6th of June to the 12th

6^th of June

The weather is still over cast and we are forced to spend the morning in the caravan. Coral bay is the first place I have stayed that has bore water for showers and the taps to supply water to your caravan are bore water. I assume when I am paying $45 a night that there would be decent water and there is a desalination plant in town so they are just being tight and getting there water for free. They had taps at allocated spots in the park which you were allowed to use for drinking water. I do wish when I rang and booked they told me this, and then I would have filled up both tanks at Carnarvon. I normally don’t fill up tanks if going caravan park to caravan park to save weight. Anyway by the afternoon the weather cleared up and at 3.30pm they do fish feeding on the beach, this is free to attend and the kids loved it. On returning to the caravan park the kids wanted a swim in the pool and this was so far the best pool we have seen in a park since leaving home. Due to the windy weather in the last couple of days I ended up booking for another night so we could go out and see the reef tomorrow.

7^th of June

Woke up and the weather is better as was forecasted so did a couple loads of washing and raced down to book in for a 2 hr glass bottom boat and snorkel tour. The reason we went with this option they didn’t charge for our kids which is refreshing to find. It still cost us $108 for the 2 hrs but we got to see stuff that we wouldn’t even know was there. At the first stopping point where we could get out and snorkel for 30mins I jumped in first while Kate was going to get ready. I came back in after 15mins to let Kate have go and there is Jess with a life jacket on and goggles wanting to jump in we got a noodle floaty off the staff and Jess and I went for a snorkel together. To our amazement Jess Loved it she didn’t have the snorkel but the goggles that block your nose off. Jess would just take a deep breath and put her head under water. A couple of times I would be looking at her to make sure she pulled her head back up, she could hold her breath for a long time. Every time when she came up gasping for air the excitement in her voice at the same time telling me about the fish she just saw was awesome.  At the next spot we stopped at, Kate got and had a go and Jess was keen as to get back in. Kate came back after a while but didn’t feel real comfortable snorkelling but still enjoyed what she saw. Jess and I jumped in again for a bit more. Just before leaving I put Jess back on the boat and went back and swam under the boat again as at the last spot Kate missed me twice with the camera. The first attempt at the 2^nd spot I went under, the camera couldn’t focus and didn’t take a picture at all, at this stage my legs fill like there about to cramp but gave it one more go with success for a picture. Megan said you were silly dad swimming under boat I said it wasn’t me, she replied yes it was I could see your t-shirt with the dog popping off.  We spent the afternoon hanging out with some nice people we have met on the road. They think I have a drinking problem because every time I walk around at beer (5) o’clock and they see me I have a beer in my hand.

 

8^th of June

The weather forecast isn’t good for tomorrow so we go up to Exmouth and after checking in spend the afternoon looking at the local attractions, the local national parks campsites are all full.

 

9^th of June

Pack up and get on the road early. After driving around picking up some supplies and getting a couple of pictures of big things we have to drive south out of Exmouth. We had an awesome tail wind the whole way. Once getting to the turn north to head north east we were then faced with a fierce head wind which in an effort to conserve fuel backed off to 85. After turning back on to the main highway heading north we called in to a rest stop on the side of the road and enjoyed a nice lunch I am at this stage thinking I need fuel soon Kate looking at the map assumed we had 35km to go to the servo which I am thinking will be fine this was before calling in for lunch. While waiting in the Car for Kate to get in and get going I entered in the gps nearest servo and low and behold it is 80km away I am starting to stress a bit as I half a quarter left. Anyway while punching into a massive head wind and dust blowing all over the place I get within 10km off the servo when low and behold the car runs out  of fuel. Was at this stage Kate told me it would be handy if the jerry can I carry had fuel in it for times like this lol. As I pulled in off the road I got far enough off so the trucks wouldn’t worry them. I grabbed the jerry can off the caravan and was picked up the next caravanners heading by 1 minute later. They called into get fuel at the next servo anyway so I filled up my Jerry and said thanks for picking me up I may see them later on. I proceeded to head back up to the road and was waiting for the next vehicle heading south. These 2 mins I was waiting seemed like forever for not a vehicle pasted, The couple that had just picked me up turned left and started heading towards me I tried to tell them no please continue heading north. The bloke said we flipped a coin it landed on heads get in. After filling up the car and getting back on the road we only lost 30mins which isn’t a bad outcome. After getting back to the servo I filled up the truck and jerry can and was back on the road we turned a right to head east and start heading to Tom Price we ended up spending a night under the stars free camping about 360km from tom price. At the free camp the couple that picked me up were there so I gave him a cold beer.

These pictures were all taken in my pjs after the wife kicked me out of bed while she was feeding Emily for me to take some pics of sunrise.

 

10^th of June

On the road early today heading to Tom Price over took a few road trains coming up from Perth and had a good chat with the last one I over took on the uhf radio. Called in Paraburdoo for lunch and so the Kids could play in the park we had a short drive after lunch up to Tom Price all into a ripping head wind.  We booked into the tom Price caravan park which was $38 a night but they don’t charge for kids. I did some loads of washing and relaxed in the park with some overnight rain.

 

11^th of June

We booked in for 2 more nights as we want to head out to the national parks after here and don’t want mud everywhere it clears up by lunch time for a pleasant afternoon. We let the kids relax and enjoy not being in the car and spend the morning at the library while Kate picked up some food. I picked a milk stubby holder from the tourist info centre.

12^th of June Blue skies everywhere and the biggest hill in wa you can drive up right behind the caravan park so up we go. The views over the mine site and surrounding mountain ranges were worth the drive. When I think of mines sometimes normally after speaking to a greens inspired person I am left with thinking we are raping the earth of everything. Well after looking at one of the biggest mines in Australia it isn’t even that big compared to everything else around they are basically mining what looks like one hill in an area with thousands of similar size hills. This mine site must be responsible for 10000 jobs even more if you look at all the shops in the town, the people who supply the explosive stuff, the trucks, the cars, the machinery, the safety gear, then all the g.s.t, the income tax which then supplies income to Australia for teachers, nurses and doctors etc it is just amazing steel can be worth that much. Australia is lucky to have so much good stuff in the ground in areas that 95% of Australian’s will never want to live let alone visit.    I for one have enjoyed the caravan beer o'clock sessions and the town of tom price.