Travels with Tuka: Yule River to DeGrey River

Day 123 - Yule River to DeGrey River

Yule River, Port Hedland, DeGrey River

Tuesday, 21 May 2013
Kathryn's Birthday

Up early, had breakfast and rang Kat at 7am (9am her time) to wish her Happy Birthday.

Afterwards Tuka and I had a walk down to the river. The pelicans and cormorants were all fishing in a small billabong that still had water in it. Also saw a Black-necked Stork (Jabiru) walking around the edge of the billabong. Came back to camp and packed up and drove to Port Hedland.

Port Hedland is a mining town for the export of iron ore and salt (mined after the evaporation of water from the nearby big salt lakes). Busy place with plenty of trucks and mining vehicles on the road. Stopped at a park near the harbour and had a walk with Tuka. Called into the post office and sent Kat's present to her. While there I met the couple from Corrimal again!

Then I went to the Information Centre. Left Tuka out the front but he kept tring to come in. The staff thought he was cute. At the Information Centre I was told that I could take Tuka for a swim at Picnic Pool. We drove there. Pretty deep pools of water with mangroves on the bank and near the beach. But there were signs up saying a crocodile had recently been sited in the area! Tuka didn't get a swim. On the way out of Port Hedland I stopped at the viewing area for the large salt stacks and the iron ore trains. I watched of the very long trains slowly go past me.

Drove north 80km to the DeGrey River. I was hoping to have mobile reception but there was none. There were plenty of camping sites along the river so I found one that was near the river. I had to make sure we didn't bogged in the damp red soil or the sand or hit the low overhanging branches. Getting to our site we passed a few other caravans in scattered locations along the river.

Went for walk with Tuka down to the river. Tuka got wet while I watched the birds. There was a heron and two egrets on the other side of the river and two Square-tailed Kites circling overhead. A few minutes later the Kites landed on the sandbank in the river. One had a drink while the other was lookout.