I walked to Dewsons supermarket. Bought rolls for lunch and some other oddments – limited by what I could carry back. It was about a 3km walk, all up.
We got the news that Truck was not ready. Only 4 bearings bits were sent from Perth, instead of the required 8.
More Olympics.
Today, Truck was booked into the local Land Rover dealer’s for a service. We drove it in, then walked back.
Decided to keep going and have a look around the old OTC satellite communications dish, by the highway. It was somewhat vandalized. I thought it was a pity that it couldn’t somehow be utilized for tourism.
Established in the 1960’s, to be part of the tracking and monitoring of projects like the Apollo moon expedition, it operated until the mid 80’s, playing quite a significant role.
Then there was more Olympics watching, reading and sewing for me.
The service centre found that Truck needed new wheel bearings. This was not surprising – they were the front ones, which were the originals. It did stand, briefly, in water, too, on one of our Newman drives. The parts would come in overnight, and we should get it back tomorrow. That was alright.
Gascoyne River
I drove to the shops and collected my photos. They were quite pleasing. They were all the film photos I took since we were here last, so they covered some ground. Now I had the job of putting them into albums and writing comments.
I collected the next lot of mail.
John watched Olympics.
For some exercise, I went for a walk, around the caravan park and some distance along the foot track towards town.
John watched the Olympics. I read and went and talked to E and D for a while.
Drove to the shops where I put a heap of films in for processing.
John found a place where he could do a computer download.
The rest of the day was reading and sewing on my part, TV watching on John’s.
After breakfast, I did a heap of washing – three loads! That had built up since way back in the Pilbara.
John played Scroungers bowls at the caravan park. Not much joy.
L phoned. Our old cat. Tarz, was put down today. L’s sister came to help, because L was upset by it all. She’d known Tarz for the three years now that she’d lived at our place. She had treated the cat very reverentially – buried her in a box, with flowers, and a 24 hour candle. She took photos to send us. The cat was about 15 years old – not a bad innings for a Russian Blue. But we would miss her pronounced personality about the place.
Flowers from our garden in the old cat’s grave
Apparently, the remaining cat seemed to know what was going on, and showed signs of missing her. We were sad. She had originally lived at the house behind John and “adopted” him. When we married and he was moving, her original owners gave her to us as a wedding present.
The other cat – the old tabby – was a Mother’s Day present, as a kitten, from my children. One should always be suspicious of a boxed present that requires air holes in the lid!
All alone now
More TV Olympics watching.
Went to the growers’ produce market in the morning, and stocked up on fruit, vegies and eggs.
Did some other shopping.
I was able to get books from the library: $50 deposit to borrow six books. Very good.
Refuelled – $1.12cpl.
We drove to the low river crossing. This has basically been a low causeway across the dry river bed, to give quicker access to the plantations and features on the north side of the river, saving the time it would take to go round via the highway bridge.
We were amazed to find it demolished! It was impassable. It was an indication of how strong the Gascoyne River floods had been, while we were away. Yet again, we reflected how lucky we had been to get away at all, when we did.
Low level Gascoyne River causeway that was
E and D were still at the caravan park and we chatted with them about where we’d been in the past few weeks.
Had a very yummy prawn dinner.
Today was the start of the Olympic watching – the Opening Ceremony, etc. Glad I have my library books to read!
Another of those inauspicious Friday 13ths! I had lost track of the dates – easy to do when just idling away the days. Had I realized before we were on the road, I might have suggested staying another day!
We got away at 8.30. Having the pressure of the next lot of occupants waiting, did ensure we didn’t linger.
In Exmouth, took my library books back to the Exmouth Library. I had been so grateful to have books to read while we were relaxing in our Mesa camp.
Refuelled at $1.28cpl.
Bought bread rolls for lunch.
It was a comfortable drive south.
We stopped for me to make up our lunch at an overnight free camp spot – Lyndon River. It would be an adequate place to overnight. It was obviously well used.
Lyndon River Rest Area
South of this, we rejoined the main Highway 1.
When we crossed the Gascoyne River bridge, on the approach to Carnarvon, the river was flowing! Not a banker, but a clear stream. This was obviously the aftermath of all the rain there had been, after we left town, back in early July. This was the first time we’d seen water in this river.
Gascoyne River with water
Went back to the Wintersun Caravan Park. Our main purpose for returning here to Carnarvon was for John to watch the Olympic Games – at a place where he knows TV reception is good. Yet again, our travels were being dictated by sport and TV! But, at least, it was better than Karratha, in that there was a bit more to do on the occasional breaks from viewing.
We booked in for two weeks at $110 a week, after discount.
After setting up, drove to the shopping centre. Collected mail at the PO. Went and bought prawns and snapper at the fish co-op.
I had a lovely, long, shower. It was great to feel properly clean again, after getting by with washes from a bucket, in the van, and the judicious use of wet wipes.
There was a text from house sitter L, to phone her, which we did. She said our old Russian Blue cat was really sick. This was basically cat decline from old age, and not unexpected. We told L to use her judgement about what to do. But we didn’t think we’d see the old cat again, which made us sad.
After tea, watched the last episode of “Old Dogs” on TV. It had been an entertaining series.
There was no sea noise to lull us to sleep tonight. Just the assorted noises of lots of other campers and the town environment in general.
The morning dawned on a pleasant day, despite the ant activity.
We had a last walk on the beach. Walked right around past Neds again. Saw turtles bobbing up in the sea, to breathe and watched for them for ages.
Looking back towards Mesa Camp from around near Neds Camp
The mesa at Mesa Camp
Back at camp, packed up the outside stuff. There was a little lizard under the Chescold fridge. I moved him to a bush.
Took the awning roof down.
We went and had a farewell drink with the campground hosts. They had been great – not obtrusive, but friendly. They kept the place really clean.
I think this system of campground hosts is a great one. The ones we have encountered are grey nomads like ourselves. Thus, they are sympathetic to what campers want. In return for their supervision and cleaning work – which do not take all that long – they get a free site in a great place.
Our eleven days of not doing much at Mesa had made us rested and relaxed – excellent place for that.
Last night’s late arrivals left early this morning. Cheap free-loaders! Karma would catch up with them – somewhere, somehow……
There was no wind this morning. Most unusual.
There were plenty of birds around this camp. Wrens, butcher bird, zebra finches, mostly. A large egret came to fish, most days, in the pool in the inlet near our van. Sometimes it was joined by a grey heron.
It was lovely to sit outside the van, in the mornings, and just look out at the view – very serene, even if the wind was blowing.
Every day there was the morning routine, of those packing up to depart, and those who were queued at the gate, coming in just after 8am to pick sites. Some days, there was movement between sites, as we did.
Today, unusually, two sites remained empty after the morning rush. We had no radio or TV out there, but thought the weather report might be adverse, which could explain the lack of campers.
There were clouds building up – this could mean a really brilliant sunset, regardless of what comes next.
Cloud building up….
Clouds over the Cape Range
The ants were mounding up around their entrance holes, which was always an ominous sign!
Ant weather forecast
This Adventurous Age 