25th Sept - Onslow to Exmouth

It was a coolish start to the morning with an easterly breeze off the water. Usual pack up and breakfast. Said cherio to neighbours of the lat two days, Graeme and Ginny. Graeme has an aortic aneurism repair (and a less visible scar than me!) Unfortunately, he did not know about his till it failed. He is a one in about 100 survivor... but copped some collateral damage in a bit of a stroke... They are following down the coast, at a leisurely pace.

After a refuel (at $1.699/l) it is again off down the road. The Onslow town map has a highlight - photo op about 10km down the road "Termite Viewing" so we will check that out! Sure enough there is a sign and a parking bay from which to observe the work of the spinifex termites (which eat grass not wood). Didn't see a single termite tho....

Back on the North West Coast Highway (which is about 100km from the coast so far) it is 40km to Nannutara Roadhouse. Top up at $2.05 per litre, a new record! So Onslow at a dead-end 80km off the highway manages $1.70 but on the highway which the tankers travel past on they charge $2.05!!!! Because they can! Fortunately only take 23l....

Mars with scrub (and blue sky)

Cape Range in the distance

First view of Exmouth Gulf...

Another 130km to the Exmouth turnoff. No more mines or gas plants - for awhile. Then the turn back to north west to Exmouth the terrain is like Mars - but with some short scrubby bushes. Then a range appears on the western side (Cape Range NP). Eventually past Learmonth, sand dunes on the right. Finally a glimpse of water, a few houses, and then Exmouth.


The Ningalloo Resort and CP is the only dog friendly around here and the dog corner is a bit desolate. Mostly granitic sand and hard as concrete. Anyway we are in and here for 5 nights, so we are here for the birthday and the Grand Final. And by the way there is plenty of vacancy inspite of warnings to book - WA school holidays start Friday...

After getting "parked up", we are off to the Visitor Centre across the road, and collect some reading matter. The shops are only several hundred metres down the road. Let's go - at a medium hobble. My leg is a getting a bit better, but not working so well after 420KM and 4:45 driving... The walk might help get it working...

Basic shops - including TWO IGAs on opposite sides of the open Mall??? Dive shops, hairdressers eateries - including a Chinese finally! (Birthday treat I reckon).

We have decided to hire a car for Thursday and Friday to get around a bit, particularly to Turquoise Bay which is on the other side of the peninsula (about 65km). There is the usual bind of can't leave Honey unattended (rules as well as prudence) and where we want to go is... National Park... We will explore tomorrow and maybe cheat on Friday...

We have DTV for a change how novel, Spicks and Specks re-runs tonight! And I have my foot up finally, it and the leg are a bit swollen. Tomorrow I am told I must keep it up, mostly...

PS: Would you believe Exmouth has Telstra 4G - but I am struggling with the 3G which is very slow upload (the pix)