POINT SAMSON SATURDAY 29 OCT 11

Hi to everyone back home on the East Coast, we are still enjoying everything about the trip, we are seeing things that are truly " AMAZING" & in most instances words and photos don't give the the place or scene justice. Since last time this is what has occurred.... SATURDAY 22/10.. The Bewells & us leave Port Hedland heading to the Karijini National Park. There are a lot dead cattle along this road as the big road trains & mining vehicles are travelling to Newman & Tom Price 24hrs a day. We pulled up into a free camp spot, possibly one of the most picturesque places to stop.

 We set up with no one else around. We on this ridge looking over a gorge where the road travels through with rolling hills & mountains surrounding us. The weather was kind to us with it only getting to @32deg.....very lucky. In the arvo we traveled into the Nat Park & went to the Visitor Centre which has a great display about the Park & Gorges & the aboriginal culture. We went for a drive to Dales Campground which is basic but at least big enough for big rigs to camp. We then went for a walk down into Fortescue Falls which is very steep with wide & high in parts.

There is a wire fence next to the cliff but we don't think this would stop anyone falling, It is this falls where the father died recently trying to save his son. At the bottom you walk another 600m upstream to a beautiful rock pool where us Ransleys had a swim, we then made our way back to the falls but it was starting to get busy with a number of people arriving so we made our way back up, needing another swim when we reached the top !! We then drove back to our camp with us, the only humans, with millions of flies around !! these all disappeared at dusk & we enjoyed sitting out under the stars, so quiet & peacefull.

The Bewells continue to have major problems with their van fridge when working on gas, especially with it being so new it is very frustrating for them. SUNDAY....Up early and we headed off in the Bewells vehicle (I did offer mine.) back into the park to see most of the gorges, well from the Visitor centre heading west the road was so corrugated (glad we didn't take our car !) and its was a long 55km drive one way, it did spoil what was  AMAZING places & scenes. It was more corrugated than a colour bond roof!!! Anyway we went to Kalamina gorge first, where you walk down to the waterfall and then through the gorge seeing wonderful rock faces and pools of running water & billabongs, & rocks overhanging coming to an archway in the shape of QLD (Carol wasn't impressed), we then made our back, passing rocks which had fallen on the pathway since we had not long ago walked through.( they would have given someone a nice headache !!) After leaving here we continued along the sh.. road coming to Weano Gorge.

 Here we had lunch with no flies to bother us, we then walked to the 2 lookouts with magnificent views. There was ladder that can take you down into the gorge but we all gave that a miss...its over 100m long! We then made our way back stopping at Joffre & Knox gorges which were also amazing and as we said words & photos don't describe the views and scenery. We then continued back to the Visitor centre & sealed flat roads, which made us happy ( stopped our bones & teeth from rattling ) so the visitor book got a work out re...the terrible road conditions. We then returned to our camp site where by the end of the night there were 4-5 other campers, we then enjoyed sitting out under the stars with no mossies. 

 MONDAY.... We pack up regrettably as it is a wonderful place and head off back to the Hwy, we then travelled sth along the Hwy with the Butlers a couple of hrs in front of us. We stopped at another free camp spot next to the Yule River which was empty, but it was 42deg & going up so we decided to continue on. We stopped at Whim Creek, which has a pub & that's all. It was very hot & heaps of flies, the pub didn't have anything Gluten Free so we had lunch in the van. We then continued on to Port Samson, going through Roebourne (well this town is cross between Tennant Creek & Wilcannia..& would not win the tidy towns award). Port Samson is a lovely small community,with trawlers and also it has a huge wharf for the real large ships that export Iron Ore, so there are a huge amount of miners, fishermen & wharvies here.

