DAY 40 Middle Lagoon to Port Smith (YAWN) then 80 mile beach Day 41-42

DAY 40 Middle Lagoon to Port Smith 255km+80km to Port Smith

 

We get out of Middle Lagoon by 0800 and reach our initial intended destination of Roebuck Plains Roadhouse by 1130. Get some food and decide to keep driving.



"Made to prevent sore throats"..... I suppose they didn't consider
 getting  Throat Cancer as a "sore Throat"

Roadhouse has a sit down “restaurant” which has a great collection of vintage signs, both fuel and tobacco company ones and some of the slogans for the tobacco are just plain hilarious in hindsight. Even has poor Grammar.....

 

Port Smith is a fishing “town” which has a caravan park and… no, that’s it.

Had still not discovered the cause of the Hot Wheel Hub in Broome. Both hubs about the same temp now. Then: a brain wave. When I checked them in Broome, we'd been driving through town, and I'd also noted on the way out of Broome that the Trailer Brakes didn't appear to be as "strong" as they were earlier. I wondered if they needed adjustment. Then thought " perhaps only one side is working, and the heat was from all the braking effort, and only on one side" Graba  Tarp and crawl under the trailer. Sure enough, hanging there, is the cable to the electric brake on the "cold side", clearly broken and hanging down. I climb out get soldering iron, tape and a few bits and pieces. 20 mins later: Fixed. I just hope this is the problem!

 

We happen to arrive on Thursday which is Fish and Chip night. $5 per head. You get a piece of fish caught that day and donated to the cause by people from the park, and chips. Proceeds to the RFDS, and for a gold coin donation, you can have seconds, or thirds! Bargain! The Sausages stay in the fridge another night!! Easily 200 people there.

 

A singer, Fiona, from Broome is along to entertain. Normally, she’s there with her family to perform, but then rest are in Perth for NAIDOC week. She’s quite good

 

Day 41 Port Smith to 80 Mile beach 180km

Fuel : Sandfire Roadhouse $1.96 - OUCH

 

Depart Port Smith and head south to 80 Mile beach. On the way, book the car into Pilbara Toyota  for the service Broome Toyota couldn’t fit us in for.

Both Wheel hubs on the Trailer seem to be the same temp now and the brakes are working much better. hopefully that's Problem: Solved!!!!

 

Ring 80 Mile beach Caravan park and they don’t have any powered sites available, but no big dealt. Batteries are topped up anyway. We stop at the Sandfire Roadhouse. I was hoping not to have to stop here for fuel, and get into Port Hedland on the fill in Broome and the remaining Jerry can, but alas, still 230km from Port Hedland, the fuel light comes on, and with only 120-130km from a Jerry can of fuel we are forced to fuel up…. For $1.96 , or $229 worth of diesel!!!!

 

We feel decidedly out of place as it seems EVERY other towable accommodation (that’s caravan and camper trailer) is a Jayco!!!!! We also note that 80 Mile doesn’t take bookings and so we scamper, beating the Greyus Nomadicus who stop there for lunch. Afterall, it is only 1130!!!

 

Get into 80 Mile Beach CP and grtab an unpowered site, with no one around us. Sites are reasonably sized, but we have to disconnect the car to fit in. No biggy as we are here for 2 nights.

 

 

Its cooled down somewhat and getting windy. We head down to the beach, which is pretty spectacular. A lot og people with Quad bikes here too. Seems there is no patrolling of the beach for driving issues as people mostly seem to drive to the beach on their Quaddies, Beer in one hand, kids sitting on the back, like there is some sort of normality to it! Anyway, each to their own.

 

80 mile beach is not a “swimming” beach  per se, but a place people come to fish. I feel quite out of place as I don’t fish, but again, each to their own. We have the Snags in bread we were going to have last night before we discovered the $5 Fish and chips!!

 

Day 42 80 Mile Beach …… still

 

Been blowing a gale all night. Didn’t lose any pole or guys overnight but the wind is actually picking up. Call into VKS Derby and operator says sometimes they call it 80 Mile Per hour Beach as that is what the wind can seem like. Not comforting!!!!

 

We install 3 extra guys top stop the movement, and the kids are in for some homework today as we have broken out the jumpers!!!

 

I saw lots of people watching TV last night and decided to put a plan into action. I use 2 spare tent pole we have and make a Mast for the Rabbit ear TV aerial to go onto to improve reception. Woo Hoo. Success. We have 12 channels and we can catch up on what’s been happening in the world. Apparently, KRudd kicked Julia Gillard out as PM a Few weeks back……. And no one bothered to send us a message by radio!!!!! ;)

 



Max, paying his respects to our country's
 service personnel

The wind starts to ease about lunch, and the sun comes out. We decide to head to the beach to look around. On the way to the beach yesterday we noticed a "War Memorial". The memorial was built by the 80 Mile Beach Vietnam Veterans Association, and commemorates the service and sacrifice of all service men and women, but in particular, those of this district.

 

Note: This photo was not posed. I stopped to take a photo of the memorial, and while looking at the composition, I looked up to see Max, standing at the base of the memorial; standing at attention, head bowed. Made me very proud, and maybe brought a little tear to my eye.

 

Max asked is it was a Grave or just a "remembering place, you know, like The Shrine in the city". I told him it was a memorial to the soldiers, sailors and airmen from this area who had served in the various wars. He said it was a "beautiful place to remember people". I just hugged him again. Wiped away a little tear.

 

 

 

 

 

Kids played Bocce, we did some Baseball and played on the beach. The beach is covered in shells. Some parts don’t seem to have sand, but tiny pieces of broken shells.

 

Must check calendar. I’ve forgotten what day of the week it is!!!