Not Very Happy Campers :( Sun 12th )

During my mere four and a half hours sleep if I was lucky, (used to dream of sleep, lol), I became aware of some severe precipitation going on outside my tent - it was our 'you beaut' personal rain clouds at work yet again. I wasn't too badly off that morning as I was dry on the inside having a tent to myself which gave me some extra room (all used I might add, lol). The WM and family were not so lucky as they were piled three to a tent, therefore touching sides of tents with mattresses, bodies etc consequently they were very damp. We peeled into Aunty T and Uncle B's room for a coffee, and then proceeded to break camp. The WMH in particular was the least happy camper - coming to camping late in life (last year, lol), and whose idea of roughing it previously would have been 4 star accommodation instead of 5, waking up wet AGAIN, was a bit of a stretch, lol.















Breaking Camp Getting petrol and tyres filled. Note the thin blue line on the door behind the petrol pump. That is the height where the floods reached in 1980!


Packing up most of the bedding was completed under the sail over the swimming pool as that was the driest spot on the property. We were able to get a replacement tyre for the flat one ($72) the night before but thought we should check the pressure on the others as we filled up before heading to Nanga Bay. All the tyres needed air so Uncle B sorted that while I got petrol - $1.72 ltr. At least it was cheaper than Mt A, lol and the guy actually said he kept the prices cheap as he did not want to rip people off!!!! It was interesting to note the line on the garage door that indicated the height of the flood in 1980 - not surprising when we crossed the width of the river which was only a creek the night before. I think I forgot to mention the highlights of T and B's cabin - milk left in the fridge and a half eaten sandwhich of dubious age!!!

We had debated whether to go a longer distance to Nanga Bay by going to Carnarvon and down the coast which had more tarseal, or to risk going on dirt roads the shorter distance. It was decided to go the shorter distance - the first stop being the Wooramel Roadhouse for breakfast. I slept most of the way as Uncle B drove the ute. The roadhouse had food to go and good toilets so after a brief stop we headed to the next road house to get some veg and bread to tide us over until we got to Denham. Seeing the Overlander Roadhouse was like visiting an old friend (this was my third visit in 18 mths, lol). It was flat tack with a bus tour pulled in at the same time as us but we got bread - $1.50 loaf!!! and some very reasonably priced vegies and were on our way. I managed to score a book on wild flowers reduced from $29.00 to $9 which had the flowers laid out in blocks of colours for quick ID. There is a space beside each flower to note when and where it was spotted. Have already been able to tick off several and will need to go back through my last years photos to see how many match. I am learning the names of the flowers as I go so will sound very knowledgable by the time I am through, lol. I believe there are two other volumes in this series of books but will stick with this one for a start.

Once again a feeling of familiarity as we turned off to Shark Bay and environs. Shark Bay is known as a World Heritage Area. "The Shark Bay World Heritage Area covers 2.2 million hectares on the coast of Western Australia. Its colourful and diverse landscapes are home for a profusion of animals and plants, including some found nowhere else on Earth. Its vast seagrass meadows feed and shelter globally endangered species ......Shark Bay was inscribed on the World Heritage list in 1991 for its natural heritage values. To be inscribed, properties must be of outstanding universal value and meet and least one of ten selcection criteria set by UNESCO. Shark Bay met four of the criteria. As of May 2008, Shark Bay was one of just 20 places on Earth to satisfy all four of the natural criteria for WH listing (natural beauty, earth's history, ecological processes and biological diversity). Other properties that satisfy all four criteria are the Great Barrier Reef, the Galapagos Islands, and the Grand Canyon".

This time we stayed at another 'resort' called Nanga Bay which was a mixture of tent/caravan sites and cabins of dubious standards. Possibly had the same builder as Gasgoyne Junction, lol. As soon as we arrived, we unpacked the tents, sleeping bags and swags and put them all in the sun to dry. We had booked unpowered sites for the tents, but as the powered sites had a sort of thatched awning, we upgraded and moved.


Most of the troops went down to the beach to try a spot of fishing. I stayed behind and did some much needed laundry $3 per load and $3 to use the dryer for about 20 mins. I went to put more money in the slot and pushed it in and the dryer started again without taking it so was one up there. Not sure whether my cycle had finished or what but was under pressure as the laundry closed at 5pm so didn't look a gift horse in the mouth so to speak. Because we had not been to the shops for more substantial supplies, we decided to dine at the camp. You had to put your request in by 5pm and give the cook a time for the meal to be ready. I had grilled fish with lemon butter, a few chips and salad. It was nice though I was still hungry after the meal. Not to worry, an ice cream later, followed by coffee and biscuits back and T & B's abode and I was fine. We sat outside to eat in what was called the Bull Pit ? an open shed type building like a gazebo with canvas roll down sides, a fire to sit around at one end and a tv in the corner which was the draw for us - Sunday night has 'Dancing with the Stars' on again and this was the first one to have someone leave. It was an early night after that as it was a 6.30am start next day for Monkey Mia and the dolphins.

I seem to have got my days out of sync somehow so, so far Wed night Murchison, Thurs/Fri at Mt Augustus and Sat was Gasgoyne Junction, not Friday as written. (Must have been lack of sleep, lol)