80 Mile Beach

Packed up today.  Our first pack away without Katie.  she is usually the one that gets everyone going, but in the end we all pitched in and got away ok.

The day started with some washing.  Not the best plan, I know, but somehow yesterday got away from me.  I'll carry it wet and hang it out tonight whewe stop.

One of the storage spaces under a bed had let in some red dust on our unsealed road travels, so we pulled everything out, cleaned out the cupboard, and Grant caulked it using caulking and a screwdriver.  then I filled it up again, packing away a bit more of the stuff we just don't use.  

took Cooper to the edge of the road next to our van and practiced crossing, hooding mummy's hand.  I don't think it did much!  

A fter tying everything down, and exiting the park one last time, we headed into town for the much anticipated trip to Vinnies.  Grant dropped us off and went to fill up the car, while we had a lovely time looking through the racks, and particularly, looking over the old books.

The road from Broome to Port Headland is very boring.  It's straight ahead, flat, with scrubby bushes other side.  after a bit the scrubby bushes give way to brown grass, but it's still flat.  then it turns into green grass, still flat.

After about 350 kilometers, we reached the Sand Fire Roadhouse, where a flock of peacocks were roosting on the roof, and used all the available facilities.  Then we turned off the highway onto a dirt road and drove out to the 80 Mile Beach caravan park.  Grant stopped at the start of the dirt road to attach the piece of carpet he hangs over the back window to prevent rocks flicking up and smashing it.  Originally he taped it on with gaff tape, but it used a lot of tape and kept slipping off.  Joseph suggested tieing it to the roof rack and holding it in place with the windscreen wiper.  Grant calls it the J-string solution.

Anyway, while he was out attaching the carpet, Cooper unplugged himself from his car seat,  wound down his window, leaned out and opend the door from the outside (the child safety lock is on), then climbed out of the car to play in the red dust.  He's a bit scary is our Cooper.

The caravan park reminds me of an army installation, straight rows of caravans, side by side.  The toilet facilities are demountables.  But it's very tidy, and when we walked over the low hill and out onto the beach, we loved it. The tide was way out when we arrived at 5pm. But there were white shells and sand dollars everywhere.  They re like flat sea anenome shells.  You couldn't walk without stepping on shells.  We had a lovely time collecting al the best ones we could - Katie would love it here - and Grant said the sunset was spectacular.  Might have to revise our plan of only spending the night...