From the magic scenery at Karijini we drove about 450 kms into ugly Port Hedland (Anthony called it a big Brookvale). The local fashion is high visibility fluoro safety wear and Daisy looks tiny alongside the rigs that roll in and out of this busy port. BHP Billiton export 70 million tonnes of iron ore per year out of Port Hedland and everything is covered in a fine layer of red dirt. Stockpiles of industrial salt also lie about the place to be exported by Dampier Salt. We stayed a couple of nights at a very expensive caravan park and listened to the rumble of very long trains (we counted 150 carriages) through the night.
On the 18th August we drove north along the coast for a couple of hours to the East Pilbara Council campsite at Cape Keraudren. For $20 per night it was a basic camp with no water, but it was right on the coast and we could have a campfire. This was the first place that we had been at where you couldn't swim because of crocodiles! Anthony and Simon did a bit of fishing and caught a Spotted Javelin fish which we ate for dinner.
Our next stop along this coastal stretch was the caravan park at 80 Mile Beach. The beach was beautiful and covered in masses of shells but this time we couldn't swim because of all the sharks! Anthony caught a sandbar shark and Simon caught a stingray and a catfish (all 3 were returned to the sea).
After a few days we continued on to Barn Hill station which is 120km south of Broome. For $25 per night we stayed at this great caravan park operated by the station owners that was right on a fabulous beach (where you could swim!!) and included hot showers, flushing toilets (with no roof) and power. The night we arrived was Roast Night where for $16 per person (BYO chair, table, plate and cutlery) we got a 3 course meal and were entertained by a local Aboriginal band. We loved it here.
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