Windjana and Port Hedland

Saturday 4th Aug

Today started with a FaceTime call with Joanne and Hugh. After some time Philip was talking to Hugh and was showing him some photos off his phone. Philip mentioned that he had a beautiful lady with him in the photo of Peters Plane. Philip moved the camera round to show me, and Hugh said. “Pa—That’s not a beautiful lady pa, that’s just Ma”! (P- we all laughed and I am sure Judith’s ego was a little deflated!)

Windjana and Tunnel Creek Loop.

Leaving Derby early this morning we are heading out to Windjana Gorge to walk before it gets too warm. The first part of the drive is on the Gibb River Road and the first 150 kilometres is now sealed, once we turn on to the Windjana road it’s unsealed and pretty rough. We are out to the gorge soon after 8.30 ready to walk. Right at the beginning of the walk was a bower bird adorning it’s nest with bright white stones. Pretty awesome to see the bird and nest so close to the path. Further on we get some pretty good views up the gorge with the walls towering over us. There is a huge sandbar part way up the gorge which we walk out onto and can spot about 30 freshwater crocs sunning themselves at the edge of the water. We can get pretty close and watch as some catch fish and some just cruise around the waters edge.

From Windjana we continue on to Tunnel Creek, (Philip collapsed and is fast asleep after the walk, not even a corrugated road would keep him awake!) a rock Tunnel/cave about 1 km long. After climbing over some large rocks and squeezing between more rocks we dropped down onto the sand. The tunnel opens out into a large cavern with a creek running through. Several areas of water that we have to wade through the deepest above our knees. Philip and Peter walked right through, I stopped at the deep water and while they were gone watched the 1 metre crocodile swim about. Back out to the car and we continued along the road to the Great Northern Highway and our return to Derby. Along the way we spotted some great Boab Trees. And Philip is asleep again! .

(P- once on the Great Northern Highway we put the UHF radio in the Hilux to Good use. Once when we met a Truckie Peter knew from Bunbury and a few minutes later another couple he knew from Harvey, both from near where Peter lives. Once back in Derby I went for a walk to watch the sunset, I wandered across the local Mud Crab Races, well attended and popular with the tourists – the prize being the actual winning crab freshly cooked onsite for your dinner! I wonder what happens as a prize at the local Horse Races???)

Sunday 5th

Today’s trip takes us from Derby to Shalimar Station where we landed to visit a farm that produces watermelons, corn and beans. Then continuing onto Port Hedland. Some great scenery again today, starting with Shalimar Station part of which is Lush green irrigator pivot circles with sweet corn and green beans and acres of watermelons. Our guide and farm manager, Josh picked us a watermelon, dropped it on the ground to split it open and we picked out some fresh cool and very juicy sweet watermelon. It was delicious, I’ve never tasted any better watermelon. Then we tasted some fresh sweet corn. No need to cook this stuff it’s so tender and very sweet. All this farm is surrounded by nothing. It’s a case of just add water and fertiliser and some preparation and you have good cropping land.

Then it’s on to Port Hedland. This is where Philip takes over the commentary with all the stats he can come up with.

(P- Port Headland— well it could be said I have travelled to one or two industrial towns in my life BUT Port Hedland would be the Heaviest Duty Industrial Town I have come across for its size.

(Population approx 14,000). It is the exporting hub of the massive Pilbara Iron Ore mining area.

It exports over 1.3 million Tonnes of Iron Ore a DAY an excess of 30 x 300m long bulk ore ships, with the ore being transported from several mines by some of the worlds largest Rail trains, Biggest road trains and loaded at one of the largest bulk loading ports! Fortunately we hired a car and spent the afternoon wandering around roads and streets that may or may not have have been meant for public access. This place is so full of Big trains, planes, helicopters, ships, loaders, dozers and trucks, it is basically a town of “Big Boys Toys” that deserves a longer visit another time!)