To exit Karijini National Park it was 49klms back to the Great Northern Highway. We don’t usually backtrack, but this day because we had to get fuel and the closest fuel stop was the Auski Roadhouse 36klms. back north an extra distance of 72klms. to our trip south to Newman. It only made the total for the day 282klms.
We were really looking forward to getting to Newman thinking it would be quite a very large town, but a little disappointing actually. Although there was a Woolworths. We hadn’t been to a supermarket since leaving Port Hedland 2 weeks ago. A lot a washing was needed so my washing machine worked overtime. We did manage to find a very good restaurant in a resort for an evening meal. We thought we deserved it and were able to have a glass of wine. If you read my blog on Marble Bar you will know what I mean. Newman is of course a very large mining town, so there is a great influence of mine workers. This goes for most of the towns in the Pilbara region. Even the caravan parks do not have that many sites for travellers as most of it is taken up with dongers for mine workers accommodation. After 3 nights in Newman and driving around sightseeing there was not much else to do but move on.
The wildflowers were in abundance and very beautiful. Apparently this has been a very good year due to the winter rains.
Gascoyne River (Middle Branch-Camps 576)was our stay for 2 nights. It was only going to be one, but it was such a lovely spot and we had met Gordon & Helen who had been there for a couple of nights before. We enjoyed their company by our fire for happy hour and beyond. The birdlife was prolific. Even to the degree that a trailer carrying homing pigeons pulled up for the night as they were going to release them the next morning. The flood waters that came through this area earlier in the year done quite a bit of damage to the surface of the riverbanks, and gouged out a lot of the parking sites for vehicles, but we did manage to find a level area. D’Arcy gave the metal detector a little run along the riverbed, but not finding anything of value.
Then on to Meekathara.......
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