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.

	Port Hedland Harbour [Map]		Picnic Pool [Map]
	A long iron ore train [Map]		Salt Stockpiles [Map]
	DeGrey River [Map]		View from the campsite [Map]

Yule River

Day 122 - Yule River

Yule River

Monday, 20 May 2013
It rain all night but stopped in the later in the morning after breakfast. Then able to take Tuka for a walk. Spent the rest of the morning getting photos off the Whale Shark dvd and then updating blog.
In the afternoon Tuka and I had a long walk along the river bank and a 4wd track past the Eucalypts and Melaleucas. Quiet was shattered by the Little Corellas in the trees.

Later in the afternoon caravans, camper trailers and motorhomes started arriving. Tuka and I said hello to a few of them. One of them told me parts of the highway had been flooded due to the rain. There is nowhere is go once the highway floods because any unsealed roads become red sticky goo.
During the evening Tuka and I had our meals. Then I read and watched some dvds while Tuka slept. At 10pm (WA time - midnight NSW time) I sent Kat a birthday text.

	Pelicans and cormorants on the river [Map]		Tuka paddling [Map]
	Sunset over the river [Map]

40 Mile Beach to Yule River

Day 121

40 Mile Beach, Dampier, Karratha, Yule River

Sunday, 19 May 2013
Had breakfast, a walk and packed up and left about 9am. Along the highway I had a look at Miaree Pool on the Maitland River. Pretty camping sites next to the river but now has a sign warning of $1000 fines for camping.

Drove on to Dampier. The road to Dampier is a four lane main road with round-abouts, traffic ligths and overhead lighting. This is to cater for the mining trucks and workers travelling between the mines, Karratha and Dampier. Stopped at the statue of Red Dog and took the obligitory photographs. Drove around the town and down to the harbour and then to Karratha for petrol, phone calls to Anne and Kat. At the Information Centre I purchased water ($1 for 50 litres) and a Red Dog t- shirt for Kat's birthday and used their free wifi.

Drove the 175km to the Yule River rest area. Found out I had Telstra reception. It is odd but isolated place have Telstra reception in this part of WA. Maybe due to the mining - extra towers provided for them? Had a talk to some other campers and then walked down to the river. It still has a lot of water in it. There were pelicans, cormorants, darters and ducks either swimming or on logs in the river.

	Red Dog and Tuka [Map]		Dampier Harbour [Map]
	Yule River [Map]		Campsite at Yule River [Map]

Robe River to 40 Mile Beach

Day 120

Robe River Rest Area, 40 Mile Beach

Saturday, 18 May 2013
Up early, had breakfast, walk with Tuka and said goodbye to Rob and Lin. On the way by 7.30am.
Only a relatively short drive to 40 Mile Beach.

After talking to the caretaker I set up camp near the mangroves. All the sites near the beach had been taken as during the period from May to November the maximum stay is three months!

Went for walks with Tuka, did some reading and checked email and web as limited Telstra coverage.

	Campsite at 40 Mile Beach [Map]		View from campsite [Map]

Yardie Homestead to Robe River

Day 119 - Yardie Homestead to Robe River

Yardie Homestead, Exmouth, Nanutarra, Robe River Rest Area

Friday, 17 May 2013
Woke up early at had a cuppa and then breakfast. Took Tuka for walk and then packed up. The little girl and her mother from next door came over to say goodbye to Tuka.

Drove to Exmouth, bought bread, checked emails and tried phoning. Then drove 400km to the Robb River rest area. On the way we stopped at Nanuturra to buy fuel at $1.91/litre. The scenery varied from flat grasslands with a few cows to hills and ranges that were treeless but coloured purple in the afternoon sun. One of the hills, Mt. Murray looked like a small Ayres Rock. Plenty of crows and raptors feeding on the road kill - both cows and kangaroos.

At Robb River there were lots of caravans and campervans. nice spot with water views. I met Rob and Lin. Had a couple of beers and some wine at their caravan as we discussed travelling, children etc.

