Wed, 5th June, 2019 Bush camp near gravel pit, 50km south of Newman to RV Stop, Newman, WA

6.30am 9 degrees, clear sky. On with the heater.

8am headed into Newman. We were here 3 years ago after we explored Karijini NP and I did the iron ore mine tour so no need for more photos.

Parked near Woolies and did our shopping. Doing a big shop as this is our last ‘cheap’ grocery store for the next 3 months unless we drive 180km back to here or head up to Port Hedland when we are at Marble Bar later on.

Drove up to the Information Centre where there are parks for self-contained RVs for $10 a night. We parked up and started sorting the groceries etc.

Managed to get it all packed in. Erica rang to say David had sent us photos for her of the World Record RV line-up. She also spotted their van in a photo in the newspaper which she sent to me on my phone which I don’t know how to get off the phone.

Ray and Carol, via their computer, watched their grandson Rhys played for Qld in the U18 Rugby division before the State of Origin game tonight. He did very well, they are so proud of him.

Uploaded my blog and checked Facebook and emails. Got a message from Virginia and Geoff – they are in Nullagine again on the pending ground outside of town so we will catch up with them tomorrow on our way through to where we will be detecting.

Rang Kerry and Brian to see how they are going. Been to Exmouth where the wind was so strong and now there is rain predicted. The flies are so bad she had heaps in her coffee before she got it to her mouth!! Glad to say there are no flies or wind at the moment in Newman.

Bob rang about where we got our door hinge for the truck as he is putting one on the other side of his ute so they can get into the back and their new fridge easier. They will head up towards the end of the month as it is Margaret’s birthday on the 25^th and she was to have it up with us.

Rang Mum and Dad just before the State of Origin started. She said there was snow in Stanthorpe. She was glad that didn’t happen when they went there to be married 58 years ago on the 7^th. I wished them a happy anniversary in case we don’t have phone reception where we are headed.

Sent the boys and girls texts to let them know where we are and heading to. Jess is in Rocky doing her uni prac which she is enjoying and is doing very well too.

Chatted with a Victorian couple parked beside us. As the sun set the temperature dropped so we headed back into the van for a drink and a few games of Skipbo.

All the bays are full now and a couple more have parked up on the outer edge. The caravan park has closed in town so this is a popular spot.

The local hotel nearby had the music up loud – luckily we had the windows closed so it wasn’t too bad.