THE 106 REUNION ODYSSEY Caravanning From Adelaide To Mandurah (WA) via SA-NT By Norm & Vi Daley [Edited]

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1 THE 106 REUNION ODYSSEY 2012 Caravanning From Adelaide To Mandurah (WA) via SA-NT By Norm & Vi Daley [Edited] We are on count down; leaving on the 24th June. Biggest thing - what do you take to wear at the Reunion? So some thought has to be given to this. Well I will just have to mix and match and somehow go on a diet. We have to be home earlier than expected [though] have to spend a few days at Norsman on our way back and do research as that is where Grandmother is buried. We are going as far as Katherine (NT) and turning left and heading towards Broome at our leisure. Have no expectations or time-line until October or thereabouts. Don t as yet need a boat, but water is running down the gutters very well. We have had constant rain now for two days - packing the van is a hit and miss affair. Do not expect to be warm until Kunnurrara. [... ] we sent off on our journey tomorrow. Next report probably Woomera. [... ] hoping to meet up with Dennis & Pam Norman in Darwin. We left home June 24th, van packed, Toyota tank full plus 5 jerry cans all up total 160 litres of diesel. All systems go. Page 1 of 11

2 [here] we are in wonderful Woomera, arrive late afternoon; skies are blue, sun is warm, but at night - a mozzie would snap-freeze. We made good despite two stone chips in the windscreen. Ok book in and hook up power and off to see the town. Have been told to visit the Hotel, it was preciously the International Nob s Hotel. Wow it was like walking back into the 1960's beautifully restored, decor and furniture. Not to mention the cheap booze and good service. All the houses are kept neat and tidy all ready for workers when they score a job there, but if you become unemployed you must move out. Had a drive around the countryside... saw the razor wire at Camp Rapier; drove as far as Olympic Dam - what a sight, (well, an industrial sight) and Toyota Hiluxes [everywhere]. Out to the mine... the roadsides are as clean as a whistle - in fact they just push all the crap over the embankment. The main gate to the mine is lit up like a poster with lights that run across the Guard House so you cannot miss it. [... ] on to Andamooka to look at some opals (already polished). Went into the shop, with no purse and no intentions - too rich for me. The photo is of a three bedroom miner s cottage plus work shop. The bedroom is furtherest looking up the hill. The miner could lay in bed and bask in the winter sun when the door was opened. No connecting passages so you had to go outside to go to another room. [... ] the housing [around the place] is either new or falling down. We then came back to Roxby very neat and tidy, but once again you would have to work there to live there. We may have to get a new windscreen for the Tojo as the trucks have flicked up stones and now have a crack travelling down the screen. Page 2 of 11

3 [now] at Alice Springs, went out to visit the Truck Hall of Fame today. He may say he has given up the spanners but you can't take the mechanic out of the man. We walk and walk - Norm is like a boy in a toy shop even find a bus from the original fleet in Tea Tree Gully (SA), this was back when the driver helped old ladies on the bus. The best was left to last Big Boys Toys - the Kenworth Trucks, each time Kenworth have a new truck, one it donated to the Museum. Norm s favourite was the gold one I thought it was pretty specky also. Page 3 of 11

4 Mr Don Key, Resident, Wyndham Caravan Park. Haven't watched TV since we left home, listen to the radio (Yeee Haaa!) it is country and western love it (not). Still chasing our tail with the 12 volt on the fridge. Norm has done a bit of work on the wiring so hope it works; but not too worried about it so will let it go a few days or so. We are in Fitzroy Crossing, went to a Hotel this afternoon to have a look and a drink, oh what a surprise [... ] we left quick smart. Moving on to Derby and Broome; seven days in each spot then we ll make plans when we reach Broome. School holidays here so may be a bit difficult to book on things so will have to wait and see. Norm has found the ultimate toy down at the jetty just had to go back again after lunch yesterday. Now again this morning as another one is coming in; also to find out when they load them onto the barge. At least it makes him happy. All wheels on! Norm drives off into the dusty sunset... Page 4 of 11

