Day 6

Day 6

Sunday. Peter and Judy Bright hit the road, along with everyone else from the Newman Caravan Park, whilst Maureen and I watched with cup of tea in hand. The park is really worker accommodation with the Caravans tacked on the end. We get free laundry/dryers and the toilets are great, you get a toilet, a sink and shower in each cubicle. The campers kitchen comes with a huge glass from fridge, microwave, bbq and TV! BHP have a section next door with ECO accommodation units, they seem to have a lounge, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom in each unit, not sure where the ECO comes in as they each had 2 aircon units per unit. I suppose it could be in the environment they have put them in with native gardens and rock sections. They look very swish and I think they set the bench mark in town. 

Me flat out

We lazed around the park all morning, well I did, flat out like a lizard drinking. Maureen decided to do the laundry and whilst that was on, reorganise the van. She really was busy and I stayed  out of the way. The van was turned upside down, the stuff was regrouped, sorted and replaced! So much more room. I took the opportunity to look busy and shuffled the stuff in the caravan boot and succeeded to create a stack of room. Part of all this, I opened the tube at the back of the van and it is full of tent poles! Who’d a thought? Should have checked before we left home but will just have to put up with the extra kilos. Mind you one did come in handy to prop up the bed in the van whilst Maureen shuffled stuff around, so not a total waste. I am sure I will find some use for the others before the end of the trip.

Sizing up the competition

Once the washing was dry, we went into town to get some food. Dropped in at the tourist info office, they have a toilet dump point in their car park but you have to get a key from the tourist office, must be worried about people pinching their crap!! Anyhow, we booked a mine tour to Mt Whaleback - $30 a head. Checked out the little haulpak they had in the car park to see if the gopher might be able to pick up a little side work, check out the picture.

On the way back we went passed an oval and they had a little concert going. Obviously sponsored by BHP, they had a small band, singer/violinist, drummer and sound deck, and they were good. Audience of about 60 odd people, bar, ice creams, deck chairs, what more could you want.

BHP Concert in the park

Back at camp, noticed the old gopher had thrown a shoe, front tyre was flat. Into my trusty tool box (best Christmas present ever Gav) and soon fixed and pumped up ready for action, so we went out in the Pajero instead. 

Opthalmia Dam

We were told of a lovely spot called Opthalmia Dam, just 19 kms from town. Drove out to the dam, after the turnoff from the Marble Bar road, the road goes to gravel, this bit tested the old suspension. The corrugation was not extreme but it was bad. We just lowered our speed down and enjoyed the drive out. The Dam is beautiful and picturesque and well worth the effort and rough drive.

Opthalmia Dam

Back at camp and Maureen is now putting away the mounds of washing and making the bed and I am doing this blog, so sharing the workload evenly.

Tomorrow we have the mine tour, going out to Kalgan Pool about a 90 minute drive. Will let you know how it went.