Friday 23th March, 2012
I
was awake already at sunrise. I went outside, observed a small
rainbow and enjoyed the sunrise. Sandra got awake a little bit later
and thus we started early today. We hiked to the Fortescue Falls
which is a bit smaller that the one yesterday. But we could climb the
rocks at the sides and thus could enjoy from all sides. Then we
walked on a venture along a unsigned path. It proved to be right
path. We ended up at the Fern Pool, a small pool with a waterfall. We
enjoyed a refreshing morning bath and swam a bit. There was a sound I
did not recognise. When I saw the bats in the tree I knew the source
of it. Back at the start we walked to two lookouts. On the way we
often saw grasshoppers flying away. Our destination we reach after a
bit more than 30 minutes. From the Cirular Pool Lookout you can see
another pool deep in the gorge where already a few people were
swimming. We went back on the same way, but it was a bit faster as we
had less picture stops. That was our last hike in the National Park
and we decided to drive to the south.
The
lunch break and refuelling stop was at a road house. Here it was very
busy and we a few road trains (trucks with several trailers).
During
our 600 km long drive we saw a few animals crossing the road. First a
dingo, then two big lizards and some cattle. From time to time we met
an oversize truck with different load, from big tires to houses. The
further we got the more pools where a the side of the road. At one
spot we could not help but had to stop to take a picture of them.
A
bit after 5pm we reached Meekatharra where we found a place on the
camping to stay overnight. In the evening it got cool fast and we
were glad about a jacket. Now the temperatures got more pleasant and
in the morning and in the evening it is already getting cool.
Thursday
22nd March, 2012
After
getting up we heard again a few parrot chicks. Sandra also saw ibises
and thus we went to look for the birds to take pictures. After we
went to the Visitor Center of the Karijini National Park. There we
informed us about the road situation. The gravel roads are open again
since some quite a time.
In
this National Park you first see red rocks which are partially
covered with green. In the Park we found a few yellow and violet
flowers, but for the wild flowers we are too early. To sea the real
beauty of the park we drove to the the Joffre Falls. We enjoyed the
view to the falls from above and then started the hike downwards. On
the half way I left my hiking sticks at a rock as we now had to
climb. During the hike we saw from time to time lizards, red and blue
dragonflies, a milliped, many birds, frogs and ants. A lizard and a
bird made me stop as I thought it could be a snake. Down at the river
bed we had to go a few meters through water reaching the thighs. Our
pants got wet and Sandra had to care that her mobile phone did not
start to swim. But here you could see the real hight of the falls.
The way back made us transpire. Back at the camper we drove to Knox
Lookout. Here we had an extreme wide view over the National Park and
its deep gorges.
At
the Junction Pool and at Oxer Lookout we could maze over very deep
gorges. Our last lookout for today was (Mount Bruce). Here we could
see the two highest points of Western Australia.
Then
we drove to the Dales Camping to spend a night in the wild nature. We
failed in starting the grill of camping and the grill of the camper.
So we only had salad and cold chicken. But we could enjoy the sunset
and stayed outside until it got dark.
Wednesday
21st March, 2012
Already
very early in the morning I got waken by the parrots. They started to
make big noise shortly after 3am. In between I could sleep again, but
it was not very recreative. At 5:45am the alarm rung as there is a
long day awaiting us. We enjoyed a bit the morning atmosphere and
started just before sunrise.
Our
first stop was a termite mound to which a sign pointed. Here we
watched it from close. Then we continued driving and had to care that
we did not hit any sheep as they were grazing at the side of the
road. Our journey was accompanied also by emus and a few cows. We
also made a few picture stops in the outback. I realized that
Australia is not really flat as we were passing a wonderful hill
landscape. The area got greener and greener and yellow and red shades
made it very interesting. A cyclone had passed last week and there
has been a lot of rain. The last 70 km to Tom Price are gravel road.
After we passed the 50 km the sound of our vehicle changed
immediately. We immediately found our problem: in the back the left
tire was completely broken. We were looking for the spare tire and
prepared for a long waiting as we did not have mobile phone
reception. But very soon two friendly Australians passed and stopped.
They helped us to change the tire and we were very thankful. They
told us that they are checking the road for damage made by the
cyclone. With the spare tire we drove to Tom Price and looked there
for a mechanic. He explained that a new one will be 300 dollars. Or
he could look if he has an used one. We called Apollo and they wanted
a new one which we should have to pay. Sandra explained that we also
did not have new tires on the camper. The answer as always: the car
was checked for damage. We know this saying already too good. As the
mechanic talked to Apollo, he demanded them to pay. Let's see how
this resolves, but first we enjoy our vacation.
During
dinner preparation we talked to an Australian who told us that all
gravel roads in the Karijini National Park are closed. The main road
is tarred and can be used. We should go to the visitor center and
inform us about the road situation. We will do that and hope to see
something from the National Park. She told us also that the parrots
are so noisy because they feed their chicks and this all around the
clock. I just hope they do this not anymore beside our camper.