5 [here at] Horizontal Falls... yesterday up at 5.30am to fly out at 6.00am and [then back at camp] via 4wd Bus/Truck [arriving] at 5.15pm - big day! Took off on land, landed on the sea, breakfast, jet boat ride through the tide [rushing in] at Horizontal Falls (above) then took off on the sea and back to Cape Leveque and over the Buccaneer Archipelago. These look like mountains rising out of the sea. [looking for Nemo; (left)] [OH! there he are! (below)] [anyway] if you want to stay at Cape Leveque near the beach (below), there is a mere 3 year waiting list campers, tents and only off road vans only. You bring your own water (etc) and take away your rubbish. Page 5 of 11

6 We ventured into Pt Hedland a few days ago... boy was that an eye opener! All those boats just waiting out at sea to come in for iron ore, and, surprisingly, salt. We sat and watched a bulldozer push salt up into a huge heap. [the iron ore trains] have two engines in the front and another two or three half way. The city has a dull rumble 24/7. Moved on to Marble Bar, drove around and saw the Jasper that the oldies thought was marble, it is very impressive. (below) Also have included a photo of the War Memorial. Thought it was very specky. Temperature here is 21deg at 8.25pm but has coolness to the air. Moving on to Point Samson tomorrow. We are in Carnarvon at the moment and move on to Denham for about 4 days. This BigPond is giving me the [..((! )).. ] In Denham now; a very quiet coastal town but with beautiful beaches. Took a drive - visited all the little lookouts [... ]. Shell Beach is unique in that is entirely made up of little shells like Norm has in his hand. Eagles Bluff was windy and wild with the water very clear that we could see a school of some 20 or so sharks. The wild flowers are great only daisy and some other stuff like hops but very bright in colour. Always think that the computer will snuff its self. So when [get to] Geraldton, will have to get it fixed. Have been sending single messages through BigPond but it has been rejecting a few s. [... ] the surf here looks very risky. Page 6 of 11

7 We went to the national park today Norm was very brave and got photos of nature s window. I am a bit of a chicken with heights. Have found out that I am not as fit as I would like, given that what walks down hill must walk up (huff, huff)... too long in the van last night. Well, back on the air again. The Tiny computer had spat the dummy and so had I. The Pink Lakes between Kalbarri and Pt Gregory. The HMAS Sydney Memorial at Geraldton Had some terrible days these last few days. Went out and left the windows in the van open... [returned early] because the winds were blowing... the Caravan Park is near the beach so sand everywhere [which got] whipped up into the sky etc. Got back... washing on the ground so picked up and chucked it on the bed... sand on doona... now it s raining... get into bed... bed full of sand (also pillows covered in sand)... brush sand under pillows job for tomorrow. Wind and rain rocking the van... later in the evening lights go out... wind rocked the van so much the plug had loosened in the socket. Today calm but overcast so moving on tomorrow to go inland to Mt Magnet. Page 7 of 11

8 Have travelled from Geraldton as far as Cue and now in Sandstone. Would like a dollar for every wheel on the semi trailers that we have passed. Wide loads are a common thing with huge bits and pieces. It is a credit to these drivers that there are no accidents with caravans that just do not want to move over on the road. Many different wild flowers... [a dollar for each wheel = retirement]... some I have never seen before. They change with the area I would say depending on the rain fall grow mainly along the road side. The everlastings up here a mainly white, with a few pink tulip like flowers that grown one to a stalk and very scarce. [people] in the van parks are looking for gold and think we are strange - told them tonight I just like mine all made and polished, thank you. Moving on tomorrow to Leinster I think. Might be doing a free camp soon and catching yabbies; toilets but no shower so will be APC washes then. [Norm shopping for a new car] Page 8 of 11

