Around the W.A. Block

[kiwijim]

On the road again, after a couple of days in Karratha.
Our next stop was only 53 km East, this was the small town of Roebourne, being Sunday morning, nothing was open.
Calling into see the very old local jail , Yep closed, we had a bit of a look around anyway.............







After spending about half a hour waiting for someone to open the place up, we gave up and moved on.

At this point in our travels I was getting pretty excited because the next stop was a place that I had spent many happy hours in while working up here, way back in the late 60's and very early 70's
The WHIM CREEK HOTEL brought back memories like the Beer drinking Camel, the large cages full of Native birds under a huge shaded out door drinking garden and the Python that used to crawl around the rafters.

You can imagine how I felt when we finally arrived after traveling over 2600 km to find the place "CLOSED" all fenced off, the petrol bowsers gone and a heap of dirt spread right across the entrance, &$$##@^%

Here's the original sign on the highway at the turnoff, at least that was still the same, but now means nothing...............



Passing the sign, the shock really set in..............





On the far side of the parking area there were some monuments in memory of 5 Native fliers, these were local boys, who lost their lives in the second world war..............



The only thing that still thrived here was the large colourful Hibiscuis trees planted along the short drive back to the highway.........



In the half hour we spent there, I meet a bloke who was working up this way at the same time as myself, at least we had some very similar memories,
he also told me that the Hotel had been bought my some Mining Company who had the idea of putting their mine workers into the hotel as a sleeping quarters,
but the company had found later that the mine near the Hotel was a loss so they stuck the whole place into Mothballs and it's sat that way for the last few years.
In the short time we were there, there must have been a dozen caravans call in, many hoping for fuel and something to drink,
they were all very angry to find it closed, as there are signs on the highway all the way from Hedland over 100 km away saying ...... Next Fuel .Whim Creek.

[kiwijim]

Howdy Bob,

Still drying the eyes after the visit to Whim Creek Hotel,

Someone once told me.... NEVER GO BACK to a place you once knew, it will never be the same, Now True.

More Pic's will follow when I settle down again .

kiwijim

[bobt]

Hey Kiwi fella.

Thats a bit sad.. the place being closed and all that, even more so the fact the signs still exist giving the impression its still a goer. Perhaps an email to the local authorities about the signage might be appropriate.

I notice you seem to have a thing for Police Stations and Jails. You re living some other memories?

bobt

love them photos makes me feel like I am there too..

[kiwijim]

Howdy Bob,

Yep, I'm pretty sure the local authority's are well aware of the signs giving people false hope but, in this part of the world,
it takes a long time to get things done .

Funny about you mentioning how there is something about Me and Jails,
remind me to tell you about the time I was driving a Semi,
which had 7 fully grown LIONS in the back, and how I ended up being hauled off to a small town jail. !!

kiwijim

[kiwijim]

"Dry Your Eyes Sunshine" ...Let's get going ? Was what The "Dear One" said after our visit to Whim Creek Hotel.

So off we headed East towards Hedland, The Highway South, ( The Great Northern Highway ) is around 40km West of Hedland but with anything less than a full tank of fuel,
there was a very good chance of running out before one gets to the first fuel station heading South, so this "Old Codger" decided to do the extra 40 km round trip just to make sure.

We got fuel in Hedland, $ 1.65 Cpl and took on all we could carry including the 3 Jerry cans being filled to the brim.

Heading South, we stopped around 285 km later at a very pretty and high, Munjina Gorge,
This Gorge is opposite to Karajina National Park, ..................

The following Pic's were taken from the top of the Gorge where there is a lookout and picnic area, ( with a doz caravans )






"The Boss" admiring some Wild Flowers at the Gorge.........





We had just come off the access road and back onto the High way when we were forced off the road by a Police Escort of a wide load heading North..............



Our next stop was at Newman where there is a new Caravan Park, being new, around $40.00p/n and not a bit of shade to be seen any where. a quick overnight stop then another refuel and off at first light.

kiwijim.

[kiwijim]

As soon as the overwidth load had passed, we were back on the highway and heading South.

Our next stop for a cuppa was the Kumarina Roadhouse, Now if anyone is heading up, or down this way, This road house is a Must Stop,
They sell the best Home-made Steak Pies that you could buy anywhere in the West, nice fresh flaky pastry and about half a kilo of real steak pieces..........



