Day 36

Day 36 Port Hedland

Well our plan went as planned. We set off from Point Sampson at around 9:30. We headed out via

our site in Point Sampson

Our view out on the bay from our site

Roebourne and on to Port Hedland. The country around Roebourne once you get off the coast explains why it was such a mecca for sheep farmers. The land is flat, covered in spinifex and grass with a series of rivers and creeks running through it. It is ideal for running stock and a farmer’s paradise. The drive was great. We drove for about 3 hours and arrived in Port Hedland at 1. We went past South Hedland and went to the caravan park in Port Hedland. We got our bay and were sitting having lunch by 1:30 all set up. I went to the toilets and Maureen asked how they were and I said “okay, nothing to write

Map of Camp site

Our new site

home about, not like the ones at Point Sampson.” So here is a review about the toilets and showers at Point Sampson. They are excellent, airy, clean and about 30 to 40 cm wider than most. The showers are also excellent in that they are also wide but it allows you to shower and yet keep the floor in the dressing area dry, without having a shower screen! So there you have it, toilets to write home about.

Once we digested our lunch, we set off to town to have a look around. After going to Cape Lambert,

Our Spinifex pigeon

Museum

Dampier and Karratha where the loading is done miles away from town, Hedland does it in the middle of town. The ships enter and leave the harbour within 50 m of the beach! We are going to see if we can watch one come in. It is amazing how far news spreads, there is as a statue in town commemorating the time when Rob Crook had to take me home in a wheel barrow after a few too many drinks, so we took a picture of it.

Rob Crook's Statue

Cafe in a train, but closed

We went back to camp and sat around. Whilst I am sitting there, a little head appeared round a tree, and low and behold, there was our spinifex pigeon. Bold as brass, walks out and struts around. Our site is close to an outdoor camp kitchen and as the sun started to go down out came the cookers and there was a crowd. We waited for a while and then when the crowd dropped off, we cooked ours. Being next to the camp kitchen has a few advantages other than being close to the BBQs, they also have a fridge with a freezer, so we are sitting here with a rum with ICE!!!

Ships from town beach

Just heard the weather for Perth and I have to say that we are toughing it out in 35C temperatures. I know you are loving your wet and windy days so I will not mention the temperatures up here again, trust me.