	Mt Murray [Map]		The North West Coastal Highway [Map]

Yardie Homestead

Day 118 - Yardie Homestead

Yardie Homestead

Thursday, 16 May 2013
Woke up early, had a cuppa, took Tuka for a walk, had breakfast and did some cleaning. At 8.15 Fabien, a Swiss backpacker and resident dog-minder arrived to look after Tuka. I gave her dog food and her details about Tuka and off they went.

I drove to Cape Range National Park, paid the $5 entry fee (concession) and went to Mangrove Bay to see a small group of mangroves. Next called into the Milering Visitor Centre and looked at the dsplays.

Drove onto Lakeside, one of four designated snorkelling areas. There were fish everywhere - on the top, on the bottom and in between. There were hundreds of fish and many species, abundant coral and one ray. Lovely spot for snorkelling.

Next was the Drift Snorkel Area at Turquoise Bay. So called because you drift with the current parallel to the beach. The only drawback is that if you drift too far you end up in a rip that takes you out through the gap in the reef and out to sea! Not as many fish but I did manage to see a Black-tipped Reef Shark.

As a change I decided togo for a walk in Mandu Mandu Gorge. I walked along the gorge rim which gave me views over Ningaloo Reef and the surrounding country. Then down into the gorge where the trailnwinds its way along the rocky creek bed. Creek bed was dry and full of white/creamy coloured rocks. It would be great to see it in the wet season.

The next snorkel site, Oyster Stacks can only be swum at mid to high tide so I arrived just after high tide. Plenty of small jellyfish in the water. Last site was the Bay Snorkel Area on the eastern side of Turquuoise Bay. Not many fish but nice coral but lots of sediment in the water.

Back at the camp Tuka was pleased to see me (he started barking as soon as I drove in to the park). He had a good time with Fabien and met a couple of other campers during the day.

	Large fish at Lakeside [Map]		Colourful fish at Lakeside [Map]
	Ray hiding from me [Map]		Close-up of the ray [Map]
	Black-tipped reef shark [Map]		Mandu Mandu Gorge, river bed and Ningaloo Reef [Map]
	Mandu Mandu Gorge wall [Map]		Fish harassing a jellyfish [Map]
	Underneath the jellyfish [Map]		Spotted sea slug [Map]

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Sent from my iPad by My Vacation HD app (www.myvacationapp.com)

Coral Bay turnoff rest area to Yardie Homestead

Day 117 - Coral Bay turnoff rest area to Yardie Homestead

Coral Bay Turnoff Rest Area, Exmouth, Yardie Homestead

Wednesday, 15 May 2013
Woke up 6am had a cuppa, took Tuka for a walk, packed up and drove to Coral Bay. Had a walk, breakfast, another walk andthen collected the dvd of yesterday's trip from the dive shop.

Drove the 150km to Exmouth. Once I reached the main road and headed to Exmouth there was only one sealed road turnoff in the 140km. Just desert, grasslands, termite nests, a few sheep, crows and wedge-tailed eagles.

At Exmouth did some food shopping (prices reasonable especially compared to Coral Bay), checked emails, a few phone calls, bought ebooks on Amazon and had a couple of walks with Tuka.

Then onto Yardie Homestead. On the western side of the peninsula but we had to go north on the eastern side from Exmouth and then come down the western side -about 35km from Exmouth.

Booked into a powered site for $20 (single person). Limited power as generated on-site. Therefore no air conditioners, kettles - only fridges and freezers. Fresh water only available at three places as it produced by their desalination plant. Bore water is available at each site but not suitable for drinking.

I arranged for the resident dog minder to look after Tuka tomorrow while I go exploring the Cape Range National Park and snorkelling in the Ningaloo Marine Park. Later on the next door boy and girl came over with their mother to say hello and pat Tuka.

	Termite nest and desert [Map]		Road to Yardie Homestead [Map]