Telegraph Pool, Fitzroy River

Day 94 - Telegraph Pool, Fitzroy River

Saturday, 29 June 2013

Easy drive out of Broome. Only two gates to open not a long track and we found the locals secret spot. A few caravans near the gates but down on the bank of the Fitzroy only one other camper and plenty of flat areas to open up.

It is absolutely beautiful, has that Tangible feel to it - maybe the crocs in the river. Bit overcast but it makes for dramatic lighting. Poured with rain during the first night, really humid and hot. So glad we are on a hard rocky bank. The far side is croc heaven, mud flats, with all the rain I might have had dreams of sliding into the river overnight.

Morning exploration M found a cast net. He couldn't believe his luck. However, on closer inspection I think it had been left there because there were too many holes. No problem, M hung it from a tree and proceeded to repair it with fishing line - well at least the largest holes. Talking of trees, beside us is a huge boab tree, that is lovely in itself, but it would appear to be the home of at least 30 Whistling Kites. They spend the day gliding and swooping overhead.

I have been entertained watching M practise casting. Not very easy on this bank. At the bottom lots of slippery mud. The mullets have good eyesight as well. It is quite difficult hiding from them, then at the last minute jumping out to cast whilst not landing on your bum in the mud, but I am waiting :). Fortunately we have a bit of coverage here so M has been able to YouTube a lesson or two on casting techniques and has practised behind the camper.

Today met the couple camping down river. He is obviously more practiced at casting, also has more appropriate foot wear, and he gave M a few spare mullet that he had netted. Later that evening I went back with a book to 'donate' and when i got back saw the camera out on the chair. Knew I hadn't left it there so checked out the last few shoots, sure enough a large Threadfin salmon. As it was dark couldn't see anything, other than Ms head torch down the bank. But there behind me laying over my footstool was this beauty. Typical no woo hoos from him, but I could tell he was chuffed to bits. Bit of a fiasco filleting in the dark. Neither of us prepared, knife blunt, no board or bench so it was on the rocks at the base of the bank. Took forever as the knife was blunt and I had to keep shining the torch in the water to make sure the croc up river wasn't getting too close. Its quite disconcerting seeing their red eyes reflecting back at you.

In the morning, M skinned and washed the fillets a bit better. We shared some with the fella who had given M the bait he had netted. This seems to be the spot for a chartered fishing tour, not sure if from Broome or Derby.

By lunch time we had the place to ourselves, yes I thought perfect, forgetting it was Saturday. Within the hour some weekenders had arrived, kids, dogs, quad bike etc. guessing will have to 'share' my bit of paradise again :)

M has been stalking the schools of mullet and so far has netted a total of 3!! Only one at a time, but that is fishing for you, PATIENCE. They are swimming around the bucket, M is waiting for dark to try his luck again.

	Sunset over The Fitz [Map]		Mending the Net [Map]
	Learning to cast [Map]		The Fitz [Map]
	Low Tide [Map]		Look what he caught, Threadfin Salmon [Map]

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Broome/Quongdon Pt

Day 90 - Broome/Quongdon Pt

Tuesday, 25 June 2013

Uneventful trip into Broome, amazed at all the water, not on the road fortunately, but it looked like we were driving through wetlands. Green, GReen, GREEEEN!

Picked up our fresh veges and bumped into Rebine, who we had met on Peron Peninsula. SE cooked us up a beautiful 'authentic' paella. Taught to her by a Spanish chef!

Headed north past Willie Creek and up to Quongdon Pt. We were there last year, but it was a long weekend and we found it hard to find space to open up the camper. Not too bad this year, but still quite a few vans. Picked ourselves a great spot with great views, and right beside an easy path down to the beach (no scrambling up cliffs, or over rocks etc). However, come dusk we discovered we were not alone. Clouds of mozzies, we retreated very quickly inside, grabbing stuff to eat on the way in. Fortunately, had a cooked lunch, so snacks would suffice.

The gazebo went up in the morning and we got the walls out for the first time. Didn't think it would fit with the gazebo being so close to the camper and various latches sticking out, but with a few tweaks we had made it as gap proof as possible.

Huge tides here, just love the way the beach looks so different. With all the rocks as well, there was lots to explore. The crabs make these amazing 'pictures' on the sand with little balls of sand, how do they do that? Saw another strange sight, a lady driving an Amaroc (towing a massive 5th wheeler) camped up behind us and when she walked past us down to the beach her cat followed her, just like a dog. Never seen anything like it.

To the south found a rock pool and whilst I was busy 'posing' and waiting for M to finish playing fisherman, I noticed there were a couple of small gar fish land locked in the pool. Was entertained for half an hour whilst M chased these poor fish around and around, he eventually caught them in is hands - good bait he reckoned. Sadly they didn't even tempt a nibble. We had no fish dinners whilst there.

