Sun, 4th Sept, 2022 Roy Hill Rest Area, south of Nullagine to Van Park, Nullagine, WA (Father’s Day)

One year since we scattered Dad’s ashes at his family home in Millaa Millaa. I think them both often.

Rang Terry for Father’s Day.

Cool and grey again, 15 degrees. Continued along the bitumen.

Water is running in the Fortescue River - well here any way from the rain.

Through the Roy Hill Iron Ore mine site with the pink facility - I can’t get over the pink!

Then I spotted some train carriages in the distance and they were pink too. We had to stop at the rail crossing and watched them pass - really Gina!

The sky is clearing ahead. Onto the dirt road which is very muddy in places but we are just taking it easy and of course Steve is very careful not to cut up the road etc. Bit of water in the first crossing of Nullagine River.

As we approached Bonney Downs Station homestead the road became very muddy. A vehicle coming towards us stopped to say it was very sloppy ahead and there was a concrete truck stuck in the middle of the road. We might have to stop and camp for a bit!

We got through ok and passed the station homestead then saw a vehicle beside the creek with the chap underneath the car working on it. Steve pulled in to see if he needed help. Another Steve, and Margo from Ballarat too had detoured via Marble Bar and down because there was a fatality on the main highway and they were trying to get down to Kalgoorlie where they had accommodation booked. Unfortunately as they started down the dirt the rain started and his car wouldn’t engage (electronic) 4WD so they skidded their way along to here and decided to try and see if he could fix the problem. Unfortunately he can’t but as Steve said the road wasn’t too bad they decided to continue on in 2WD. We had a cuppa and chatted as the sun came out which warmed us up.

Passed the concrete driver, who called us up on the UHF when Steve stopped to see if he needed anything. He had just come off a concrete causeway and onto the dirt on an incline when it just wouldn’t go forward. He has 100 ton and he couldn’t even get it to go backwards either which he said he did in a few other spots. He had plenty of food and drink and will just sit and wait for the road to dry out then continue on. No more rain is forecast for the next week so hopefully he won’t be stuck there for too long.

We had no problems the rest of the way and pulled into the Nullagine Van Park and booked in with the caretaker for two nights, only $15 per night, unpowered.

Set up against the fence with ‘water’ views. They said the water flowed across the park from the rain into this drain.

Chatted the afternoon away with Geoff & Virginia.

Julie and Ray are here too so had a quick chat with Julie while I got the washing on (free for a change). The sun is out and it is nice and warm again.

Steve got a Father’s Day message from Daniel and then Jon rang once he had finished work at the mine.

There are lots of birds around and we saw an Indian Ring-neck Parrot land by the pool for a drink.

The sky has cleared and it is quite cool as we have our drinks outside then inside for dinner.