After a great feed and an excellent cup of Coffee we set our sights on the next town down the line ( 270 km South of Newman )
This being the very old gold mining town of Meekatharra.
In the main street there is a rest area with some lovely green grass, shaded trees and a whole collection of old Mining equipment ...................









Finally, there was the truck that was the first to deliver Mail to this part of the world......





After a good couple of hours walking around this stop, we were off again for another couple of days Bush Camping.

kiwijim.

[kiwijim]

After a couple of nights Bush camping, The rain caught up to us on the second night, it poured down all night but as soon as dawn approached the skies cleared so we crawled our way off the muddy track and back onto the seal.

We had only gone a few km's when we once again were forced off the road by the little white van with all the red & blue lights flashing.
And I do mean forced off the road, this Cop drove straight at us on the wrong side of the road,
How he missed our caravan, I'll never know, it was that close that I was braced for impact ............



When I was finally settled enough to continue, we drove on until the Missis started to complain about her feet swelling up because of her medical condition.
Because of this, I decided to head straight home.

WE made one more stop, this was at the Benedictine Monastery in New Norcia,
This place is huge, with many out-lying buildings, There is a new parking area on the Northern approach with clean toilets, this stop is right opposite to the Main entrance to the Monastery........



The first foundation stone here was laid way back in 1847, today it's a great tourist attraction and well worth the time to have a look around......







Spending a couple of hours rest here, The "Dear One's" feet were a little better, so off we went on our last leg Home.

Would you believe it, heading down the Swan Valley ( almost home ) and what held us up ""AGAIN""
"Yep" another wide load, and this one was a real heavy weight, with two tractor units on front and two at the rear.....



Our last shot taken on this trip around the W.A. Block, was of the Canola fields starting to come into flower, around 100km out of Perth.....



That's it Folks, 4,600 km in total, I didn't keep a total cost of this trip, had a bad enough shock when we went around the big block 4 years ago,
I'll just say we saw some nice places, had some big disappointments, and found some very expensive places to avoid, if we should ever get up this coast again.

Cheers kiwijim.

[ForumMod]

G'day kiwijim,

Thanks a million for taking the time to post all the photos of your trip. It certainly makes us keen to come over and experience your region for our first time (just have to draw down on the mortgage for the fuel )

There are certainly some quite interesting places in your neck of the woods.

And crikey!...those mining trucks being transported are HUGE!! Looks like they'd hold a whole mountain when they've been filled up! Imagine what the fuel bill is to fill one of those up!

cheers,
Al.

[kiwijim]

G'day Al,

Yep, I gotta agree with you, the cost of fuel is get beyond a joke today,
It' s going to ruin a lot of people's holiday plans, that's for sure.

We were happy to share our travel Pic's with all who took the time to view them,
I would like to see others do the same, it's interesting to see what's on offer in other states.

Way back in the travel time, I told how I say what could only be U.F.O's until they went past me ?? ......................

Aug 30, 2013 0:04:17 GMT 10 kiwijim said:

Now I never believed in U.F.O.'s until I was sitting in the dark one night while camping on the river on the way out to Old Onslow.
I was sitting back watching a very clear sky, millions of bright stars and the occasional shooting star, when something caught my eye,
looking back down the track which we had travelled into the area on, I saw three very bright lights coming towards me,
there were two beside each other and a third, above and slightly off to the left, they were about the size of a small plate ( or saucer )
As I watched, they became larger, there was not a sound on this very still calm night, which made them more spooky ?!!
Can anyone guess what they were ?

kiwijim

Can anyone guess what made the mysterious lights ? ?

I'm waiting

kiwijim

[glennv]

Kiwijim,

what a sensational set of photographs and memories. It was a great read !

As for the U.F.O.s ... isn't that just it ? They are unidentified To identify them takes away the mystery and romance !!

Glenn.

[kiwijim]

Howdy Glen,

We're glad you enjoyed the read and photographs,

In the case of the U.F.O's I'm afraid I was far from romantic when I first spotted them,
I was in two minds as to run or grab another Brownie, I decided that as curiosity got the better of me,
I dived into the fridge and returned to my seat keeping a close on these lights as they came closer.

As the lights passed the caravan I saw that they were very bright L.E.D.'s attached to a push bike with a small side car on the side,
The top light was on a headband of the bloke on the bike and the two other lights were on the front of the sidecar.

Being on a packed clay road, the bike made no sound whatsoever.