Also with it being on the water we get a nice breeze late arvo so it was a good decision to continue on. The caravan park here is probably the most cleanest & definitely the best showers we have used. We look out over the ocean. The rest of the arvo was taken up between us 4 & the Butlers telling about each others experience over the past 2 days, Di & Terry got their van fixed but in the process lost a skylight. Anyway hopefully they can get a new one soon. TUESDAY... Rans is up early, rings his mate Greg for his 50th (sorry we couldn't make it mate). Today is a cleaning day, wash the van inside & out, the cars, there is so much red dust !! The boys went for a fish down at the boat ramp/wharf but once again.... did no good...hate to be relying on them for dinner !! In the arvo after cleaning for most of the day, we all went for a swim at Honeymoon Cove then back for a couple of well deserved drinks, we meet up with another lovely young couple we met whilst fishing at 80mile, Sarah & Matt, and they have had problems too with their van, so they  joined us for a drink & chat....good laugh & some good fish stories came out as well!! We had a nice BBQ out under the stars with all of us sitting at this beautiful long cedar table in the park, watching sputniks & shooting stars. Another nice day.  WEDNESDAY....Shopping day with Sand & Di going to the Drs (scripts nothing serious) Drinks again with Sarah & Matt !! THURSDAY.....We all head over to Karratha & Dampier for the day. There we see the memorial of RED DOG if anyone has seen the movie. We then drove around the forsehsores which have some nice parks, but they are most probably the biggest mining towns in WA with huge wharfs, ships & trains. We then made our way out to the Point, passing huge salt fields on either side of the road, then coming to the huge Nth West Gas shelf works,

Here the industrial area takes up most of the peninsula. There is a interpretive centre which was very informative showing how the platforms(3) are 135km out to sea and it is piped (underwater) to here and processed before being exported. Very interesting. We then went to Hearsons Cove which is only a short distance away, but is a pretty beach where John & I went for a swim.We did see a sign for crocs..yes down here (we find out the next day that the beach was closed a couple of days earlier due 2 huge tiger sharks lurking near the shore) & yes they have also seen crocs lately...glad the girls didn't know this earlier....or us.

 We then drive back to Karatha which is expanding its housing, roads etc.(We find out that rent is $2000 p/wk, a basic 3 bed home costs $1 mill & to rent just a room is $500 w/k) we don't know how the people who don't work for the mining companies can survive. We then made our way back stopping at Cossack, an abandoned town on the water which was the 1st pearling town & exporter in W.A., but was closed when Point Samson Export Terminal opened. Their are some nice old buildings including court house etc. We then drove out to the lookout which shows huge mud flats heading down the coast, then returning home for an easy nite.(Matt & Sarah back again !! they are such a great couple & we really enjoyed their company ) FRIDAY....28/10 Brads B'Day... The Bewells & us head out into the Millstream Chichester N.Park which is a must do. Firstly we come across this huge river in a barren area, then cliff faces looking over the river and camping areas beside the river, which you can swim in. ( no crocs or sharks here !!) Later headed out further into the park coming across just some awesome views of gullies, gorges, plains & rock escapements, words can't describe how great it was, we then stopped at Python Pool where John & Caz had a quick dip & we then made our way back travelling approx 420km with dirt road which was like a hwy compared to the one in Karijini !

 We had some more quiet drinks with Sarah & Matt as they are leaving in the morning. We hope to catch up with them again further along in our travels.SAT...... Today is tidy up, pack day prior to leaving us leaving in the morning. Rans went for a drive into Wigham & this  arvo us 2 go down to the beach for a swim & snorkel. Whilst down there a bloke caught a turtle on his line so with Rans's assitance they managed to free it. The new Steve Irwin!!!!!!!!  So again bye for now and we will update in a week or so so all take care & miss you's all. Happy B'Day Greg,Vicki, Samantha M & Brad.xxxxxxxxxxxx

SATURDAY 22 OCT PORT HEDLAND

Well hi to all, we left Broome MONDAY 17 OCT morning with the other leaving the day before as we had a few things to do...get a boat licence, wheel bearings checked, etc. We headed south out of Broome travelling past some very boring countryside, probably the worst so far. We came to the turn off to Port Smith where the others had gone, but we could see a huge fire further down the road, so after our friend Hully's experience, we decided to continue on to 80 Mile beach, we arrived at the turn off and then travelled for 10km along a corrugated dirt road, coming to a van park on the water. We set up, Caz cleaned the fridge after eggs broke on the road in !! lovely mess!! we then went for a walk along the beach...the first of many walks as the beach is covered in shells, shells & more shells of many different types.

