Mon, 8th August, 2022 Settlers Beach campsites, near Cossack to Karratha Travel & Truck Stop, south of Karratha, WA (exploring the towns) (Dad 1 year)

14.2 degrees at 6am. The sea is calm and there is no wind. Mackerel clouds are still in the south.

Headed back out and down the Cossack Road to the salt flats. We stopped where Wikicamps had the burial site for Red Dog marked and wandered around trying to find the plaque which was erected by the vet that cared for him after he ate a bait. Eventually I found it on a rock in a cluster of rocks.

Back to the main road then up to Wickham which appears to be a nice residential area. It was established as a mine town in the 1970 for the workers constructing the iron ore processing plant but in 1980 it was made into a normal township. We stopped at the entrance park and checked out the Robe Rivers haul pac and locomotive. Unfortunately the signs haven’t been looked after.

Lovely aloe vera flowers in the gardens and heaps of Sturt Desert Peas everywhere.

We didn’t got into the township but continued along the main road north. We turned off onto the Cape Lambert Road to hopefully see the Cape Lambert loading facility but had to turn around at the main gate. I also realised we should have taken a road from in Wickham to go up to Wickham Back Beach so we have missed that one.

Back on the main road heading north and we can see the loading facilities.

We crossed Popes Nose Causeway - named after that rock apparently. Not sure which Pope’s nose it is named after! Looks a bit like Steve’s nose!

Further along more of the iron ore facility comes into view.

Around a bend to head east to Point Samson. First we stop at the information bay. Looking at the map it looks like rhinos head. Lots of great information.

Into Point Samson township and around to Honeymoon Cove where more Sturt Desert Peas are growing - I think they are one of the most unusual flowers and so pretty. Lots of purple Mulla Mulla too.

Made a cuppa and sat in the shelter shed. Chatted with a chap visiting his son who works for Rio Tinto. I left Steve chatting to take photos of Honeymoon Cove. I can see where we camped last night, Readers Head and Jarman Island across the bay.

A footpath guides me down to the beach through the amazing rock formations.

Ray and Carol rang in reply to our texts. They had a nice time at Kurundi Station Fossicking Area in NT. Unfortunately the pastoralist is not happy about having people come as some idiot did the wrong thing with a gate and heap of his cattle died. Luckily Ray had the correct forms from the NT mines dept but now you can only stay for a 2 weeks period. At least it was worth them going though the road was very rough. We rang Brian and Kerry to see how they went at Old Halls Creek. They had chatted with someone who found a few nice bits on the leases - you just have to be lucky and walk over the right spot.

Drove around to the site of the old jetty which has now been replaced with a viewing platform.

Nice view over Town Beach. This is a great spot to see the sun rise over the water on one side of Point Samson and set over the water on the other side. Will have to come back and stay the night sometime. Zoomed in on the long jetty from Cape Lambert - only two ships being loaded at the moment but there are lots waiting out at sea.

Plant information. This is the Jack Bean.

Continued around to Back Beach which is closer to Cape Lambert. A ship is being brought in by tugs to be loaded. We spotted a dolphin working its way along the shallows in front of us. Another chap here said whales have been spotted in the last couple of weeks.

We watched as the tugs moved the ship closer than turned it around and backed it into the wharf. At that point my camera battery ran out so I took some photos with my phone.

Another Emma Withnell history plaque about the ship ‘Solveig’ that was wrecked here in a cyclone in 1903. We can’t see any of the wreckage, maybe the tide isn’t low enough.

Headed back out and down to Roebourne where we continued along the North West Coastal Highway. Through flat grazing country surrounded by the spinifex hills - some with flat tops. Crossed over the railway taking iron ore to Cape Lambert but no trains at the moment. More clouds are coming over us.

Turned off to Cleaverville, onto gravel road for 13km. It is a popular camping spot by the beach. $16 per night and free after 1 Oct, when it starts to get hotter and the usual travellers have headed home. On the Hema it shows there was the Cleaverville Mine on the point so maybe the road was here for that reason and of course it is good for fishing. Up and over a rise and we see some vans along and behind the sand ridge. The wind is still blowing so being back from the beach is probably a good thing - we learnt that when we did the south-west coast of WA.

Drove down to the picnic area for lunch. A vehicle pulled in and it was Mick, our neighbour from Port Hedland. Anne is still hobbling with her ankle so she stayed at the van which is just across from here. Apparently the caretaker had a disagreement with the Info Centre and isn’t collecting the money etc - oh dear. View across to their van then over Nickol Bay and an island (not mentioned on the maps as it might only appear because it is low tide) to the land mass which is Burrup Peninsula. I think the white domes and towers are part of the North West Shelf Project.

Around over the sand ridge to the other campers and the hills we came over to get here.

Drove around the hill to the boat ramp which is down in the mangroves at the entrance to an inlet.

Back around the other side of the hill to a nice secluded camp spot with a better view of the white tanks etc.

Decided to continue on with our sightseeing but might come back later. Back to the highway and turned off to Karratha Industrial Area. Found the Minelab agent and got my coil replaced on my detector as they have been having issues with them and mine has been playing up.

Through more spinifex covered rocky hills to Karratha township (map).

The catholic church has an impressive tower.

On the corner is the Arts Centre which stands out.

We pulled into the RV parking area of the shopping centre. There is water available for $1 for 50 litres too. Got our fruit and veg and a few things I forgot before in Port Hedland.

Headed out of town towards Dampier (map).

Pulled into the Dampier Salt lookout. Had a cuppa - the picnic table is a big large and heavy.

Great information - as of 2017. Should have this at Port Hedland too where the big piles are.

Continued through the salt ponds. Some ‘art’ is in the water just off the road.

Up the hill then into the information bay at Dampier.

More information about Red Dog and a map of the walking trail.

We drove down to the water and spotted the loading wharf. Found a Red Dog trail sign which has some great aerial photos.

Turned around - looking across to the salt piles.

Up the hill to the Dampier Lookout. Info about William Dampier and a map of the Dampier Archipelago. More Red Dog trail boards.

It is getting late so we will come back tomorrow to finish off the trail and explore Burrup Peninsula. Back across the rail lines to the wharf.

Great views over the salt beds as we headed back down the hill.

Drove back out to the NWC highway to the Truck Stop on the corner. We can park up for the night here. There are a few others already set up for the night.

Had a great chat with Dave and Wendy while we had our drinks.

Not too much traffic noise here once night came.