Day 78 – Eighty Mile Beach to Port Hedland

Up and breakfast, we decide to go for a walk back on the beach. The kids decide they don’t want to.

As we head over the dune and can see the tide is even further out than yesterday. We also notice what must be fresh turtle tracks up to make a nest. On closer inspection we can also see dozens of what must be baby turtle tracks leading down to the water. As these are under the high water mark, they must have been from last night.

We start walking out towards the water line, about halfway there we are stopped when the soft sand starts to turn to soft mud and we start to sink down into it. This must be where that jeep is!

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Another 300 odd km today, again the landscape here is not really changing and we are too far away from the coast to see it.

• 

• 

• 

A quick stop at Pardoo roadhouse for fuel (I just can’t pass a roadhouse without stopping) and we carry onto Port Hedland.

• 

• 

We book into the van park, lunch and then do a trip into the town. There is no mistaking it, this is not a tourist town, this is a mining town. After visiting the tourist info centre, we go down to the local park on the harbour. The kids play and we watch one 200,000 ton ore ship being loaded, while another eventually hooked up the tugs and left the harbour. All going to China of course. While we watch, Justine spots a small shark swimming near the shore. That put an end to any idea of swimming in the ocean today.

• 

Back at the van park there is a full time travelling family next to us, they have been in Port Hedland for nearly a month (they got work so it makes the stop worthwhile). It’s telling that the kids are missing playmates as they willing to give up a swim to continue playing with their new friends.

After an early dinner, we have a quick look at the ocean near the van park….It’s of course … Low Tide.

•