TUESDAY......... Up early for a walk on the beach, this time taking a plastic bag for the shells, we did see a couple of turtle tracks, where they have gone up th beach to lay eggs before returning o the ocean. Later in the morning the Bewells turned up without the Butlers who had broken down on the dirt road into 80 Mile. The rear springs/suspension had come loose causing the axle to move and push the tyre back against the rear tyre wall. Di found 3 springs back down the road. They had only had these put on back in Darwin,so the new ones had not been fittered properly....luckily it was on a dirt road & not a main hwy where the big road trains are. Anyway, Sandra had contacted the NRMA equivalent RAC when she arrived at 11.30am to send someone out. A number of people stopped on their way into 80 Mile with a number of suggestions and assistance offered and by 2.30pm sitting out in 36deg heat Rans went and rang them again.....well they had not sent anyone out yet and were trying to contact us at the park, but they were shut till 3pm. After a  long and drawn out call NRMA made arrangements for a tow truck that wouldn't get there till tomorrow as it had to come from Port Hedland, so the end story was the Butlers stayed with their van on the dirt road overnight.

  WEDNESDAY.....Up early and walk along the beach with the Bewells, we saw a huge turtle slowly, very slowly returning to the ocean after laying eggs, it was exhausted, poor thing.The girls found a few more  shells.... well more than a few!! We then checked on the Butlers. The tow truck arrived at 10.30am & returned to Port Hedland whilst Di & Terry got a cabin at 80 Mile. It turned out the van would be ready by Saturday and they could pick it up & it was easier/cheaper to get accom at 80 mile than Port Hedland, also NRMA paid for the lot the accomm & repairs so that was a great result. The rest of the day was doing some minor repairs, to our van as a result of the trip in. THURSDAY.....Up early & Rans went for an early morn walk, then came back & the others, Di, Caz, John & Sandy went shell hunting...again!! 

Just after lunch the boys went down for a fish on the incoming tide, well there was heaps of weed, so not very enjoyable, Rans throws his line out for the first time, gets caught up in the weed immediately but also catches a blue nose salmon and also gets his line tangled so for the next hr we know what he was doing...untangleing !! John in meantime decides to walk out past the weed to about neck deep to throw his line, he has some success, 2 small fish but he could easily have been the bait, Rans catches another 3 but throws 2 back and gives 2 to a young couple who were also trying to fish....they enjoyed them. FRIDAY.....The Bewells & us head off to Port Hedland, another boring trip.....we came into Port Hedland & went to the Info Centre to get directions to the park, this is just a huge mining/ship export town and everything here is expensive and if you don't work for Rio Tinto or BHP you have no chance to have anything done, eg car servicing, trade work etc. We set up at the park went shopping and we are out of here tomorrow, heading inland for a couple of days.So will close here, hi to all, miss you all, talk soon, love Rans & the Mrs xxxxxxx    

BROOME HEADING STH

,Well hi to everyone, things are going good here weather is so nice & not many people about. This is what has happened since last blog posting....TUESDAY 11 OCT.......Up at 5 & we went for a walk into town and then for the rest of the day we just hung around the camp, as the tide is coming in and the water is so beautiful,so inviting. Rans goes to the Dr's for some scripts ( gout still giving him trouble!) etc. Late arvo John & Rans went on a kayaking trip, where you head off from near the Pier and paddle out and around the pier whilst fishing.

