On a Whim

3rd June 2002: Weano Gorge (Karijini National Park) – Deep Reach Pool (Millstream/Chichester NP)

Break camp and drive northwest to Hammersley Gorge (above photos). Another gorge walk (short); while not as good as our recent walks the swimming in Spa Pool was excellent. Then onto Millstream/Chichester NP. Unfortunately one of the windows at the back of our car is shattered during the days driving from a stone bouncing off the trailer.

Camp at Deep Reach Pool on the Fortescue River. Scenery not as spectacular as the last few days but we enjoy a pleasant swim in Deep Reach Pool.

4th June 2002: Deep Reach Pool (Millstream/Chichester NP) – Karratha

Wake early and with the skys looking threatening we quickly pack up and move before the rain comes and the dirt road we are on become impassible. On the drive north to Karratha the rain comes and lots of it…. 50mm or more!

Spend our at Karratha doing domestics, improving the temporary cover over the back car window until we can get it replaced properly and doing the Hammersley Iron tour (worth it).

7th June 2002: Karratha – Port Headland

We take off to Port Headland. Stop off for a look at the Whim Creek Hotel, once the centre of a thriving mining town. Now the only original building still standing, we enjoy a great “barra burger” for lunch before continuing.

Just 40km short of Port Headland we are waved down by a couple (who we had met at Karratha) assisting a broken down car/caravan – a blown head gasket . We offer moral support, sharing some beer, snacks and waiting by the roadside for the RAC to arrive (some 90mins later). As they were only able to take the car, we all stay with the caravan and are soon joined by a British cyclist, Greg, who has been cycling around Australia (big effort!).

Soon after the RAC return to pick up the caravan but unfortunately deliver the bad news that they have lost the keys to car they had picked up earlier. A search of the roadside delivers no keys but luckily the couple have a spare set. We all make our way into Port Headland and arrange to meet up at caravan park. We finally set up camp some four hours from first stopping by the road.

We share dinner and drinks until Greg, the cyclist, joins us sometime later. Obvioiusly on the bike he was a lot slower together with strong headwinds in this part of the country.

Unbelievably he shows up with the lost car keys; they were on the road some 10kms from where we had stopped having fallen off the tow truck. How lucky is that!