Cossack

Spent a morning exploring the heritage buildings in Cossack, the North West's first port. In the 1880's pearl fields were discovered and the town grew, though it only remained a town for 50 years as the site wasn't suitable for large ships. Hence many of the buildings are still in good condition. The kids (Jackson especially) enjoyed the old gaol house, particularly when they worked out they could close and bolt the doors. Grandma got locked in nearly every cell and there was tears when we finally had to release her (from Jackson who enjoyed the idea of keeping her locked up). The schoolhouse interested Emilia but Jackson had a limited attention span for old buildings and preferred the hairy caterpillar Emilia found.

I was praying he didn't break this water pump.

It made a great noise too when it was banged back down - very entertaining!

Cossack Port

The very interesting caterpillar!

Karratha & Dampier

We spent a few days seeing the sights in Karratha, Roebourne, Dampier.  These included:
- The Red Dog memorial at Dampier (Red Dog was also known as the Pilbara Wanderer, I'm sure you've all seen the movie).
- Rock Art at Deep Gorge (part of Murujuga National Park on the Burrup Peninsula). This site has petroglyphs (rock art made by removing the outer layer of rock) dating from 30,000 years ago. This site has up to 1 million petroglyphs making it the largest concentration of rock art in the world. It was quite a rock ramble to get there and we couldn't spot any for ages. Once we finally saw one, we then saw heaps, some very pronounced (see the bilby photo). Anyway kids struggled to focus on them and preferred the snake skeleton and skin we passed!
 - North West Shelf Gas Platform - just across the road from the National Park is the huge gas plant (and Daniel's work). We went to the visitor centre and were amazed at the vastness of the plant. It is Australia's largest operating oil and gas development and it supplies the majority of WA's gas as well as exporting around the world.
- Roebourne Museum & Goal - The oldest settlement in the North West. This was a horrible reminder of the atrocities committed on the Indigenous Australian's after European settlement. Aboriginal prisoners were kept in neck chains and chained to the walls. Many of their 'crimes' were listed as failing to adhere to their work contracts (work contracts that were made without their knowledge as they were sold as possessions to settlers).

Red Dog Memorial

Deep Gorge in Murujuga National Park

Petroglyph Rock Art

North West Shelf Karratha Gas Project

Rain, rain go away............don't flood in the Pilbara again today!

Well the theme of abnormal weather events has continued. There had been severe rain and storms all across the Pilbara, with huge dumps over the Karratha area. We got 50mm in Point Samson yesterday and there was a river running between our caravans. We have done movies in the van, movies on Grandma and Pa's bed, play dough, colouring, playgroup, library and an indoor play centre to try to while away the hours as the kids are getting very bored!! Apparently it rarely rains in May up here (as it is the start of the dry season), let alone rain for 5 days. One lady said she had lived here for 20 years and she hadn't seen rain like this in May. Anyway if anyone has any suggestions on how to get some good weather karma I am willing to try anything!

The Cavalry Arrives!

After driving 5000kms in 5 and a half days Grandma and Pa arrived to save the day (and my sanity). We have spent the last week relaxing at Point Samson, a small beachside town about 40min north of Karratha. We have enjoyed walking through the reefs at low tide (the octopus were a huge delight), playing in the local playground, climbing over the rocks at Honeymoon Cove and bike riding. We have had a few days out and the kids have enjoyed being spoilt by Grandma and Pa (Emilia could not believe her luck when they took her to a cafe with a playground inside, McDonalds, and she got a strawberry sundae with m&m's on it). Both kids have loved showing their new bike riding and swimming skills and Jackson impressed us all with his cockroach collecting!

We are camped just across the road from the beach and have a fantastic view of the sunrise. I have seen the sunrise each morning as the kids have been up super early (5am) nearly every day. They have both had head colds too so I am so glad Mum and Dad have been here to help me out! The fridge in our van also packed up but thankfully Dad was able to get it out and into town to get fixed. We had a few days with no fridge, no gas and no running water in the campervan- very rough conditions! A crazy week but we are slowly getting back on track. 

Only ongoing issue has been the sand flies, so we have a permanent coating of repellant on as sand fly bites are super itchy and hang around for a few weeks. We have even taken to spraying our hair as they are biting our scalp. Jackson is toilet training and has even managed to get a few bites on his bum! 

Old goods train near Point Samson Jetty

Sunrise across the road from our campsite.

Stormy skies at low tide on Samson Beach

Cockroach Catching at Camp

Treats with Grandma and Pa

BMX Bandits!

Third month- Memories and Moans

A bit late (I forgot about it in the craziness of Daniel going to work) but here is the roundup of the last month.

Memories

Easter - a hunt around the caravan and a Easter bunny managed to make dairy free bunnies for Jackson. He was so pleased to be the same as everyone else and his happiness was radiant.

Emilia's birthday - the great people and staff at Finns fish place made for a memorable evening.

Dolphins in the wild - it was incredible to see two dolphins chasing fish up and down the bay on a visit to a remote beach on Francois Peron NP. An even better wildlife experience than the many dolphins we saw at Monkey Mia.

Making friends - we have finally met some great people and have loved the conversation and watching the kids socialise.

Spectacular sunsets- the west coast produces consistently breathtaking sunsets.

Coral reefs - the abundance of fish around the reefs of Coral Bay, including the amazing Oyster Bridge, made for incredible snorkelling. The kids loved viewing the fish and coral from the see through boogie boards we hired and from over the side of the paddleboard. 

