Chapter 6 - Pilbara Again

Day 38 - Friday 28 June – Onslow                     Go to previous chapter

It was a cool (only 16 degrees) start to the day, but I was on the beach for the obligatory sunrise photo.



Onslow Sunrise

It was another slow start. However the activity moved up a gear as we strolled 600 metres to the Tourist Information Centre and the attached historical museum.  The history and the shell collection in the latter was amazing.

The town of Onslow was originally on the majestic Ashburton river, which provided access for ships to transport wool, sheep and other products. Pearling also provided an industry for Onslow.

When the mouth of the Ashburton river silted up the town was moved 22.5 km east, to the coast.  Anything that could be moved was moved in to the new town area.

Since then gas and salt mining have become important local industries.

After lunch we went for a drive and checked out the salt industry. We saw salt deposits, salt on conveyor belts and salt being loaded on to a ship.

Salt Deposits Awaiting Shipment

Conveyor Belt of Salt heading to a Tanker

 

Salt on Conveyor Belt Being Loaded on to a Ship

We drove an extra 40 km and visited Old Onslow, which now consists of a few crumbling brick/stone buildings - and lots of appropriate signs.



Pre-loved Onslow Building

There were plenty of Corellas on hand.

Corellas Taking Flight

We also spent some time admiring the Ashburton river, and some magnificent free camp areas along its banks.

Ashburton river from a Ford over the river

Lovely trees and great camping areas along the Ashburton river

We headed back to town, had a rest, got changed, and headed to the local pub for "Friday Fish" night.


Day 39 - Saturday 29 June – Onslow

We were all up in time to walk 600 metres to the local Farmers Market - of six stalls. However the fruit and vegie stall was excellent and all ladies left money there.  The quality looked excellent.

On the way back to camp we called in at the Beach Club, a resort style accommodation place that has a great coffee shop. The coffees were very good.

After that we returned to the caravan park and kept walking along a 1070 metre boardwalk.  It was very pleasant.  At the start of the walk was a war memorial sculpture with two bronze slouch hats nearby. It is very impressive.

War memorial sculpture with two bronze slouch hats

I got another photo of a tanker being loaded with salt.

Tanker getting loaded with salt

The Boardwalk

I was rather impressed with the following sign:

A Message Worth Considering

It was a lazy afternoon apart from a drive around the town and a late arvo walk on the beach. I took a photo of a pre-loved pier that fell victim to age and cyclone.

A Pier from a Time Gone By

Shirley and I joined Kay and Darryl to dine on some of Darryl's "catch" off Coral Bay. It was superb.

Darryl's Catch from Coral Bay

Day 40 - Sunday 30 June – Karratha

My last photo in Onslow was a combination of a sunrise and a memorable photo. It shows the sun rising through a sculpture of the "Rising Sun" - the war memorial in Onslow.

The sun rising through a sculpture of the "Rising Sun"

We left Onslow around 8:15 and headed south before heading north east. We had enjoyed our time in Onslow, and were impressed with the caravan park.

It was depressing to drive through country that had been devastated by fire. In the last two to three weeks we have seen huge tracts of land devastated by fires. Today was no exception.

It will be hard for this sort of country to recover from such fires.

Land desecrated by fire

The termite mounds looked like an invading alien army.

It was an interesting drive, with some boring parts and some involving rocky and hilly beauty.

We arrived in Karratha around 12:30 and soon had camp established. It was around 27 degrees. After a rest, and a visit to the Information Centre, we had happy hour and a BBQ dinner. The steak was excellent.

We had covered around 315 km today.

Day 41 - Monday 1 July – Karratha & Dampier

There was no big rush today so I took my time while Shirley had a sleep in. I then cooked breakfast outside, and we ate it outside.

Kay and Darryl did likewise.

 

A while later the four of us headed to Dampier, while the others went different ways. We first spotted the iron ore being loaded on to tankers.

Then we spotted a 236 car iron ore train (or 2.5 km long) - give or take a car or two.

If you go to Dampier you need a photo of "Red Dog". If you don't know who Red Dog is please read the book or watch the movie.

Red Dog

Karratha and Dampier are all about iron ore, salt and gas. Most of the coast line has views of one or more.



A pristine beach and rocks

We were amused by the art work that resided in the salt pans along the road. The following photo provides a sample of what was to be seen.



Salt pan art work

 In the theme of interesting signs I offer the following:

Interesting sign

After we returned, and did some shopping, it was time to relax. Our resident bush balladeer, Darryl, did his thing. Darryl is a lover of Aussie bush poetry, and he is constantly providing some Aussie humour and poetry - in his own way.