Although very scary at the time, I had to laugh as this guy started talking on a Mobile phone just as he passed.

Mystery solved.

kiwijim.

[glennv]

Too funny ! Was he wearing green Lycra ??

[bobt]

First thing I thought was that ale you were drinking was off or !! push bike was the last thing I would have thought you were watching. Then I thought it might have been an aeroplane way off in the distance.

Love the tale enjoyed the pics, hope the boss is better

[kiwijim]

Howdy Guys,

Green Lycra ? "Yep" I think I may have been something near that shade if it had been light enough to see.

Yes, the "Boss" has come good again, Thank for asking Bob, It appeared that all the sitting was the cause of her problem,
In her present condition, things can change very rapidly, so I wasn't game to take any chances,
that's why I headed straight home instead of doing a large detour across the country to Kalgoorlie,
this would have added another couple of weeks to the trip.

After we returned home, I thought that as it didn't took like we would be using the van again in the near future,
I decided to advertise it on GUMTREE, "DANG ME" if it didn't sell within 1 hour of placing the advert.
I'm now looking around for the next Project, As VKGREENIE used to say....... "KEEP TOONED".

kiwijim.

[youngdazza]

Sounds like a great trip. Good to hear that the missus is feeling better now.

What? You sold the corimal? Crikey that sold quickly! I bet you walked away with a profit on that van!

So after paying off the bill for the fuel (!) you should be cashed up and scouring gumtree for the next project no? A classic this time?

Cheers

[kiwijim]

Howdy youngdazza,

"Yep" I'm pretty happy with what I got for the Coromal, That is,.
when the balance owing turns up,
Only a deposit payed at this stage, the balance is due by the weekend or, the Guy looses his substantial deposit.

I'm pretty sure it will go through O.K. this Bloke and his Wife were really wrapped in the van.

So, What's next you ask ? Well, I still haven't made up my mind, after something like 35 caravans owned in my lifetime,
it's a bit of a toss up, If I spot another bargain like the Coromal,
I'll be in like lightning, there again if I spot a really rare Classic, I'll be into that as well.

I've had another lecture from the "Boss" about not rushing out and 'Blowing the loot" as she describes it but,
She has said that about just about every van I've owned, You would think someone would give it a rest "Ah"

The next couple of weeks should see something new, or very old on the front lawn again.

Cheers kiwijim.

[bobt]

another motorhome???

[kiwijim]

"No", "No", NEVER AGAIN !!

[viscount6116]

Howdy Kiwijim

Looks like you guys have had a great trip...thanks for all the pics which bought back all the good memories of WA

As for the ufo's don't worry Jim you are not the only one that has seen very strange things in the sky in remote regions...I reckon that its all a part of the experience , most people just don't look up at night and lets be honest most times that you do look up there is nothing but stars and the odd satellite that float through !!

PS ...and no bobt I didn't see them after 15 cans of Carlton Mid !! lol

Cheers Andy

[kiwijim]

G'day There Andy,

Yep, the night sky sure can be fascinating, and a few of the tubes of Amber lube can do some funny things to the eye sight.

I always liked to gaze at the stars in the Northern sky, mainly because it's so clear up that way.
It does make me wonder...... "why the hell", should we be the only creatures looking that way, and how many others are looking our way ??

Glad you liked the photo's, they should have bought back a few memories, that's for sure,
I found, it was a pity that things I knew from my working time up there, back in the early 70'S had all changed, the places I knew, the roads I travelled ( now all sealed ) and that Whim Creek Hotel was a real kick in the guts to find it in such a run down and abandon looking condition.

Now tell us, How is the "Pebble Picking" going ? Found any real nice Gem Stones yet ?? some close up Pic's would be great to Ogle over.

kiwijim.

[viscount6116]

Gday Kiwijim

I know what you mean about places changing over time. I suppose the Kimberley region would be the same for me as it is now about 13 years since I lived and worked up there but WA was one of the best places about both north and south. The thing that struck me about the west was the size of the state (for anyone that hasn't been...you could drive non stop for 4 days and still be in the same state !)

I didn't get up north this year Jim as I'm selling up in the Adelaide Hills at the moment and have secured a job back in vineyard management in the Barossa Valley so sorry to say that I didn't go fossicking this year but as soon as I do shall definitely post some pics ( I know how much everyone likes piccies on this forum)

Regards Andy

[wildgoose]

So James what has happened. Are you stuck in your drive way?