I am amazed how the hours pass so quickly every day. I do have more wool, picked up at Red Dot in Broome, to extend the range of colours in my Freeform Crochet :). Keeps my occupied whilst Malcolm is fishing the high tide.

Other than the pesky mozzies in the evening it was idyllic. But even then we soon had our refuge in the gazebo well organised and with a few coils burning outside we were relatively 'safe'.

Car booked in for a service, so had to pack up and head back to the busy smoke of Broome on Sunday.

	Quongdon Beach [Map]		Rock Posing [Map]
	Perfecting the art of casting [Map]		Bait, caught by hand [Map]
	How the other half travel [Map]		Kite [Map]
	Crab Art [Map]		Beach Tree [Map]

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Barn Hill

Day 81 - Barn Hill

Sunday, 16 June 2013

Hurray for blue skies. Had a lovely lasagne courtesy off Linda and Mario. They have a lovely set up, on the end of a row, so it is quite private. Their plush new caravan, with very fancy bathroom is beautiful and well set up. Rally makes our little home look quite basic, but that is alright.

Barn Hill itself is rather run down. Two cyclones in 2 years has severely eroded the Pindan cliffs which has clouded up the water. A lot of sand on the beach has gone, so more exposed rocks. Also the steps down to the beach have broken. Fortunately some regular campers cleared a goat track to one side and dug in a step ladder to access the beach.

Would have more positive things to say if there were fish jumping on to hooks from the beach, but yet again, despite putting in hours, my fisherman was not rewarded for his efforts. Most of the keen campers bring a tinny with them and we were very grateful to be given several 'donations'. So we did have a few lovely fish suppers :). How nice.

A few grumpy people up at the reception area. Oh well, we all have our bad days I suppose. Went to a tai chi morning, very pleasant under the shade of the palm trees and also a morning tea (cancer fund raiser). I had missed one at South Lefroy.

The days meandered on with walks on the beach, dips in the rock holes after high tide, a bit of socialising around the camp, and pushing on with my crochet project.

Off to Broome on Monday, restock, and start planning for the Canning Stock Route.

	Goat track to beach [Map]		Rocks at Barn Hill Beach [Map]
	Barn Hill [Map]		More rocks [Map]
	Look at that [Map]		Perfect sun ledge [Map]
	Seagull ate the bait [Map]		My Billabong [Map]
	Cyclone Damage [Map]		Mini Bungles [Map]

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Karratha to Barn Hill

Day 76 - Karratha to Barn Hill

Tuesday, 11 June 2013

Wednesday 5th June - Tuesday 11th June

Late morning by the time we had erased our "footprints" from Billy's plush abode and actually got back on the road again. Sun was out, yay, finally! Up the road to Roeburn. Stopped in at the old jail. These places give me the hee bee jeebeees! The way people were chained up, worse than animals. As we took off again could see ominous black clouds ahead of us. Unbelievable. Lots of puddles everywhere, so no venturing off the road exploring. Couldn't be bothered with the mud. Doesn't sound like my chauffeur - has becoming a senior brought some sense?

Hard decision where to stop for the night. Could push on to Pardoo, but couldn't see the point in paying for a nights camp when it is too late to see/do anything. So decided to bush camp at De Grey river. Managed to find a high and relatively dry spot. The river bank looked crowded, we could see a continuous line of caravan roofs. Heard later that some of them were stuck and were having to wait for things to dry out before they could move on. Glad we had chosen not to venture down there.

Set off to Pardoo early, still black skies. Station looked well set out, nicely grassed, only powered sites but we needed that with no sun. Fivesies around the camp fire, fire nice and warm, couldn't say the same for the most of the people. There was an old but well equipped camp kitchen that we made great use of, nice and sheltered from the wind.

Pardoo is a few Kms from the beach or creek, so after the road was opened next day we set off to check it out. Made a lovely mess of the car, Pindan mud every where. Hunter/gatherer out in a good 4 hours trying to catch us a feed for dinner but it was going to have to be pot luck from the freezer. Thought I had taken a bolognaise sauce out so cooked up some pasta. Opened the sauce to discovered it was beef curry :) maybe we will have bolognaise with rice tomorrow!

Saturday we decided to head up to Barn Hill. The down pours that Broome had received seemed to have abated and forecast looked clear for the next week. A few puddles on the track in, but nothing to get excited about.

Booked in for a week, have parked up almost opposite our neighbours, Linda and Mario. A lovely warm welcome from them.

	Pardoo Creek, tide out [Map]		Setting up a stand for handline, Pardoo Creek [Map]
	Pardoo Creek [Map]		Track down to Creek [Map]

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BIG TRIP 3

Day 69

Tuesday, 4 June 2013

Saturday June 1 to Tuesday June 4th

Every where we go HE asks about The Jump Up. The obstacle you have to overcome to get up The Burrup Peninsula. My driver so wants to go, whilst Princess Chicken Heart cries Noooooooo ....