He has his audience in the palm of his hand. They love it and he loves it. You should try it.

Our bush balladeer - Darryl

Darryl and I decided to make pizza for dinner. The first two were excellent. The third one set off the smoke alarm in the caravan. All was ok.



Home made pizza, including the base

Day 42 - Tuesday 2 July – Karratha

Another slow start except the washed clothes were on the line by 7:30 am.

Shirley and I went for a drive around mid morning and went looking for indigenous etchings. There are apparently an estimated one million etchings in the Karratha-Dampier region.

View from the Tanks Lookout

View of Karratha from the Tanks Lookout

Some Etchings

More Etchings

Another View from Our Walk

We had happy hour then all went our own way for dinner and relaxation.

Day 43 - Wednesday 3 July – Point Samson

Although we were in no rush for the 55 km trip, we departed the campsite by 8:30. We purchased some firewood in Karratha before heading east.

We crossed over a train track and estimated maybe one km of train either side of the road – probably more. Historic Roebourne beckoned and we replied, by driving around the magnificent old buildings – from a time gone by.

 

 

The Hotel is Over 150 Years Old

 

 

Church

 

 

The Hotel

We had checked in to the 20-site Point Samson caravan park by 11 am, and had grass outside our caravan door. Our friends soon drifted in.

The famous local fish and chip shop was open (not like 2011 when it was closed for renovations. So we had fish and chips for dinner.

The beach was 75 metres one way, and the Tavern was 100 metres another way. In due course we checked out both locations.

Our Local Beach

The following little guy was happy to eat bugs near our caravan. I have not yet worked out what he/she is?

Some kind of Dove

There was a sheltered open air camp kitchen and we used that for Happy Hour and BBQ dinner.

Day 44 - Thursday 4 July – Point Samson

I was on the beach at 6:50 am just in time for the sunrise. It was a magic start to the day. There were perhaps 15 tankers lined up on the horizon for their turn at the iron ore conveyor.

Sunrise, with tankers on the horizon

Shirley was up early and we dined outside on BBQ bacon,egg, tomatoes, mushrooms and toast.  The sun was superb on our backs.

Around 10am Kay arrived with her home made vanilla slices and the Kelly gang made a fuss of me for my birthday. It was a superb morning tea.

Birthday Boy

Birthday Morning Tea

After the ceremony most of us headed to the beach, some for a walk, some to relieve the ocean of some wild life. Although they tried, the price of fish will probably not change.

Point Samson Beach at High Tide

Wendy with Rod



Crippsy also with Rod

Wrighty Hooking a Rock

We found the following little guy moving at snail pace across shallow water. It was around 3 cm long.

Creature of the Sea

In WA (maybe other states as well) sea-shells are covered by the same legislation as fish. As such, in some locations there is a bag limit on the collection of some shells.
 
It was R & R time, so we did.

Around 4:15 Crippsy and I wandered over to the Tavern and found a table for eight, bought a drink and sat down. Over time the rest of the Gang arrived and my birthday dinner was in full swing. Most of us had some form of fish & chips, and very nice it was.

After dinner we wandered back to the camp kitchen (maybe 90 metres) where we had coffee and sweet nibbles (such as home made vanilla slices).

It had been a great birthday, with many phone calls and messages. Thank you one and all.

Day 45 - Friday 5 July – Point Samson

Four of our neighbours decided on an early departure, so loud conversations around 5 am became four idling diesel engines around 6:30 am. Some people don’t care about other people. I took the opportunity for another sunrise photo and a walk on the beach – at low tide.

The clouds were a hangover from some overnight rain.

Sunrise, again with ships on the horizon

After yet another slow start to the day we went for a drive, with Kay & Darryl. We checked out the lovely beach at Honeymoon Cove and took a photo of two Eastern Osprey – one guarding the nest.

Eastern Osprey

 

We then moved towards the historical town of Cossack. There are some lovely old buildings, but few or no residents. The brickwork in the buildings is magnificent.



Art Work on a Tank

Cossack Building

Part of Cossack

After another drive around Roebourne we visited Wickham (again) to get a coffee. That happened, as well as a photo of an interesting piece of art work. When you stand in the right position the various items on each pole come together to form a ship.
 

Interesting Art Work at Wickham

It was time for lunch back at camp then a restful afternoon.

After lunch and a rest period, Shirley and I had a wade in the ocean.  Happy hour came and went as did lamb chops on the BBQ. 
 

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This post was last updated around 2:45 pm on Saturday 6th July 2019