James Price Point to Roebuck Plains roadhouse

Well we packed up fairly late yesterday morning after a bit of fun around the camp in the cooler hours then set about a tidy of the camper as we packed up .

The sun kicked in just in time making the last part of packing the awning and camper tent down a little bit hotter but you get that this time of year.

No rush today we just crept in to town to get a few salad items and cold meat which became a hassle at the local deli but we dealt with it after paying nearly tide what we should have .

From there it was a short journey to the roadhouse where we would recharge and do a few loads of washing and enjoy the grassed site and amazing pool area .

We needed badly to wash both our red dirt stained clothes and feet now we were off the red cliff side beach campsite .

The shower was a blessed relief as was clean towels and clothes , although in comparison to the washing a few months back of two layers or more for winter, shorts, top and jocks were minor indeed.

We spent the next few hours in the pool talking with several people , two men going on a 11 day fishing charter up north and a few overseas backpackers .

A few cold drinks around the shaded campsite and I added some pics to the blog which was a little lagged .

The campsite was not even half full and 4 or so of the others had gone into town to see the staircase to the moon which still had two nights to go but we did the previous night .

We retired not long after 830 and slept well till 530 or so when traffic resumed on the nearby highway.

Port Hedland

We arrived at Port Hedland around 11 am and our first stop was at a servo to fill up on fuel plus a jerry as backup as we cut it close the last few days .

It was good to fill up the car and the jerry around the $200 mark something we hadn't done since we left adelaide in August .

We did the scout around on campsites and managed to get one with kids free which made it under $50 which as if anyone knows the Pilbara region it's pretty cheap.

We called into Kmart to swap a broken camp chair of Ejs and some buckets as the kids broke our last too making sand castles .

That done we headed back to Cooke Point big 4 campsite Port Hedland where we also managed to score a pay for 2 nights get the 3rd night free deal so effectively making it $30 a night it a real bonus.

Once the camper was set up we topped up close by on groceries for the next week .

Ej took a bhp sunset picture for us shortly after we enjoyed the poolside.

De grey river

We liked the area we woke in , plenty of birdlife here too as we found out at daybreak with cockies waking most of the campsite up .

I got up , placed the solar panel in a strategic location but owing to trees it would require numerous changes through out the day and would probably lose effective charging about 4 pm due to the western side of tree cover .

Cuppa's all round then eventually breakfast as we sat and took our new surroundings in , I think we might stay here a few days .

I made a makeshift pool on the first day .

That said we moved to a better riverside solar friendly camp the nest day as soon as some nomads took off ( it seemed like a good idea although moving 50 metres or so sounds crazy right !

So the next few days we swam , fished, kicked back ,cooked fresh bread and rolls , cookies and a roast  with great success in the webber .

There wasn't too many people camped near us which was a welcome change again .owing to the solar reg on the car dying we only just scraped by on battery power.

De grey river

We packed up from our roebuck plains campsite rather slowly while the kids had brekky and a swim in the pool , to maximise charge time and take it easy today.

Once out on the road we were held up for just over 20 minutes in a convoy as the road in front was being repaved , time to rip out the eighties music , kids love that don't they - not!.

Today was mostly a transit day with nearly 500 Kms to go to get to degrey river where we had heard it was a nice spot down on the river bank to camp.

Our first stop was 11 o'clock at Stanley rest area quite a large area with plenty of shade and two sets of drop toilets , not really our cup of tea but it would make a decent overnighter .

Drinks and a snack later we were back on the great northern hwy.

Kids were happy playing iPads and such or watching a DVDs .

We pulled over at  mile beach for a swim and some lunch .

What a magic area this was , although the caravan park next looked packed .

We enjoyed fresh salad wraps and cold drinks then took off down to the shelly shores of 80 mile beach , where with a little trepidation I went for a swim alert for crocs and sharks as it was apparently

a popular shark location due to fishing .

No issues with either here and we played for quite awhile in the surf , dash and I having an absolute blast chasing little surface swimming fish which jumped out of the water over the waves to escape us , I tried to catch it on the go pro camera but I won't embarrass myself with the footage .

Showered off under a fresh water tap/ shower near the Carpark and we set off again for de grey river .

We called in at Pardoo roadhouse and forked over some hard earned for the ridiculous price of $2.00 per litre so I only got just enough to get us to Port Hedland .

70 odd Kms later we arrived at de grey river rest area.

The top area with the free wifi ( quite handy ) and two toilet blocks and dump points was were quite a few had setup but the shady river area was much better for us away from anyone so kids could play in peace and hopefully catch a fish .

We found a grassy semi shaded area suited to solar charging with our panel on a lead and setup our awning and toilet with the canvas walls nearby.

The Webber took pride of place here as we planned on staying a few days and bake cookies bread and a roast.

While not the best location for a sunset it was still quite nice.

There wasn't a river flowing as such but the pools were still quite large and we wondered about crocs .

I set up a swing rope for the kids and set about tea just as the bugs kicked in , doh!

Lake Argyle to Parnell Spring via Gibb River Road

Camp activity started around 5am with two Asian backpackers playing on their phones early so I had two thoughts , firstly the sun was nearly up as it was a dusky light and two the wifi here was actually turned on and working this morning lol.

As it turned out rightkids eventually were all up an hour later and all fed  on both but oh my god how slow was the email downloads and no hope of loading the photo enhanced blogs of the last few days or Facebook updates ( although we did manage a check in from the argyle mine telstra tower while on our cruise .

Not in an particular hurry but we made the most of the ample camp kitchen with the electric kettle silently and quickly making our morning brew which we enjoyed as others were still sleeping in air conditioned comfort ( bastards lol).

