Day 6 Karijini to 80 Mile Beach

This morning we woke at dawn and saw the sun rise over the beautiful Karijini landscape. Off to an early start, we stopped at Munjina Gorge lookout to watch the highway arch through the high, rocky walls. Just Beautiful. The drive to Port Hedland became ever flatter and more dull with a lot of cattle carcasses along the roadside.

Port Hedland was unpleasant and industrial, but we stopped for lunch at MacDonalds - ostensibly for their free wifi but it was so slow it wasn't worth it. We picked up a few electrical supplies and then drove past Dampier Salt and the port to show the kids the iron ore trains.

Three hours of excruciatingly boring, flat featureless terrain came next, except for a series of termite mounds with white tips which turned out to be hard hats! Very funny. We stopped just after the turnoff to Wallal Downs 80 Mile Beach caravan park to Glad-Wrap our screen door. It worked very well to stop the dust coming in and consequently has helped keep the temperature up in the van. I wish we had thought of this over the past two freezing nights.

The park is huge! Very full, neat and tidy. After a quick set up we went out to the beach which goes on (for miles...at least 80) to each horizon. The tide was far out and we walked all the way out to inspect tiny snails, hermit crabs and sea-dollars in the exposed sand. The kids had a ball and Emma was in hermit crab heaven.

The sunset was gorgeous too. I managed to get two very smelly loads of washing done and hung at dusk. I guess we will see how clean it is in the morning. Showers were heavenly...it is fantastic to feel clean again.