We left Port Hedland at 09:30 and reached the DeGrey River campsite about an hour later (80 kms) and we were amazed to find plenty of spots vacant down near the railway bridge (which is well away from the main road and the best spot to camp) and as an added bonus, they were repairing the bridge following the recent cyclone and, as a consequence, no trains running.
Anyway, selected a nice spot and settled in for a while.
Only a couple of other caravans set up, and evidently, they have been there for four weeks already. It may be still a little early in the season for the Grey Nomads to start travelling. Because of the cyclone in late February, all of the rivers in the area flooded, and because most of them flow into the DeGrey, it REALLY flooded, evidently topping the rail bridge which was being cleared of driftwood when we arrived.
Thursday, 9th May 2013
Had a look around Pt Hedland while we were there to try and find a way to repair the awning which got torn off in the tornado at Niagara, but there doesn't seem to be any sort of caravan repair business in town. Curious when you consider the number of tourists who come through here. We were sitting, having a quiet moment, when it occurred to me that the rope-edge track along the front of the awning wasn't being used, because we don't have one of the privacy shade screens which attach to the edge of the awning, and we might be able to utilise that. Now naturally, after carrying around my cordless drill for four years, I left it at home this time, so into Hedland and picked one up at K-Mart for $38. Cheap as chips! Got back to the van, took the channel off the awning rail, screwed it to the van and Bob's your uncle, we have an awning again.
Looks like I spoke too soon. Now the generator has died. Oh well, it was a cheapie anyway, so back into Hedland and picked up a Honda 2KVA for $1850, which isn't a bad price considering I paid $1500 for the 1KVA which got washed away in the Flinders Ranges. I must remember not to put this one in a creek!!!
Thursday 16th May 2013
While we were in the caravan park in Pt Hedland, we were both feeling a little achy and had sore joints, so we went up to the hospital where they prescribed some Prednisone. It seemed to work alright, we were feeling better, but after the ten days the Predisone ran out, we both started feeling achy again, so back into the hospital and they confirmed that we both seemed to have Ross River fever, but they suggested that it would not be a good idea to keep on with the Prednisone, so we are treating it with Nurofen. Watch this space.
The campsite is getting a lot busier the last few days and there are hordes of vans, campers and trailers on the roads, some are only staying for a single night, but quite a few are taking advantage of this truly beautiful spot to spend a few days chilling out. Not a great deal to see except for the river, which is still flowing, but on the plus side, the walks along the river are very restful.
Sunday, 19th May 2013
Well, the weather witchery is still working, it bucketted down all night and the whole place is a bog, good thing we hadn't planned on moving just yet.
Tuesday, 28th May 2013.
Well it's been three weeks since we pulled in here, and it is starting to cool down a little, so we decided to move on. Not far, just another 75kms up the road, opposite Pardoo Roadhouse is Cape Keraudren. Neither of us have been there before, so we are going to give it a try. We considered 80-mile beach, but their fees have now gone up to $41 a night which is getting a bit pricey for a fairly basic park. Keraudren is $63 a week for two concession cards, which is a lot more reasonable.
Wednesday, 29th May 2013
Oh boy, did we ever get that wrong. We booked in and set up and to be honest, the place is absolutely beautiful, but ........
......About 4pm the sandflies started in on us. Both Anne and I are covered in bites. They don't affect me too much, I just come up in red spots, but Anne has big welts from the bites. I think we will cut this visit short and head off towards Broome tomorrow.
See you soon,
Mike and Anne
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