Nov 23
 |
| Tropic of Capricorn |
I was up early and I arrived in Carnarvon by 7am and what a beautiful town it is so clean and attractive beautifully kept and green grass you just felt as so you wanted to walk and admire all the views.
 |
| Carnarvon |
 |
| Carnarvon |
I parked up after a short walk and went on the internet what luck just in time. Sheila, my sister, Skyped me and we had a long chat.
Food shopping in Woolworths quite a saving from Exmouth I guess I went a bit mad buying up goodies as I am heading for Tamaia Station south of Denham a camping site right by the sea rather a long way from a shop. The Duke from Neds camp invited me to go along which was really good of him.
My in house battery seemed to be messing me about so I invested in a new one more $ spent, ‘O well that’s life. I parked in a layby and was just turning around and I stalled Plod so Plod retaliated and decided not to restart I was across the road in the lay-by and who do you think stopped Silke and family. Silke was going to give me a jump start one more try I said, Plod fired up great, I did re-tighten his battery terminals lets hope Plod behaves himself. Finished my second crack at the internet and off I went on to my night stop at Gladstone Scenic Lookout 51 km north of Overlander Roadhouse near Denham.
 |
| Gladstone Scenic Lookout |
 |
| Gladstone Scenic Lookout R.I.P |
 |
| Gladstone Scenic Lookout |
Nov 24
Filled up with diesel at Overlander Roadhouse. I asked if I could top up with water answer NO we do not allow that, we are on a bore hole and you cannot drink it, I have plenty of drinking water I only want to top up my shower unit, sorry not allowed and that is the first time I have been refused water, one other place but then I was told I could get water from the tourist center which I did. Coral Bay had water but not for drinking as the water was a little salty, Carnarvon had all the water you needed a sign was placed on the road, water available.
I arrived at Tamala Station paid my fee’s and got the golden key to the gate for Shell Beach my camping spot. The road named Useless Loop Road was a dirt road of 71 km long mostly in good repair only about 15 km of corrugated sections. The men were out fishing when I arrived. I was invited for dinner in Heinz and Sabine’s motorhome with The Duke and Jimmy, Heinz and Sabine have a 6 month holiday every year in Australia who live in Germany. I have met more Germans in my travels than any other nationality and I find then all extremely friendly and cooperative.
 |
| Tamala Station |
 |
| Plod at Shell Beach |
 |
| The Duke, Jimmy, Heinz and the lovely Sabine who cooked our dinner. |
Nov 25
The Duke took me out in his boat fishing with rod and line. First we had to catch some bait fish in shallow waters then we moved on to deeper waters for the bigger fish. I managed to catch a fish, my first fish ever and I was over the moon and another one. This time it had to be thrown back. The Duke kept catching fish but unfortunately either they were under size or protected species and had to be throw back a shame really as quite often the fish dies but that is the law. The fisheries department are extremely strict and big fines are imposed. The Duke pulled in a shark we don’t want that, I will eat it so he kept it for my tea. He did catch a good size Backstotted tuskfish. The wind was increasing so we headed for the shore that was great fun with the boat bouncing up and down and the waves getting me wet better than a fair ground’s big dipper it made me laugh!
Another van turned in - well well, it is Helen, she arrived just before dark with a big smile on her face. She said it took her 5 hours to get here from the main road must have a drink; out comes a bottle of wine we consumed a few glasses and had a long chat.
 |
| The Duke and Helen |
 |
The Duke and me |
Nov 26
Rather windy to day so no fishing The Duke took Helen and myself for a drive around the station more like the coast line.
 |
| Tamala Station our camp in the distance |
 |
| Tamala Station |
 |
| Tamala Station |
 |
| Tamala Station |
Nov 27 Sunday
Up late, Helen decided to drive up to Denham and Monkey Mire she was going to stay for our dinner party to night but unfortunately she was out of gas which finally made up her mined not to stay longer, besides she is not into fishing.
Duke saw her out of the rougher roads making sure she did not get stuck in any soft sand.
My problem staying in places like this is running out of petrol for the generator, solar panels is the next item on my list to buy a necessity.
The dinner was excellent cooked by Duke 10 out of 10 Jimmy provided an excellent bottle of Rickdaley sweetish red sparkling wine just right for an after dinner drink another 10 out of 10. I provided some vegetable’s and Heinz and Sabine provided the beer and a good place to sit in their van.
 |
| Me, Duke, Jimmy & Sabine |
Nov 28
Duke drove us into Dunham with Sabine and Heinz to get drinking water and petrol so I took the chance to log on to the internet, a 300 km round trip so not a trip to take lightly. Denham is rather a small town and relies solely on the tourist trade. I brought some ant powder for those little blighters topped up with water and petrol. We stopped to have a look at Shell Beach on the way up. Masses of shells have been drifting in for about 4000 years. They are five meters deep here and still piling up today.
 |
| Shell Beach |
 |
| Shell Beach |
 |
| Information |
Now a look at Denham
 |
| Denham |
 |
| A Restaurant made out of shells |
 |
| Denham sea front with BBQ Facilities |
On the way back another stopping point was to buy an ice cream at the Nanga Bay Resort a caravan park again on the beach no shells here only sand.
 |
| Nanga Bay Resort |
 |
| Nanga Bay Resort |
Driving back up Useless Loop Road the graders were back at work; looked as if they were cutting off a hill and which way are we going to go?
 |
| Useless Loop Road |
 |
| Useless Loop Road |
 |
| Tamala Station |
Nov 29-30
Still windy so no good for fishing a quite day writing my Blog, repairing a water container that Jimmy gave me he was thinking it was for petrol never mind still very useful for reserve water.
Heinz had a problem starting his boat engine I had a quick look typical every thing worked fine although I did gave him a few pointers.
Heinz and Sabine had us all around again for another scrumptious meal Sabine is a very good cook.
December 1
I went out fishing with Duke had a few bites but neither of us caught any fish.We saw many turtles swimming around us showing off, look at us they said these fish are ours so go away. We went in to shore and no sooner we got in the fisheries arrived to check if we had any illegal fish. They poked around a bit and looked in Jimmy’s freezer that was out side his van, they hung around until another boat arrived it was Heinz and Sabine, when they had moored up the fisheries walked out to the boat straight away to check their catch, only two sharks in the pot so that was magic.
Jimmy caught a shark as well and gave it to me all filleted ready for the frying pan much appreciative. Fishermen tend to throw the sharks back into the sea, why keep sharks when you can catch better fish to eat. Shark fish is very good most of the fish and chip shops buy shark and call it Flake.
Dec 2
Starting to pack up ready for the off on Saturday.