Kids arose in the next hour and we all enjoyed simple brekkies of cereal or toast and amused ourselves watching everybody cook and clean at the camp kitchen on our back doorstep .

Funny watching travelling families pickup here with some kids helping others hindering but all nonchalantly going about a task .

We must have caught up with about 5 travelling families here which was great , some full of talk and enthusiasm others more listeners and family orientated but all happy to share a tale .

We began our pack up from a fairly good setup with kids toys and gear strung around everywhere and ours not a whole lot better but still tidy .

Thee remaining nomads watched the great sport of campers packing up with I'm sure a great deal of talk about goods and bads on this which I must  admit we probably all do.

A quick swim just after 8am and we were on the road before 9 yet again into Kunnunurra to fill the fuel tanks check dwindling bank balances and transfers then a quick play stop for the kids before heading to the northern end of the Gibb River Road.

Our first stop not long later on the surprising sealed road was Emily gorge which had unfortunately just closed the day before the season and the gates were locked as all walks must be done prior to 11 am which it had just turned , not a problem plenty more soon enough .

No real plans on Home Valley or El questions due to the ridiculous wilderness pass price and expensive overnight rates , ( adults would bucket list this for another time anyway ).

Airing down soon after I was getting pretty peeved at the totally stupid speed of approaching traffic all over the road and throwing rocks aplenty , I soon let a few now how I felt as this was my car and home not a company fed and fueled rocket.

We stopped and enjoyed what little the Pentecost river threw at us in the way of a challenge or depth but crossed its wide girth fairly quickly without incident .

A short while later we reached a great vista atop a hill looking towards the Cockburn range to the south east , man it was hot and dry outside and we were missing our swim today .

Shortly after we crossed the Durack river down a short decline and over a rocky and shallow ford over the river then back into its sandy side roads for so e lunch 

where I soon became bogged and the stupid rear LSD diff not helping at all in the matter .

Nothing to do but rip out the tred recovery tracks ( first time for everything I guess ) and within minutes and bugger all effort in the hot sun u had reversed out and back down the track into a shaded area for ham and salad sangas with cordial.

I had read recently of plenty of people swimming here but as hot as it was in croc country there was no way we would tempt fate .

Two more cars passed and passed the Ellenbrae station turnoff it wasn't an hour till we reached Russ  creek at Parnell springs and called it a day around 330 pm.

A modest setup with water nearby yet stil possibly unsafe unfortunately for a cool off, this didn't matter as the sun was already rapidly disappearing over the western range before us so we had a frozen    zooper dooper and a cold refreshment while I put up a swing rope for the kids which I had to move because of prickles , but this nonethe less was my Waterloo as I decided to use my winch rope on the kids swing strap and for stuck on a high perch requiring some effort to climb and retrieve just on dark , ah well nothing ventured nothing gained .

A yummy BBQ of lamb chops and chippolatas with salad went down a treat before journal time, reading  and relaxing with dashman still having some ear pain , not the best patient in regards to info on recovery or worsening but with parasol and drops it eased again .

The wind has picked up substantially and I hoped I didn't need to peg in for a short stay.

The weather had thankfully cooled as I packed up our dinner scraps say from prying animals  .

It was good to be on the gibb but I was feeling a little ripped off because of fires around the area closing el questro station a few days earlier and stopping several gorge walks today but I'm hoping the western end will bring more pleasant surroundings and a hide from the heat in a gorge pool or shaded area .

Lake argyle fun filled days relaxing

I had neglected to write this post , for two reasons my story of the events for two varies a little to the truth , especially in the afternoon as on the first arvo after we setup it was afl grand final and Corinna and I spent the arvo in the bar watching the footy enjoying the vic vibe and travelling spirit , lol.

The following day was our cruise and I loved every bit of it as did Corinna and the kids with a well informed captain and his mrs was the host this day , he had great knowledge of the area which he gladly told us about .

The day went by so quick with the cruise and before long we were swimming with noodles , beer or wine I hand happily jumping off the roof and downing beers aplenty.

The host may have helped the night before with the quiz answers so that gained us a few freebies.

Shane and Sam another travelling family we had spent the last few days with topped it off, they were great people down to earth and no bullshit helped finish off some more bevvies till a late hour.

Enjoy the pics of the cruise , lake argyle and the homestead.

Roebuck plains , Broome to James Price point

A little bit of a sleep in till 630 then brekky and a cuppa befor packing up.

We collected and folded the clothes off the line Corinna had washed the previous night .

The whole family showered before setting off for Broome a mre 36 Kms down the road.

We arrived in Broome shortly after and came across a court house market and grabbed a snack and drink while we looked around .

A small top up on fuel and groceries we explored the town beach at low tide and ran into some friends we had met in Kakadu months before oh told us about a few good campsites along the coast.

We grabbed some maccas and a decent coffee before heading the Quandong point to camp .

I have noticed a lot of young people absolutely fanning along dirt roads with no care for fellow traffic , passing us on a dangerously narrow sandy section along the way .

We had no luck with campsites a long Quandong point and beach mostly owing to school holidays here and some almost full time campers and protesting hippies around the area , some sites quite dirty with rubbish and others with even a semi permanent carport .

We trudged on down past James price point but sites were scarce so we returned here to James price point and setup along a cliff side drop in the red dirt .

We setup pointing away from the sun to get more shade and annexe setup.

The afternoon was spent exploring the area .

The tide movements are massive here being just over 10 metres for high tide , there was a good spot a high tide to swim in but low tide was fairly rocky .

We enjoyed the magic sunset and a later tea before sleeping soundly .

We would enjoy it for a few more days here  I think with only one other camper nearby .