Karrajini

We left Exmouth on friday 2Nd and drove into Shothole canyon and Charles Knife gorge which were both excellent,then onto Nanutarra through flat dry country with termite mounds, for lunch. Some tourists in a helicopter also called in for lunch.(way to go) The trip to Paraburdoo got better as we went with spectacular ranges, ever changing as we drove. Paraburdoo is a typical mining town with cockatoos, brown from iron ore dust and and bore water.We had a great camp in a dry riverbed but had trucks and trains rumbling and dingoes howling all night.
We had to wait three hours in Tom Price for a fuel tanker before we could move on to Karrajini to camp in red dust. It appears Rio Tinto are shifting mountains to the coast by the train load.Every employee seems to have a company vehicle with a flashing light and a flag. Camp grounds were full due to school holidays. Karrajini gorges are a Pilbara icon , with breath taking lookouts, rock formations, waterfalls, swimming holes and backpackers.
We drove onto Millstream N/P via the mine permit road and passed 2 kilometer trains loaded with iron ore. We camped 2 nights at Millstream Homestead which is an oasis in the dry outback, with beautiful artesian fed lily ponds and swimming holes with river gums and paperbarks full of bird life. It would have been an interesting station in its heyday.
We headed back to the coast lucky to find a spot at the Dampier caravan park which overlooked the noisy ore loading facility which fills many waiting ships. More company vehicles servicing the wharfes for the gas plant, salt works and iron ore. Karratha is expanding nearly as quick as Perth (work everywhere).
Warming up nicely now but stiff breezes rarely abate. Both our shoulders are peeling due to sunburn at Exmouth. Onto Port Hedland via exclusive Point Samson where a nice sized queen fish escaped Phil's hook,(bugger!). Noodles for tea in another riverbed in the rain. Rain cleared and shared a late night campfire with Mike and Sandra from Perth with whom we had camped the last four nights (good fun).
We are now camped in a beautiful park in Port Hedland hoping for some work for a fortnight and maybe a fishing trip with Phil's old work mate Pat McCullough.