Exmouth To Tom Price

25/06/2011
Today we had earmarked as panic tanning day as we are going bush the day after tomorrow. -------Not to be!!! Woke up to heavy cloud and a forecast of rain so a quick revision of plans needed. We have visited a lot of the west side of the peninsula and as there are things to see and do this side, we thought we would have a look. There is a scenic drive called Charles Knife Road Canyon. Once you leave the highway it is a gravel road for 11K’s, following razor backed ridges with spectacular views either side. We only got about halfway when it began to rain very heavily, turning the surface of the track into very slippery mud. We mnaged a couple of pictures but it was obviously too dangerous to carry on in our 2WD. Off the hill we went and had a look at the brand new marina, we could just about make out the original jetty.
When we got back to base, everything we had left out (table, grill and 2 chairs) were soaked, and Peter got drenched just hooking up and getting the awning up and things into the dry. Then it stopped raining.

26/06/2011
Nothing to report today we have been idleness itself! We had more rain overnight and it was grey and miserable first thing----typical weekend weather (as though it matters to us!) Had a day in camp with just a short walk into town until the sun arrived at lunchtime ,and spent the afternoon with a book and a bottle.

27/06/2011
Packed away the snorkel gear and budgie smugglers as we are unlikely to see the ocean for some time.
We have travelled east some 300K’s into the outback to a region called the Pilbara and are making our way to the unusually named town of Tom Price (more of Tom later,) right now we are free camped halfway there. We are sharing a lovely, quiet picnic area at the end of a dirt track a good way off the main road, and there are only 4 other vehicles. It’s bliss! Obviously there is no mains electric, we just hope the auxiliary battery is up to the job of keeping the fridge and it’s essential supplies at the right temperature. We will stay here just 1 night with the local wildlife.

28/06/2011
So here we are at Tom Price the highest town in W A. We have travelled 660K’s over the last 2 days and the only civilisation we have come across are the entrances to 3or 4 homesteads . The rest is pure wilderness. It was magic waking up this morning in the middle of nowhere, so quiet. The only thing that disturbed us last night was the sound of a cuckoo, which turned out to be an owl called a Southern Boobook ( we looked it up in our Birdboobook!!)
Here at Tom Price we are at a camp under the shadow of Mount Nameless. We reckon it’s called nameless as no one can pronounce the Aborigine name. The town itself looks nice enough, though it’s origins are in mining. Tom Price was an American expert on mining matters who in the 60’s persuaded the Aussie government to mine for iron ore here. There turned out to be an enormous quantity of ore and they are still mining it today.
The Pilbara is a place of outstanding natural beauty and Tom Price is a good base to work from, being quite close to the Karijini National Park which we will visit over the next few days.