, and no answer on the radio. Coninced it was the same such homestead we had inadvertently spoken to earlier whilst waiting for Michael, we headed back to that junction to try and raise them from there. Half an hour later we had permission and proceeded up to the pool. It was worth the effort, so we rewarded ourselves with lunch. Next was Mt Nameless. This was "unfinished business" last time we were here, traveling in Pedro, it didn't happen, and it was going to happen this time. Quite an easy track, but very steep, but even with all our load, Maxxie chugged us up there. Extremely windy at the top and at 1016 meters it is the tallest mountain in WA that you can drive up. Looking down on Tom Price it was very green and tidy looking. 180 deg the other way have the mountain had been cleared away from the mining. Back down to fuel up, a quick diversion to Coles for treats, then out to find Millie Millie Springs for the night. It is what I think of as Lion Country. The spinifex is in flower and the stalks are so tall, blowing in the breeze, a bit like wheat fields, in a wild way. There are mountain ranges on several horizons and the lighting is very dramatic. Eventually parked up, and enjoyed home made fish and chips, camp style :) All very surprised and delighted to see we had Internet coverage. Eventually, with much appreciated help from my IT tutor, sorted out my blog. I am such a Wally, forgot that last lesson Michael had convinced me to continue using the old blog!!!! Duh, I had been trying to upload to the 'new' and 'experimental' blog. Oh well, hopefully there will be no stopping me. Went to bed a happy camper, although the wind 'flapped' every loose bit of canvas!

Thursday Millie Millie to Mt Meharry Base 24th May

Off we went to explore this area according to the 4x4 2006 Pilbara Book. Michael wanted to see Karajini again so we arranged to rendez-vous later. Chauffeur had plotted in all the waypoints from The Book, fortunately as he forgot to bring the book, however, tracks change drastically every season, so we soon found it hard going, but not being of the nature to "give in" chauffeur pushed on. Coppin's Pool was large, many reeds and the remains (tin hut style) of a homestead complete with watertank and springs of a mattress. Further on a large dry creek bed, track definitely went in so we followed only to come to a dead end a few hundred meters along. Got out to recce on foot. Found another track leading out that we had missed due to it being quite overgrown so onwards again. Some places track quite obvious, other places it seemed to disappear and it felt like we were driving in circles "hunting spoor". Should have brought a pith helmet! Another creek crossing, similar story, chauffeur not giving in yet. We were not getting anywhere fast, and when chauffeur zoomed out on the Ozi Explore and saw how much further we had to go it was duly decided that as we had a commitment to a rendez-vous we had better turn back, knowing that one of the exits from the creek was going to be a challenge.

There were lots of trees, so we could always get the winch out if necessary. It proved to be just as difficult retracing our tracks and once again we were out on foot "spoor hunting" - I was beginning to really enjoy this. After letting the tyres down a tad more and finding a better line out of the creek, the winch wasn't needed and a couple of hours later we were back on the Tarmac. Rendez-vous completed our next challenge was to find a camping spot near the base of Mt Meharry, the highest mountain in WA at 1248 meters. And challenge it was. The mining companies have taken over the Pilbara! Battling through "minefields" and bull dust we eventually pulled off onto a not too heavily spinifexed level spot behind some bushes. The wind was blowing a gale, it was cold and there was no way we could light a fire. So after dinner we hit the sack.