Well we’re off on our travels again and hope some of you might enjoy reading about them. We’re going to try something different this year and try to post the odd video.
The first one is a test, so perhaps you can provide some feedback, i.e., does it work and is is it worth it.
Thursday 13th May
This morning we have a start per normal for these occasions, early drama with documents required in the UK and an unstable condition with the pool!
With both issues hopefully resolved, about mid’ day we were heading down the drive and locking the gate, always a good moment without too much concern as we know that our neighbours will be keeping a close eye on the property.
Once on the road we had a pretty reasonable run up to and round Perth, stopping for bit of lunch after an hour or so, at Wannamal rest area on the Great Northern Highway.
By mid afternoon we had passed New Norcia, via the new by-pass so no fish n’ chips today! There were very few trucks going north at this time of day, most of them having left Perth this morning, so it was really a quite pleasant drive.
However, after an early start to the day and some rushing around this morning, by about 1530 we were looking for a night stop. Wiki said that Piawining Hall was a reasonable night stop. It is about ten ks off the highway to the east and a typical wheatbelt hamlet, complete with a railway line so we might hear some early trains. No one else around.
It does have nice clean toilets and showers attached to the Tennis Club.
Time for collapsing into the chairs for a cup of tea, etc., to wind down and get into travelling mode.
Friday 14/5/21
Heading north out of Piawining, is a short cut back to the Great Northern Hwy (GNH) at Bindi Bindi and the main route north. This highway is the main link between all the resources centres in the north of WA, i.e., oil & gas, iron ore, gold and many smaller but equally importantly resources industries.
This leads to an almost constant stream of road trains (up to 56m long) travelling north and south virtually 24/7. We’re about 400m from the road tonight but we can still hear the trucks going past.
We have a radio in the Troopy and when we see a road train coming up behind us we contact them to let them know that we know they are there and are prepared to slow down as they overtake. This means that they can often overtake in more places because they know that you are going to let them back in.
Most of the truckies appreciate this (not many caravanners have / actually use radios) and often we have an interesting conversation.
We stop in Dallwalinu for morning tea, this is a typical wheatbelt town dominated by vast wheat silos (concrete and ground storage) and the railway line which Is essential to keep a considerable additional number of road trains of the road.
Many of our night stops are either old ‘quarries’, in WA this means places where they have dug out road base or, places where they have stored ‘blue metal’, used for road surfacing. In both cases they are usually nice and flat where they have been cleaned out by the road gangs.
Some of them are marked on the travel maps, others we just take a look at and if suitable we use them
Tonight we are trying one call Old Wynyangoo, which as you can see is just a flat area of red dirt, somewhere in the region of 100 acres.
We’re about 400m from the road tonight but we can still hear the trucks going past.
Saturday 15th May
We have done just over 400ks today which is a bit more than I like to do but it is very easy driving and we want to give ourselves time to do a few things in Broome, before we head off into the Kimberley.
The scenery on this route is amazing although we have seen it before, we always enjoy seeing the changes.
Tonight we’re trying a different spot on the Middle Branch of the Gascoyne River. Just over a month ago they had some serious rainfall up here and this road was closed for a few days, the trucks were lined up north and south for many kilometres.
However, once it stops raining the water drops quite rapidly and the river that was 4/5 m deep is already reduced to shallow pools.
Sunday 16th May
Very quiet on the road today from our point of view, again all the trucks seem to be heading south, bit of interest in Newman, visited the information centre and told that the Marble Bar road is OK for off-road vehicles and the Boreline Road in good condition.
These are seriously big Tonka Toys, eh!
Bit of excitement meeting with with a wide load (5.5m) but plenty of room to get out of its way in advance, appreciated by, pilot, driver and police escort. Probably because further back up the highway we could hear them cursing a caravan that clearly didn’t have a radio or was ignoring the radio traffic!
Stopping overnight at The Roy Hill RA tonight many ha of camping space, had the place to ourselves again. You can see by the earth that although it was flooded a few weeks ago, it doesn’t take long to dry out.
Monday 17th May
Today were on the dirt again and a few corrugations but still able to keep up a reasonably comfortable speed.
We’re heading for Shay Gap a fairly prominent gap in the Isabella Range where we plan to stop tonight. On the way up we cross the de Grey river which is currently across the road. Its not very deep with a concrete causeway but you need to keep your eyes open for where the concrete might have been washed away – saves embarrassment!
We have stayed at de Grey River n the past, it is a really lovely spot, particularly whilst there is plenty of moving water to keep the mozzies away. Last year our friends came this way In early September and it was fenced off with no entry signs but this time there are no signs and we thought we could see a vehicle as we went past. Unfortunately, we have’t got time to check it out tonight.
So tonight its a makeshift campsite at Shay Gap amongst the spinifex but we have decided that we have time to go back and check out de Grey River in the morning.
Tuesday 18th May
So this morning we head back south for about 15ks to have a look at de Grey river. Even in the last twelve hours or so, the water level has dropped
Alloveroz 
Hi Roger & Pat. Wishing you safe travels and more adventures. Video rendered perfectly so I look forward to seeing more from your trip. Love from the Sparkies.
Hi Roger and Pat. Wishing you a good time travelling. The video is a great feature and the associated audio informing us that Pat had not written to Maureen was useful to know. We too sometimes visit Kimberley (hall), where recently it has been an unseasonably cold experience ringing hand bells in the cart shed.
Best wishes
David