Marble Bar

Tuesday 18th

Today is home duties day. (P) A mans work is never done!!! That means washing clothes and floors, cleaning bathroom and all those other yuck jobs that need to be done to keep our house in order. But first up, before it heats up, we are off for a walk around town. We checked out some of the heritage sites, called into the general store for some eggs (P) and fresh baked apple strudel for dessert this evening), then visited the information centre. The lady there was very helpful and full of information and sent us on our way with maps and details of where to visit.

After lunch we took off to see Marble Bar which is about 5 k out of town. This is the phenomena that gave the town its name. Unfortunately it’s not actually marble but Jasper. The rock doesn’t look much until it’s wet and then the colours really show out.

Driving a bit further you never know what you will come across. About 40 k out of town is the remains of a Secret WW11 airbase. Two very distinct runways are almost all that can be seen. With markers showing where ammunition dumps, fuel dumps, accommodation sites etc were.

This base was set on Corunna Station and had air crew quarters, kitchen mess, canteen, post office and store. The runways, one 2300 m long the other 1650 m long and both 50 m wide are just cleared strips in the spinifex landscape. Long range B24 Liberator bombers thundered down these strips. Heavily loaded with bombs they were on their way to Japanese bases in a Java, Borneo, Singapore and other targets in South East Asia. About 300 people lived at Corunna Downs, most in four man tents. They were tormented with heat, flies, snakes and scorpions. The temperature could reach 50 degrees and the brackish artesian water was so hot that it only cooled enough to shower after 9 pm.

Well with no other vehicles in site and two very clear runways, what would you expect a rev head husband to do. Well that’s exactly what he did. 170 kph drag down the runway and we still didn’t take off! We have good brakes though. (P) I was responsible and did a runway check first as a good pilot always does! They say “you can never take the youth out of a man” no matter what age. That was fun!!! I also flew my drone as the airfield can be better appreciated with the aerial photos. Not sure what they used for weed control 75 odd years ago but the area is still relatively denuded of vegetation even after all this time!

Driving back to the main road we followed a road train. Philip got on the radio and asked him some questions. We now know that he is called a Super Train, 4 trailers, 98 wheels and tyres, 60 metres long, 550 HP and 3 rear drive axles, total weight 205 tonnes, has a payload of 139 tonnes, he does a 410 k round trip to Port Hedland and does two round trips per day. Pretty impressive numbers really.

Back at the van we enjoyed a lovely drink with our neighbours comparing notes on where we had been and what we had seen during our travels, comparing roads and campsites along the way.