35 kilometres east of Broome we once again changed direction and headed south this time on the Great Northern Highway towards our next stop at Barn Hill Station. Flat open plain country with grazing cattle and we are assuming this is probably an area where cattle are kept before live export from Broome to Asia. Then we hit scrappy country and the only interesting view was a low growing bush with a long stalk of bright purple flowers. Nothing else to break the monotony. As we were to learn this is par for the course down the west coast. The road was approximately 10 kilometres east of the coastline and, east of the highway all the way to the Northern Territory Border, is the Great Sandy Desert.
Rocky Pools
The turn off on to the corrugated red dirt road to Barn Hill Station was one of those bone rattling experiences so dreaded by Adrian. The look of absolute horror on his face trying to manoeuvre the car to the least bumpy side of the road had me in a fit of the giggles; the poor dogs couldn't work out what was going on with the car vibrating and me crying with laughter. We had a few stock gates to open and close and speed bumps to slow the hoons down. All in all a wild ride!
Let me say it was all worth it to camp on the cliffs overlooking the Indian Ocean. We watched the migrating whales frolicking in the ocean right in front of us and then a magnificent sunset over the water to finish the day. The beach is such a different experience from home with amazing rock formations right to the edge and then wonderful wide sandy expanse at low tide, to laze around sun baking if one so chooses. I managed to do that along with a few dips in the ocean over the couple of days and I also enjoyed exploring the rock pools. Not to bad for shell collecting either.
Beach Side Rock Formations
Barn Hill Station is a working cattle station with 87 kilometres of coastline in its boundary. Its a popular spot for campers, so much so, we were not in a powered site and christened our generator, 'Gennie', to top up our batteries every day. We had toilets and showers, open air. First time we have been able to get a suntan while showering!
Sunset over the Indian Ocean
Monday 9th August returned to the highway to continue south. I promise I didn't laugh this time. Free camp on the agenda for tonight at the De Grey River until the air conditioning decided it simply wasn't going to work. Gale force winds on the road, boring flat country and nothing to see other than the desert and by the middle of the day we were feeling the heat. Made a decision to push on to Port Headland another 100 kilometers to find a mechanic to replace the air conditioner's fan belt. Only stop at Sandfire Roadhouse, refuel and "meat pie " for lunch. Haven't had one of those for a while.
Monday 9th August returned to the highway to continue south. I promise I didn't laugh this time. Free camp on the agenda for tonight at the De Grey River until the air conditioning decided it simply wasn't going to work. Gale force winds on the road, boring flat country and nothing to see other than the desert and by the middle of the day we were feeling the heat. Made a decision to push on to Port Headland another 100 kilometers to find a mechanic to replace the air conditioner's fan belt. Only stop at Sandfire Roadhouse, refuel and "meat pie " for lunch. Haven't had one of those for a while.
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