Days 43 to 50

Day 43. We departed Tom Price just after 8.00 am and drove through Parabadoo then through some more interesting hills. (I know, you are sick of all this red dirt and spinifex clothed hills).

We also drove past Mt DeCourcey which is only 485 metres high but quite impressive just the same.

We finally reached Nanutara where we refuelled and said a temporary goodbye to Glenn and Yvonne who are going north to Dampier and Karratha while we will go south to Carnarvon and one of the places on our bucket list; (Kennedy Ranges National Park). We were going to visit Mt Augustus (2.5 times the size of Ayres Rock), however there is a huge function happening there and we couldn't get accommodation so will will have to give it a miss. Hiroe and I went there in 1996 but Rodney never. Glenn and Yvonne will rejoin us in about a weeks time at Carnarvon.
We arrived at Barradale Rest Area (70 kms south of Nanutara) after a 400 km run today.
We found that one of the tyres on the car had quite a chunk taken out of it; (result of the rough dirt roads in Karijini), so we have booked the car in for a couple of tyres to be changed at Carnarvon tomorrow.

Day 44. We were up early this morning (6.10 am) and on the road by 7.00. We had a good run to Carnarvon (298 kms) and arrived there before 11.00.
Some very interesting red sand dunes on the way so I took a couple of photos (Rodney was driving).

Had 2 new tyres fitted to the car so I feel a lot happier. While that was happening, Rodney and Hiroe had a bit of a walk around town.

Day 45. This morning we all slept in till after 7.30 and after breakfast we went for a walk to the nearby IGA supermarket but didn't purchase anything. Rodney checked out the bakery which we will visit on the way out of town tomorrow morning.
We went for a drive into town and Hiroe had a good look at the only Op Shop in Carnarvon and I bought a couple of books there,
We looked everywhere for some warm pyjamas for Hiroe - hers seem to have gone missing - maybe still hanging on the washng line at Tom Price. (it's getting quite cool in the evenings).
We drove out to the old jetty which is over 1 mile long, but it is closed. it's in a bad state of repair and has been for a long time.
We continued back into town and I took a photo of the waterfront and yes, that's real grass.

Day 46. We departed Carnarvon after visiting a bakery then drove 180 kms to the small town of Gascoyne Junction where we had morning tea and a brief look around the place. There is a new War Memorial which was dedicated earlier this year.

We checked the road condition signs for our travel out to The Kennedy Ranges.

The road to Temple Gorge Campground in the Kennedy Ranges National Park is 60 km of dirt. We met a grader on the road.


As we got nearer to the campground we had to cross the dry (now) river bed of the Lyons River. The trees here look very good.

We booked into the campground which, although red dirt and a bit dusty, is quite clean and tidy.

Late in the afternoon we undertook the Temple Gorge Trail which is a Class 3 and 4, 2 km return trip (Just to practice for tomorrow).
The trail leads past a prominent rock face referred to as The Temple. The right hand fork is rated at Class 4 and is longer, tougher, boulder strewn walk up to a small seasonal pool.

Day 47. This morning Rodney and I were up at 5.00 am to travel a short distance to "Sunrise View". The early morning shots were great.

After lunch we did the "Escarpment Trail" which is all Class 4, 3.4 km return. The trail leads to a narrow gorge that ascends to the top of the range with spectacular views. This trail is very steep with loose rocks and traverses near exposed cliff edges.

Later in the afternoon we went to have a walk in "Honeycomb Gorge" This was a much easier walk, all Class 3 and only 600 metres. It ends in an amphitheatre containing a seasonal water fall (no water today), and marvelous honeycomb cavities that have been eroded in the cliff face.

Day 48. Today we drove back to Gascoyne Junction, on the way we had a look at an old cobbled road built in the 1920-30's to service introduced mechanical trucks etc which were replacing camel and horse drawn carts.

Also took a photo of the Kennedy Ranges in the distance.

then on back to Carnarvon where we booked back into the same caravan park which we vacated only 3 days ago. Glenn and Yvonne booked into the same park just 15 minutes ahead of us - they had travelled down from Karratha.
Busy day washing bugs and grasshoppers off the front of the car and caravan etc.

Day 49. This morning we slept in till 7.45 then after breakfast went for a drive out the dirt track to Miaboolya Beach which is about 16 km north of Carnarvon. The beach is very wide.

On the way we had to stop while an emu crossed and recrossed the road in front of us. They make a lot of damage if the car should hit one.

Rodney did some drone flying so Hiroe and I had a bit of a walk amongst the wildflowers.

Day 50. Went out early this morning to check out a window replacement shop and found one that will replace the damaged side window on the caravan at 3.00 this afternoon. Have to pack up the van and take it there.
We did the local food loop trip and bought some vegetables and fruit. At one of the stops Hiroe saw some chocolate coated mango on a stick and JUST HAD to have some.

Later on in the afternoon we had the window glass removed. They did a good job, even replaced the rubbers.