A week in Karratha

You have not heard from us in a week because there has not been much travelling happening. We have spent the last week in Karratha because we've been trying to get someone to look at the VW Transporter. When we headed south down the west coast we attempted to turn off to Eighty Mile Beach but after 3 klms of corrugated dirt road traveling at 10 klms we decided to turn around, we suspect that the damage had already been done as we got 20 klms down the highway and the coolant indicator light came on. We stopped on a roadside stop for the night with plenty of other Aussie travellers but none of then happened to be a VW mechanic and as it turns out there are no VW mechanics in northern WA, so we have had to make a few decisions over the past few days, cut the trip short or buy a replacement car to keep on going. No surprises that we have done everything in our power to continue our travels. 

The VW will be freighted home (thanks to NRMA roadside assistance), where it can be fixed and we have purchased a Toyota Hilux for the remainder of the trip. Buying a car in regional WA is not an easy task as they all seem to be over-priced by about 25% so, in an effort to 'not get ripped off' Mal flew to Perth, bought the car and is driving the 1600 klms back to Karratha to pick us up and continue the journey. 

We have enjoyed our week in Karratha, even though at times it was very stressful. 

We visited the Red Dog statue, which is something that we have all been looking forward to as 'Red Dog' is one of our favorite family movies.

Hearson's Cove

We spent a morning at Hearson's Cove which has amazing blue/green water, it is a little beach/cove made up of tiny shells, no sand, just shells. The next night we saw Stairway to Heaven which happens when the full moon rises and reflects on the mud-flats over the cove. The photos really don't do it justice.

For Father's Day we went to Point Samson which also had an amazingly blue/green water.

The caravan park that we stayed in was really lovely with a nice pool which is very 'refreshing' and a little playground. The boys have been able to ride their scooters which keeps them active.
So it has not been all bad but we are looking forward to getting back on the road.

Our hero, we call him Red Dad, just like Red Dog who has traveled all over WA has returned to us with our new car and we are heading off again today.