Everything about Coral Bay - it was definitely one of the highlights of the trip. 

Moans

Mother Nature - she has not been kind to us this month. The crazy weather and plagues of flies (and moths, grasshoppers, beetles etc) have really put a downer on the trip. It has seemed that every wonderful spot we have gone to has had something that has made it difficult to enjoy the place to its full extent. The wind (that is meant to abate in April) has continued and the flies have been atrocious. Daniel and I have actually said to each other on a number of occasions that we should have stayed in Bundalong!

Anyway we are coming up with novel ways to deal with the difficulties and it has added a real strength to our relationship. 

Beauty regimen - I would love a facial as my moisturiser is now sunscreen and my perfume is Aeroguard, both of which are not kind to your skin! 

Most used items of the trip - baby wipes: used for bush showers, cleaning the car or van, wiping down public facilities, dirty faces, hands, feet. Basically our whole cleaning needs are covered by baby wipes! The coffee grinder and filter are getting used nearly every day (sometimes twice a day) and the kids bikes provide endless exercise and entertainment.

Least used items of the trip - all cooking equipment for cooking on the fire (we still haven't had a fire!) and at least half of our clothes which will now be sent back with Mum and Dad. We now wear things until they are really dirty so we definitely don't need as much as we have.

All by myself...........

Well technically not all by myself as I at least have the kiddies to keep me company and Mum & Dad will be here in a week or so. Daniel, although, has long days of work and an empty donga to come home to :(. Anyway Daniel began work today in Karratha so it was our first day away from each other since the middle of December. Thankfully we are only staying a 45 min drive away so we can hopefully see him a few times a week. The kids and I are in Point Samson, a small fishing town north of Karratha. It is lovely caravan park and we have a great grassy site with views of the beach. Kids are kept amused with the park and pool as we have been unable to use the beach so far as the sand flies are keeping us away. Fingers crossed they reduce soon but we have some super repellent coming with Mum and Dad (who are leaving on Sunday to come see us for a month - can't wait!). Our friends and their daughter are also coming back next week so we aren't alone for long.

Checking out Daddy's workplace

Relaxing with a movie - what a life!

Chilling at Samson Beach Caravan Park

Wonderful Whale Sharks

This is actually Daniel's experience but, as anyone who has ever received a birthday card from him knows, he doesn't enjoy writing and we'd be lucky to get more than a sentence. So when I offered to write it, he gladly accepted. Anyway Coral Bay is a perfect location to swim with the whale sharks, the worlds biggest fish. Between April to August whale sharks frequent the Ningaloo Reef, around Coral Bay, as they are filter feeders and the reef waters are abundant with food. It is a full day tour from 7.30 to 4 that includes several coral reef snorkels then constant dives/snorkels with the whales sharks whilst they are feeding near the shore. Daniel saw turtles, heaps of large jelly fish and swam with several whale sharks. They were smaller whale sharks but still 5-6 metres long, surely an impressive size to swim with. Daniel said they swam quite fast comparable to their size and it was an amazing feeling when they swam towards you with their huge mouths open for feeding. We had hired a GoPro underwater camera so Daniel got some great shots, their was also a professional photographer so we got heaps of pics. After their day on the reef they were further rewarded with 2 great sightings on the journey home, a dugong and a 7-8 metre tiger shark. He had a fabulous day and I was EXTREMELY disappointed that my day was cancelled due to the cyclone. 

Cyclone Chasers

We  awoke in the night on Thursday to rain pattering on the canvas, getting steadily heavier. Daniel clambered up the ladder to get the fly out and we slept fitfully listening to the rain and wind intensify (This couldn't be the cyclone that was predicted to hit on Saturday could it??). At 7.30 am I received a call to say my planned Whale Shark swim had been cancelled as the cyclonic winds were now meant to hit early afternoon and it was way to rough to go out to sea. Jackson and I put on jackets and umbrellas and walked in the wind and rain to get my refund. There were huge puddles everywhere and the amount of water that had come in only a few hours was incredible. We were informed by the caravan reception that we were now on Code Yellow and to prepare for a cyclone (which means evacuate if you are in a campervan!). Packing up was very challenging in the increasing wind and rain and Daniel was completely drenched. Suddenly the wind really picked up, so fast in fact that it broke our awning which we were in the process of packing up. It was getting hairy and it was only 11 am, we now wanted to get out as fast as possible. Everything was soaked, including bedding as it was impossible to get in and out of the van without the wind blowing enormous amounts of rain inside. All the canvas was soaked and wet to touch from the inside. After a hot shower for Daniel we left at midday. By now the wind and rain were lashing this small town and the roads were treacherous. The car and van were getting blown side to side and the rain on the car was deafening. It was a long, slow and scary drive for the first 3 hours as we literally drove through the remnants of Cyclone Quang. It had been downgraded to Catergory 1 by the time it hit the land and we certainly do not want to be near anything rated higher! After the crazy wind and rain came the flooded roads. Daniel and the kids loved the waves created from these crossings, some of which were several hundered meters long. Rivers were flowing with incredible speed and we just hightalied it to Karratha as we'd heard the flood was getting worse and we did not want to get stuck on the edge of the highway somewhere! Arrived at Karratha to our lush cabin to dry out. Daniel finally got to relax after having to use all his driving skills for the 6.5 hours we were on the road. We hope the lovely Coral Bay did not get too damaged and we look forward to visiting again next year.

Wet pack up (taken from the safety of the car!)

It was teeming!