The Derby Jetty

No longer in use, it has been retained as a tourist attraction. Here it is shown off by some subtle lighting enhanced by the twilight hour.

Tomorrow we leave the vans in storage and head off with campers to do some proper exploring of the magnificent north west.

Derby Fish & chips

Spent the say preparing for the Gibb River Road. Every serious traveller to the Kimberly aims to travel the Gibb. Some make the journey without difficulty, many more tell horrendous stories of mis adventure, ruined tyres, and broken vehicles. But regardless of it's difficulties it continues it's magnetic attraction for all serious outback travelers.

Preparation is essential and so when I found a cracked fuel tank mounting bracket, (a casualty of the CSR a couple of years back), I went looking for a welder on Saturday morning, the day of the Derby Races not really thinking I would have much success. Wrong again! Without fuss or fanfare this rough looking young fella left the job he was on and climbed under. I don't think he spoke more than six words the whole time, just did the job, then said if I was comin' back this way to drop in and pay because the boss was away and he didn't know how much to charge. I gave him $50 and as I left, thought how much like Cobargo.

The view is from the Fish & Chips cafe as we waited for a delicious Barra Chips and Salad. The meal was good but no better than Bermi Saltwater or Taylors on Wagonga.

Derby Delights

Ten years ago we visited Derby, drove into town, out to the jetty, remembered the mud flats, sandflies, town dogs and a run down struggle town, and drove on out regretting the 40 odd k trip in.

How Derby has changed. The mud flats, mosses and sandflies are still here, but this is lovely little town with the most helpful and friendly people. The town has bee re-vitalized and cleaned up.

We missed the sunset but were still able to get some nice twilight shots.

Port Hedland

We were saddened to have to leave the natural beauty and variety of the Pilbra and arrived in Port Hedland just in time to see this giant ore carrier being escorted to it's berth.
The size of everything from the trains, ships and road trains is humongous!
At any given time there are 20 or more ships at anchor 16k offshore awaiting loading. Loading takes 30 hours and ships sail on high tide with only meters to clear the keel.
It was really something to stand in the street of town and see this huge ship sail past just meters away and then be turned around in little more than it's own length for berthing.

The Pilbra

We were sorry to leave the ever changing beauty of the Pilbra. Mist people appear to prefer the coastal route north of Perth, but for interest and beauty of scenery the inland route offered us an ever changing variety.
Perhaps we are also spoilt by the beauty of the far south coast of NSW with it's unsurpassed coastal and hinterland beauty.

Gorge out of Marble Bar

On the bitumen now between Marble Bar and Port Hedland and we took a detour into this Gorge, who's name escapes me. We had smoko in here.
We will be leaving the real Pilbra soon as we head for the coast.
We are constantly amazed by the size of ore carrying road trains, it is common to see four huge ore trailers in excess of 50m in length and cruising at 90k come up behind. At first this can be quite daunting, but we soon learnt to communicate with the driver as he prepares for the overtaking manourver.

Chinamans Pool

I don't think the pool always has this amount of water in it, but it looked very inviting when we visited.