7am
7.7 degrees with a clear sky. Heater on so we can get up in the warmth!!
Watched
Sunrise and saw a German chap head off from Northam, WA to break the record to
travel around the world in a hot air balloon in under 13 days and 8 hours. Rang
mum to say we were heading north. She was off to the doctors to check out her
tummy and breathlessness.
Back
into town to get my Miner’s Permit, fuel, gas and water. Spoke to the
policewoman about the abandoned car but they already knew about it.
Headed
north on the bitumen towards Newman. Snapped a photo of a lovely gum at the
beginning of the Gascoyne River South Branch. No river as such just a wide low
area that then feeds the river as it travels west and out to the sea. Stopped
for lunch at a big rest area nearby.
Stopped
at the roadworks after passing the turn off to a copper mine. The stop/go man
was in for a chat. He said they were doing the roads and it was supposed to
take 3 weeks, first Paynes Find then Mount Magnet and now here but the rain has
slowed them so much they will end up taking 8 weeks. There was 175mm of rain
through here recently creating havoc with the bitumen. We noticed a lot of
water still along the edge of the road and across the flats it looks like lots
of little lakes.
Continued
on past the Plutonic Gold Mine. Further along we crossed the Gascoyne River
Middle Branch which did look like a river.
Just
before we pulled in to the Kumarina Roadhouse we passed another creek area. On
the map it shows the Gascoyne starting further east up in the hills.
Stopped
for a cuppa and chatted with the corellas.
I
went inside to see if there was any information. The lady said they had only
moved here 6 weeks ago and are planning renovations. I found a canoe hanging in
the seating area. A map on the wall too.
On
the other side the creek continues and is over the road a bit. The trucks just
fly through missing the hole in the middle of the road.
Walked
down to the road for a photo of the creek.
Continued
on through the Collier Range National Park – wonder what was significant there
for them to make it a National Park.
Stopped
to top up the fuel at Capricorn Roadhouse (just before Newman) as it was only
136.9 c/l for diesel. It was 145.9 in Meekatharra but we got the 10c off for
swapping our gas bottle. Rang home and got Dad. He had just left Mum in
hospital!! Her doctor wanted to investigate the fluid retention and breathing
so put her in for some tests. I rang her mobile but no answer so tried Greg and
he was with Mum and just got her phone out and saw I had called. Mum is fine
but happy to be getting checked out. Having a CT tomorrow so will check how
things go later.
I
rang Val to let her know in case Mum ends up in hospital for a few days as she
and Mum go out on Thursday. Val is still doing amazing well.
Back
on the road and we passed the Tropic of Capricorn sign but I missed getting a
photo!! The sun is starting to set.
Passed
the big airport for Newman – obviously a lot of FIFO mine workers around here.
Across the Fortescue River just before Newman, no water in there.
Turned
off before Newman onto the dirt road to Marble Bar. Turned off then to head
down to the Opthalmia Dam to camp for the night. Three guys were having a BBQ
so chatted with them for a bit as they wanted to know about our Nissan. Bit
chilly and windy so found a spot by the water and turned on the heater as night
fell.
Steve
tried the TV and got a heap of channels. Got the weather and it’s not going to
be any warmer after travelling 400 or so kilometres north as it will be 16
tomorrow after an overnight low of 3 which is nearly the same as Meeka 3 to
15!!
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