 The trip went for 2 hrs,John caught a baracuda (not edible !) Rans.....nothing ! Rans enjoyed his time out on the water, so smooth & peaceful and after paddling for 2hrs, thinks he may try out for the 2012 Olympics..not likely. WEDNESDAY 12OCT.....The highlight of our trip so far, we boarded a sea plane around 6.45am, along with 8 others, headed up to Talbot Bay in the North Kimberleys. We flew over flat vast land at first then over King Sound, where the Fitzroy River enters the ocean, then over the mountains & hills which spring up near the oceans water edge, it looked so magnificant, we then flew over Talbot Bay, a serene, calm aqua blue water bay, where we landed on the sea & pull up at a floating pontoon, which has a speed boat, a shark cage and an eating/cooking area.

 Here we both got the chance of getting into the shark cage and get up close to Tawny Nurse & Bull sharks,with a underwater clear screen between you and the sharks and an open air cage between you and the shark, it was great one of the blokes was feeding them with only inches away, making sure you don't put your fingers and toes through the cage.(we can tick that off our bucket list now!!)Caz did hang her toes over the side of the barge whilst they were feeding....just to show how close they were to us......she is becoming a real daredevil.

We then had some breakie with this 360deg view of the water with the moutains & ilands surrounding you, it was just so awesome. its just so pretty almost undescribable. We then got on the speed boat (2 x Yamaha 300 outboards!!) and traveled over to what is called the Horizontal Falls. It is where tidal waters hurdle  through 2 narrow gorges (12m & 7m) causing rapids, whirlpools and of course a horizintal fall, where it can be 2-3meters difference from one side to the other, as the tides come in or go out so fast, that it is not wide enough to let the water through.

We got the chance to go through both gorges at least 3 times and even went backwards into one, and for us to be not moving in the falls, we were going 28km/h and they can get up to 50km/h. We were so fortunate as  the next tour would not be able to get through the 2nd falls due to the tide changing so fast. We then went for a cruise up Cyclone Creek. On the way we stopped at a pontoon, where 2 of the blokes & 1 girl live for 8mths of the year, it has a water tank on board, a generator, one bed,  2 hammocks and not much more. Here the driver Christian leant over the side of the boat & picked up a huge bat fish which he has trained to come alongside the boat. We then continued up the river, seeing wonderful escarpments & then returning to the the plane, where we flew off, heading over the Buccaneer Archipelago's, which is over a 1000 islands surrounded by beautiful aqua blue water and uninhabited beaches, with the whitest sand.

We then landed at One Arm Point, an aboriginal community on the ocean where we visited a hatchery for Trochus Shells (the only licenced one in the world) Green Turtles & other sea creatures. We saw how they farm & produce the shell, what they are used for, eg buttons, jewellery and in Asian countries the meat is an afrodisiac. So a lot of the time they illegally enter our shores to steal the shell,  as well as turtles, barra, sea creatures etc off the ocean bed. From here we got on Big Bertha, a 4wd truck/bus that carries 13 passengers.

We drove to Cape Leveque, which is an aboriginal camp on the tip of Nth West WA. A beautiful area where you can bushcamp, or have safari tents (Sand & John had their anniversary up here) or a a beach front shelter. We then had lunch, barra of course at the restuarant ,which has great views.We then went down to the beach for a swim, which was so so good

. We then started to make our way back south along the dirt road,watching a dvd on the way back before stopping at Beagle Bay, a small Aboriginal community, where there is a church built in the early 1900s with shells used as its alter, wall hangings etc.

 Here we had arvo tea, before making our way back to our cara park arriving at 5.15pm, so a pretty long day but well worth it.... so so AMAZING. Our day didn't stop here, as we were still on such a high we got a couple of drinks together and bikkies and went down to Sth Cable beach to watch the sunset, here we caught up with the other 4. They then took off when the sun had set whilst we watched the moon come up. We then and went got a Pizza and sat down on the point with a beautiful moon. After eating we headed off to the pier as the Pacific Sun was in port and was preparing to leave, so we took some "more"! photos before heading back to our van, getting there about 9pm so it was a longgggg dayyy..  THURSDAY 13/10....No sleep in, up early and we walked out onto the mud flats out the front of our park as it is a low tide, we see the old peir and a relic of an airplane, we estimate it is about 1.5km out from the high tide mark, it was a little muddy in parts, sunk in a few places.