I agreed to go take a look, but only a look. We eventually found it, ha ha after a policeman showed us the way! True. Had inadvertently found the bypass route, but that was for boys with BIG toys -Craig would have given it a go. The track to the real jump up was hiding behind some mangroves. We walked up, my expert 4x4 enthusiast talking up the line to take every step of the way. Quite a few dead parts littering the track. Apart from one rock at the top we probably could have made it. All my expert said was "Where is Benny when you need him?"

I was glad he recognises I have no skill in spotting! And certainly no help in getting us out of a rocky situation - I am only good for getting us wedged on top of rocks even if it is the only one around for miles :)

Sadly this challenge will have to wait for another time, club trip?! Had a good day checking out other parts of the coastline. Not too pretty for photos, very grey and dismal. Wonderful place to live if you own a boat.

The view from Billy's flat looks out on to the salt flats, the bay and the Burrup Penninsula with the gas flares showing over the top. The weather so bad at times even the gas flares not visible.

The sun peeped out for a glorious sunset and we had a lovely last dinner with our gracious host. All ready to set off again in the morning.

	Debris at the Jump Up [Map]		Maxxie sulking [Map]
	The Jump Up [Map]		Posing with Red Dog [Map]
	Dismal Weather [Map]		Woo hoo Sunshine [Map]

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BIG TRIP 3

Day 65

Friday, 31 May 2013

Friday 24th May to Friday 31st May

Finally had to leave our spectacular beach front residence at South Lefroy. It always amazes me how everything gets squeezed back inside our camper. Heading to Karratha. It was quite a beautiful scenic drive. So green and lush. The dark red rocky outcrops of the Pilbara definitely hit my WOW button. Shame we were on Tarmac and not off on the tracks. But wanted to get to Karratha post office before it closed as they hopefully had a package for us.

They did, we signed everything and we sent it back. Fingers crossed that is the last bit of paperwork needed for settlement of Dads house to take place.

We met up with Billy, our neighbour from Mandurah who had kindly offered us a bed (and probably a much needed shower) for a few nights. Stocking up with plenty of 'medicine' we followed him back to his lovely apartment, complete with under cover parking. Our DMax won't know what has happened - out on the beach, just a few metres from the high tide level one night to a multi storey car park the next. Hmm, wonder how I will sleep under a solid roof - no waves crashing on the reef to lull me off to sleep.

Our host was great company and made us feel very welcome and 'at home'. Was even pleasantly surprised that he was able to take some time off over the weekend to show us around. Little did we know that Friday was going to be the last we saw of the sun for quite a while.

Woke up Saturday to clouds and wind. Drove out to Dampier, Billy our guide, giving us all the local gossip of the place. Tide out for miles at Hearson Cove, didn't realise that evening was a Stairway to the Moon event.

Sunday we headed out to Point Samson. Wind still up and the king tide amazing. Saw a couple with a dog just like our Max, but a real one. I ran back to the car to retrieve my dog. Not sure of the reception I was going to get, fortunately it was hilarious. The real live Max was so excited (confused?) but apart from big tail wags and licks, my wannabe real Max was unharmed. Laughs all around especially from the owners of the real dog. Some rather unusual architecture here, Freo style, the Bundy Bear on top of a parked up bus in a front garden got our vote.

Weather forecast went from bad to worse and everyday saw it extending. We went about washing, clearing out a lot of South Lefroy beach - don't think we will ever be able to get rid of it all. One morning we discovered that some scumbags had tried to jemmy open the toolbox behind the cab. A few phone calls later we discovered similar locks were not to be had in Karratha so my fix it man called up the people in Bunbury who had made the box for us and they put a couple more in the post for us - fingers crossed they will arrive on Friday (or else it will be Tuesday as it is a long weekend).

Meanwhile I hunted op shops, Kmart and a very pricey chaotic craft shop to stock up on yarns for my newly discovered freeform crochet hobby, taught to me by Anneke at Sth Lefroy. It has been a Godsend as we ended up spending 12 days in Karratha waiting for the weather to fine up. If not for Billy's hospitality, and my new hobby, things would have been rather miserable for us.

We checked out Cleaverville, a free camp area north of Karratha, thinking we could spend a few nights here if the weather improved. Not bad, some amazing tree trunk-like rock formations, a delight to scramble around on.

The weather didn't improve and we stayed on as Billy's guests. The apartment block was rather flash, with swimming pool, gym and pool table which the boys made use of one evening. However, Billy's work hours were long and we were aware he needed his beauty sleep :)

	Pt Sampson [Map]		Close Encounter [Map]
	The Bundy Bus [Map]		Travellers in Style [Map]
	Cleaverville [Map]		Cleavered Rocks [Map]
	Jemmied Lock! [Map]

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