TUESDAY 17 OCTOBER    ONSLOW

Had another conversation on the public phone this morning with the sharebroker. They cannot seem to get the figures right on the latest brokerage. As they had already paid proceeds into our share account, he said he will deduct $45 from the fees for  my next transaction – whenever that may be!

We took lunch back out to the Four Mile.

We both fished – no bites.

John caught some crabs.

We spent several hours out there – it was really pleasant.

Refuelled Truck in town – $1.24cpl.

Back at the van, I cooked the crabs and we did some packing up.

The pieces of masking tape stuck on the wall are used to hold the stove lid down, and oven door closed  when travelling on rough roads!

The crabs gave a small amount of meat – over rated critters! John had that as a crab cocktail.

Tea was sausages and coleslaw.

We had enjoyed the Onslow stay.

SUNDAY 15 OCTOBER     ONSLOW

Today was hot, but with some breeze to relieve the heat.

I walked to the shops a couple of times – once for bread, and the other time to get the papers – yesterday’s. It was pleasant enough walking. I am not too keen on walking far along the beach itself, because of the aboriginal settlement along there, that backs onto the beach. Though these locals seem reasonably ok when one sees them sitting around outside the shops.

I read the papers, and sewed.

John went fishing at the groyne. He caught one something – it had stripes. He brought it back already filleted.

John fishing right behind the van!

Tea was steak and mushrooms.

SATURDAY 14 OCTOBER     ONSLOW

It was hot this morning.

After breakfast, we went to the Museum and Visitor Centre.

The Museum held some interest. There were some photos of both Onslows, and old records.

There used to be a huge jetty here but it fell into disuse, got cyclone damaged and was taken down because it was dangerous. There are still a few remnants of pylons that can be seen.

We find interest in sitting out under the awning and watching the cruisers and fishing boats come and go from the bay. And also in the tides – the rock shelves and mudflats are really exposed at low tide.

We can see four offshore turrets – presumably gas rigs? And storage tanks on a distant island.

We both have sandfly bites. John has lots – I presume he got them when fishing.

It became very windy this afternoon and whipped up big waves.

For tea, John had yesterday’s fish. I had a tin of tuna and some salad.

WEDNESDAY 11 OCTOBER     ONSLOW

John liked it here and decided overnight that we would stay a week!

I went to arrange that at the office, and they were kind enough to make the seventh night free, because of staying the week.

We then did a proper set up of the van, and unhitched Truck.

It was rather humid in the morning, but only got into the low 30’s, with some sea breeze later in the day. This environment was so much more pleasant for living in than where we’d been.

The bay was interesting to look out upon, from under our awning. Rocks, birds, boats. There was an osprey regularly hunting in the sea – we saw her nest, on top of a pole, on yesterday’s walk.

Later in the morning, drove through town – which did not take long – then on to Beadon Creek, just beyond it, an area where there were fishing boats moored. There was a groyne built out from the mouth of the creek, a short way, to keep the creek mouth open for the boats.

There were a couple of men casting lures from the groyne, so John decided to do so, too, and caught two long toms. I did a few casts too, but only caught a bit of sponge!

Looking back towards Onslow from Beadon Creek area

We went back to the van for lunch and then lazed around under the awning, soaking in the view.

A new van came on to the next site – Victorians, long-term travelling, with a Burmese cat. It was nice to pat a cat again! They’d had problems with interior fittings in their van and it had been recalled – they have to take it back to Melbourne! That was a major hiccup in their travel plans, but they were hoping to get a new van out of the exercise.

John had arranged to go to bowls at 7pm, so we had an early tea – a zucchini and basil frittata, so I could use up eggs that were close to their dying date. I cooked it in the electric frypan and it worked alright.

The evening became quite windy. There are now big bushfires in the Pilbara and daily thunderstorms in the Kimberley.

I think John enjoyed the bowls – it was very “social”. At least, he got to meet some of the locals and find out about the place – like about the new salt project being developed, which is behind schedule, due to cyclones.

The mobile phone had stopped working, earlier today. Upon investigation and checking, and phoning from the pay phone, it was discovered that the last bill had not been paid in Karratha, after all. So both the shire rates and the phone bill were stuffed up, somehow, at that time. John used the public phone to pay the bill and get it all sorted out.

MONDAY 9 OCTOBER     KARRATHA

It was cooler today – only got to 35 degrees!

We did lots of last day things.

Washed the bed linen. Cleaned up the van.

Went to the town centre, where I took books back to the library. Checked at the Post Office – there were a couple of letters – one from John’s sister H, who sent me a gallery booklet that advertised  my brother’s art show. Nice of her to do that.

I collected some photos I’d put in for processing on Saturday. Did a food shop.

At the Post Office, had to sort out the rates payment, because the Shire had phoned me to say we’d only paid a month, not a quarter. John had told me, after he did that a while ago, that it was not as much as I’d told him it was going to be!

John took the fridge to a repair place. It will be ready early tomorrow. I am glad this will not delay us, as I will be very happy to get away from here!

We did the usual preliminary packing up.

Tea was cold chicken and salad.