 The 3 girls went to the Pearl Luggers Museum, which gave them a very informative insight to the early pearling industry and what the divers had to endure, its was such a hard work & definately a lot were treated very badly.....definitely no unions, work cover, or OH & Sin those days. Caz even got the chance to hold a $100,000 pearl in her hand, if we had of known she could have taken an imitation and swapped!!!

 Then Caz & I went and had lunch at the golf course which looks over the Bay & Lge Pier, then back for swims etc. Late arvo we headed over to the point near the c'van pk, where we set up to watch the "Staircase to the Moon", a natural spectacle where the moon rises over the mud flats, casuing the reflection to look like a staircase up to the moon.(happens only 3 nights each month bet March & Oct) It was very difficult to get photos, unless you had a excellent camera. It is a big event in Broome with  markets set up in a nearby park and music playing, there would have been over 1500 people there.FRIDAY 14/OCT......Up early again & us 2 headed down to the Lighthouse rocks to find the Dinasour footprints.

 There were about  40-50 people at 5.45am looking for the prints on the rocks, as its a low tide, well of course our Carol found the prints, which were quite small considering it was a dinosaurs print but anyway we took some photos. Later that morning the 3 boys and Sand & Carol went down to the pier for a fish....more like to feed the fish!! The tides this week are so fast it is difficult to fish, let alone catch one, anyway we all had a  go, it was fun & relaxing. In the arvo Rans went down and does his theory test for his boat licence & passes, doing the practical on Sunday, he then came back for a snooze, which the whole park heard.....boy can he snore!!! We all then headed down to Cable Beach to have a Sunset Camel ride along the beach.

What a laugh watching us get aboard. Terry lasted a short time and had to get off due to his back injury. There were 14 camels in our group and Caz & I had the camel that was used in "Australia" movie, with Ollie the camel having the previlege of having Nicole Kidman & Hugh Jackman & now US ride him!!! The ride was good, Carol really enjoyed it, but Oh Boy watching Sandra getting off the camel.....she was rather frightened, and with a few hiccups she was finally off !! very happy to be off actually !!! We then immediatley headed into town for a Thai meal which was very nice.  Another great day.

 SATURDAY 15/10.....We sleep in 5.45am 'ye ha'!. Its going to be a hot day so we stayed inside a bit to do computer work, tidy up etc. A few swims in the ocean to cool down.  After lunch Rans went to the Tavern to catch up with an old Woy Woy football mate, Votzy aca Lance O'Sullivan, Sandra dyed Carols hair, then they started packing up as they are leaving tomorrow,we leave on Mon after we get the van serviced. Rans had a good arvo  but it caught up on him early nite, Caz & the Bewells went down to watch the staircase to the moon. SUNDAY 16/10...The other leave early whilst we done some shopping, Rans went down to the pub to watch the Footy, it is the hottest day by far getting up to 42deg. We have absoluely loved our stay in Broome, a great place to stay with so much to see & do, but it is time to move on to see other great parts of the country.

We hope again that you are all well & doing ok. Its now been 5 months since we left on our trip!!! so we are getting closer to see all of you !! Take care, miss you heaps, Rans & Carol XXXXX

P.S. Big HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY TO GREG MANSON & VICKI NUMAN, Happy 25th Birthday to Samantha Murphy all celebrating their birthday on the same day. Happy wedd anniversay to Greg & Lousie, Karen & David & Happy Birthday 51 to Brad.  Also all the best to Mitch Manson doing his HSC.

BROOME W.A

Hi to all hope this finds you all well and enjoying life as much as us two....so since our last blog on Sun 2/10 here is what has been doing.........MONDAY 3 OCT...... ..Up early and left Fitzroy Crossing by 6am, we drove for approx 90km and stopped & had breakie & then continued on to Derby, taking just over 3 & half hrs, we set up at the local van park and then went for a drive out to the wharf where the tides here are the biggest in Australia and 2nd only to Nova Scotia in Canada, it can change 11mts in a 6hr period.

