Off to Gladstone

 

Tucked in the bushes to escape the wind at Quobba Point

Packed up this morning.  We got started early after forcing everyone to eat porridge for breakfast after my food talk with Jill last night.  It was good that we worked on it solidly because towards the end we started chatting with Jill and Kumar again and didn't get off until 11am.  They were so much fun to talk to and I picked Jill's brain about cooking cakes in the van, and what to use as snacks.  She has strengthened my resolve? courage? to keep trying to eat good food and help our children to do the same.  I'm a bit of a chocolate and cookie girl.

There are new rules for the camping ground, so these shacks may all disappear.  Our van is centre back.

Burt and Nerida came over to say good bye as well, and Nerida showed us the carrot cake she had just baked on her stove in her frypan.  We were very impressed.  Jill and Nerida have also cooked scones on the stove, so I will try that as well.

While I was reading Exodus in the bible this morning I read from chapter 16, just after the Israelites had been taken across the red sea and were camped in the wilderness.  They must have run out of food and water, and were complaining to Moses.  We've had a few complaining Israelites in parts of the wilderness of WA, and I showed Joseph Moses' response to the Israelites in verse 7, "You haven't been complaining against us, you know, but against God.".  I forget, sometimes, who's really in charge of my life and end up complaining to the wrong people.

We finally got off Quobba point, but only as far as Carnarvon, where we did the fuel, gas and grocery fill up.  I tried to get a bit extra this time and see if we can go longer between shops...we seem to be going every few days!

A right turn out of Carnarvon took us onto the Brand Highway, south towards Geraldton.  We passed the Mungullah power station construction site (not sure if my Dad would be interested at all) and crossed the dry bed of the Wooramel River.

We are still driving through the scrubby bushes and flat expanses of land, but there are goats grazing, which I haven't seen before.  One stood and stared at us from the side of the road with his long, twisted horns sticking up to the sky.  Looked like a wise old beast.

We turned right and out the 6km to the Gladstone camp site, on the coast.  There was a long stone causeway and dilapidated wooden jetty at the end, leftovers from when this was a bustling port, a collection point for camel trains of wool and
Sandalwood that were driven here.  Large ships would anchor off Dirk Hartog Island and then small lighters (ships that could sail in the shallow water) would go around shark bay and here to Gladstone, collecting the cargo and bringing in supplies.  It was once thought that Gladstone would be a bustling town, but the road transport overtook them, and camel trains and boat transport are no more.  Gladstone is now about as deserted as you can get, with only the remains of the wool store foundations reminding you of grander days.

 

On the beach at Gladstone, looking back at our van, left of centre, and the causeway at right

The ranger, Wayne, lives all year round here in his pink caravan, with two generators for the lights and the heater in winter.  Once a fortnight he drives the three hundred kilometre round trip to Carnarvon to bring in fresh drinking water.  He looked a bit like Papa Smurf.  When we went to pay for our stay he said it was free, tourist season was over.  We didn't complain.

We set up camp in the Hilton campsite, according to Papa Smurf, because we were right near the flushing toilet.  There was a big bus camped further up beyond Wayne's pink van, and another pop top camper down the other direction a ways.  That was it.

Apparently this is an important breeding ground for dugong - those sea cow things - and they come here to feast on the three types of sea grass that grow here and in shark bay further south.

The sky was full of stars here, and I think that I found Jupiter with the help of my trusty star finding guide, courtesy of the Guntons.

It seems to be all we can do to make dinner, eat it, wash the dishes, and get everyone to bed!  We will have to manage some board games before we get home...

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Vicki