9 An interesting ruin the Big Bell Hotel (above). Big Bell is now a ghost town near the town of Cue, established in 1936 and was home to the Big Bell Gold Mine. The Big Bell hotel reputedly had the longest bar in Australia. In its day, it was the premier hotel in WA during the period from 1936 to The entire building has been stripped of anything of value including the wall tiles. The only other building standing is a small church. [continuing...] we stopped in Leonora and did a trip some 3 miles away to a town called Gwalia. It was established around a Mine owned by Gwalia and Sons. They opened this mine in 1896, it being an underground mine. Their first Manager was Herbert Hoover (later the 31st President of U.S.A), he soon built himself a beautiful home for his wife and children. This house has been restored and now is a B & B. He later encouraged men from Italy to come and work as miners for very low wages. After many years the price of gold dropped so they shut the mine and provided the people of the town with a train to take as much as they could carry and leave to find employment elsewhere. The houses in the photo have been restored somewhat by the people of Leonora. Next stop Niagra Dam. This is a free camp with just a toilet, so you are on your own. Since we have left Mt Magnet the wind has been a persistent companion at first a cooling breeze and now a blustering gale. Norm planned to catch yabbies in the Dam. So out with the nets but no luck, but on Page 9 of 11

10 leaving them over night he had a haul. No, not big enough so back they went. Then off to Lake Ballard, a salt lake some 50k west of the town, to see the 51 sculptures. [it appears like] a group of people walking over the lake. It takes 5 to 7 hours if you want to visit them all but easy walking [we] saw a few on a 45 min walk with the flies. [Pictures: Vi & Norm walking in the sunset.]... on to Menzies - not named after that Prime Minister, but a prospector. More great old buildings, and the story of the Town Hall was built in 1896 but the clock was not installed until After a week in Kambalda we are ready to move on; were only going to stay 6 days but stayed 7. There is a look out here in Kambalda which looks out on a beautiful salt lake, they also race land yachts there but we have not seen any. Went on a Super Pit tour... boy, is it big! Think I prefer my gold all moulded and shiny preferably with nice sparkly stones like diamonds. The process is interesting - they have to pick out timber and steel from the loads by hand as they are mining over old shafts etc from 100 years ago. When this is done they use smaller trucks to take it to the crusher (150 tonnes in these), then one to various milling and baking systems and finally to floatation (sodium cyanide), to finally salt water and oxygen. Think I should buy some Gold Shares instead of jewellery next time, but then again, it just doesn't have the same appeal. During this leg, we travelled through Merriden, Bruce Rock, Northam and now in York wheat country. Have never seen a bottle shop display as the one in York, made us both smile as the dummies are really enjoying themselves. Page 10 of 11

11 Checked the Car Museum in York. The cars seem to owned by one family and rotate on loan to the Museum - I will have the silver MG at left. Went for a drive out of Bruce Rock and spied some Quandong trees (wild peaches) so had to pick some to cook; but alas, it was not to be as upon opening them, there was a powder or mould inside so threw them away. Here until next week so a few more things to see and do, then on to catch up with friends in north of Perth for a few days. Left York this morning, (glad to leave the mozzies behind - could not sit outside there were that many), and have arrived in the north of Perth where we have booked into a park for 5 days. Beautiful, [but] hay fever country [with] a few things to see. Went into a coffee shop/bar with beautiful lead light windows... all featuring a motor bike! The Dogs Bullocks was something else... lots of different things, jewellery for both male and female, We have arrived in Mandurah, so have had to check out our party pants that have been in the box under the bed... bit creased... hung them all up around the van. We cannot get good TV reception but have lots to do and people to meet. Went out for BBQ put on by the Mandurah Murray Vietnam Veterans Group Tuesday night - great night and the female partner gets to drive home (surprise-surprise). Then going out to the Adelaide contingent s rented-house for BBQ on Wednesday and so it continues. We have travelled 14,172kms and used 2,138Ltrs of diesel since leaving Adelaide... Well must go now and have a look at the city of Mandurah to see how much it has changed. [end] Page 11 of 11