We then drove around and had a look at a number of local sights, had some lunch on the wharf..fish & chips. Caz is feeling much better, her back is still alittle bit sore, but Rans is still having prob's with his foot & toe with Gout. We went to the local Boab tree to watch the sunset but already a few of the"locals" had settle in for the evening !! so we went down to the boat ramp with some cheese & bikkies and a wine....no grog for Rans at present !!!  TUESDAY 4 OCT.....Up early and walked from the Caravan pk to the jetty, a good walk and a bit cooler with a nice breeze, took us about 80min. Sent Sandy & John "Happy 25th Wedd Ann" message, they were heading up to Cape Leveque for a couple of days (enjoy). Whilst getting ready to head out after breakie, we got talking to our next door neighbours, they come from Kariong would you believe ! Cam & Edwina Grundy, ( they lived at Kulnura beforehand !) anyway he worked on the freeway with a grader & can  remember Eddie Smith (caz dad) and Edwina worked at the Citrus factory at the crossroads at Mangrove for 30yrs and they new a lot of Mountain folk, Phil Smith, the Fanelli's, The Andrews etc. Anyway, why Rans was talking to them Edwina gets up from sitting on the van step and goes inside, a couple of minutes later she appears at the door and she needs a bucket as she isn't feeling well, so Rans leaves. About 15min later we see her coming back from the toilets and she looked pale, asked her if we could do anything but she said no, she'd be OK. Anyway we take off to Visitor Centre (brand new opened today) and then for a run out on the Gibb River Rd, then to the Cultural Centre & Wetlands and onto the Mudflats,

we then went to the hospital as Rans needs more medications for his Gout  & why we are sitting there, out comes Cam Grundy from Emergency, Edwina had had an obstruction of the bowel and was being rushed to Broome by ambo for surgery ( it happened that quick, thank god they weren't out free camping somewhere !). So he was heading back to pack up & head off, Rans sat there for another 1hr then they told him to come back at 4, so returned & helped Cam pack up. We hope she is doing Ok & we will try & catch up in Broome. After a nice lunch we then went back down to the wharf & watched the tide & boats etc being loaded. Later in the arvo Rans returned to the hospital again ( told to come back in 1hr !) which he did AGAIN....then finally saw the Dr & got given some medications & a script.

 WEDNESDAY..... Up early had a walk around the park and saw a white peacock yes white, we then  headed off to Broome, after spending 2 days in Derby, surprisingly we did not see one Air force personnel with the Curtin airbase in close proximity. We stopped along the way for breakie and then continued into Broome & out to Roebuck Bay C/Park where the others had set up, we tried to get a waterfront with the others but we had to settle to be behind the Bewells.

The view across the Bay with the water of different blues is magnificent but the park itself is awfull, amenities are filth. Anyway we set up, & we headed into town for some shopping and a look around,(whilst we were there, we saw 2 people get on a step thru bike and start it up and tried to take off, well the girl on the back nearly went over the top of him and the handlebars, he then got off and went to the front wheel where there was a chain & lock, he had forgot to unlock !!...poor buggers, but boy did we get a good laugh !!)  We then drove out to Cable Beach and like all WA towns on the water, it was windy. We then made our back for an arvo drink by the water had a swim & nice tea. THURSDAY.........We were up before sunrise and went to the point for some lovely shots of the sunrise..sorry everyone but it is "AMAZING" We then walked in& around town, then back for a swim and breakie. We were then going for a drive, but we discovered ants in our paperwork folder, not just a couple...... a colony!!! Bloody things ! We then found a squashed, dead frog on the door jam of our car & finally Caz got stung by a bee....attack of the insects!!! Anyway after that we all headed out to the Lighthouse, which has great views up to Cable Beach, with its white sand and the red Cliff rocks & the blue water.... just fantastic, we tied to catch some crabs for bait but no luck, the little buggers are faster than us.. we then went for a 4 wheel drive along the beach before heading into town & then returning for lunch,

Later that arvo John & Sand returned from their trip up nth, they had a great time, so in the arvo we had some drinks, caught up with everything, watched the dolphins swim by, had a nice under dinner under the stars, with the small waves making a nice sound in the background......can it get any better ! FRIDAY......Up early and the 3 boys went out fishing by 5.40am out on the big cargo wharf, its about 30 ft to the water, we saw turtles with trevalley around then a large sea snake.

