Friday 29 July
Today was to be a long drive so it was
the normal BBB and off by 7:30am.
The first part of the trip south was
through the pindan scrub but soon were were in flat grassy grazed
paddocks. I saw two brolga in the grass quite close to the road.
Morning tea was at Goldwire picnic area
(presumably named after the dodder growing over the shrubs all along
the road). One of the grey nomads was quite interested in what I was
photographing so we had a chat about dodder in particular and plants
in general.
On to Sandfire Roadhouse for lunch that
was ready for us. The country had quite a bit of salt flat area so I
guess it should have been “samphire” roadhouse. Whilst wandering
there I came across a host of butterflies drinking in a soak from the
hose.
We then had a detour so see 80 Mile
Beach – what an amazing site! The Great Sandy Desert is well
vegetated at the moment with low shrubs and grasses. At one river
crossing I saw a Jabiru down in the dry river bed.
Back down the track to Pardoo Roadhouse
for afternoon tea (ice cream) and the ubiquitous toilet stop.
We were obviously well out of the
western desert areas soon after Pardoo and entering the pilbara with
an emphasis on mining – rail lines and long, long trains, huge
machinery and piles of ore and salt.
At the motel in Port Headland Joan and
I had been given a double bed. I put my foot down and said this was
not appropriate so the motel staff found me another room which had no
windows and no air. Luckily at dinner Carol invited me to stay in her
room which had a spare bed, a much more comfortable room and not at
all like the dog kennel I'd been given. How great to be on a trip
with such considerate people.
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