 You get baited very quick by small stuff but Tez did have something enormous on his line but the smart fish went around the pier and the line was snapped on the oysters.!!Whilst we were there I saw a mate from Woy Woy who I played footy with Lance O'Sullivan (Votzy) he drove past, as he works there, we had a good chat and we will catch up for a beer later. We then returned for a swim, some breakie and then we headed into town for some shopping, returning for lunch and paperwork & sun baking.... we know who done what!!!  SATURDAY.......We are up again before 6am and got ready for a day out, this is the cloudiest day so far but it burns off, we head into the markets first, which weren't too bad, then we all head out to Nth Cable Beach & drove down onto the beach, we head as far as we could which was appox 15km,

then come back a little and set up a tarp between the cars for some shade, It is a beautiful area, Tezza goes for a long walk,  we just hung around &  had a quick dip, as you don't know whats out in those waters.....croc's/sharks/sea snakes etc, we had lunch on the beach which was good, we got a couple of good photos of all of us around our cars, we then slowly....very SLOWLY made our way back, not because of the soft sand but because of the white pointers,Tasmanians & snakes.... as by now the "nudists" have come out to bake on the beach !!!! there were all types, parents with kids, He men & good sorts.( from Stephens point of view !) 

When we got back to the roadway Caz & I went for a drive out to the Port and walked along the pier, seeing 3 blokes catch a couple of nice trevalley and also seeing one huge one in the water, along with a sea snake, we then went and had a look at Reddell Beach and took some photos of the red cliffs against the white sand and blue water... just beautiful. We then headed back for some nibblies and drinks then an early nite. SUNDAY.....We head north today, up to Willie Pearl farm and we are on a 2hr tour, the first part we are explained how a pearl is cultured, how to value a pearl and what the shell etc is used for, it was very interesting and informative,

we then had morning tea with home made damper (not gluten free...sorry Caz & Sand) which was very yummy, we then went on a cruise on the creek, where they culture their pearls, the water was such a magnificent blue/green, we then had a talk on pricing of pearls in their showroom, well we had to guess how much each pearl or necklace was worth and Sandy got the closest to the most expensive one so she got to wear them around her neck for the rest of the talk, they were worth....$70,000.00.....yes that's right, she even blushed when put on her her, we told her to run and we would fight them off but..... no.

From here we headed further north on a red dirt track following the coastline, stopping at Quondong Pt and then James Price Point where we had lunch. The coastline was amazing with the reddest embankments,white sand and blue ocean. It is here where they want to set up a Gas pipeline and facility so there are heaps of protesters up here.....I don't mind them protesting but on their time and money (not our tax paying their dole !!) 

anyway from here continued a little bit further nth before turning around and heading back to base, a round trip of approx 130kms. Once back we had a couple of drinks, an early tea before heading to the Open Air Picture Theatre to watch Red Dog. Well you sit there to watch the movie, and the airplanes fly over just above our heads before landing, geckos running up the screen, mozzies attacking, bats flying past and peeing on the audience.....  John & Di copped it !!. We enjoyed it, the movie was good, had a laugh,then we headed home for a good nights sleep. MONDAY........Up for walk we then just hung around the van with a day of swimming & resting and getting computer stuff up to date. we then headed out for another sunset,

closing this blog now , Happy Birthday to Kate (21st) Thomas B, Susan & Ken, Urkie...Hope you all had great days xxxxx