28th April 2014

Merv pulled off the bolt that was left on the trailer and we headed off to try to get some parts, getting the bolts wasn't hard but the accompanying plates was a different matter, it took over 2 hrs to get the parts and he had it fixed in an hour, it yas msde us realize that after we have been on rough road check things are done up.
After that it was work on the fridge, it somtimes didn't want to start on gas, and was getting worse, hours of fiddling with jets and pressures it is  working perfect.
In the late afternoon we took some beers and had a drink with the couple that stopped, it is so nice to come across people like that.
We are hoping to head for 40 mile beach tomorrow, out of the caravan parks snd back to the beach.

27th April 2014

Left Barradale very foggy due toall the rain and heat, everthing going ok stopped to see if a couple on the side of the road was ok, then onto Nanutara roadhouse. We fueled up there, the greedy sods were charging $1.99 per litre , so i wouldn't even buy an icecream there.
We hadn't gone very far and we had the vehicle carry on a bit and there was lots of noise, looking in the rear veiw mirror we could see smoke pouring from one ot the trailer wheels, we couldn't stop instantly as the edges of the road was too soft due to all the rain. When we dif pull over we found we had lost s u bolt, probably came undone on the Tamala Station road.
Merv got his truck tie down straps and pulled the axle foward to correct position, then wih more tied to the rear with equal pressure to keep them in place. This was done without loosing it once.
While this was happening the people we stopped for came along, they stayed with us and followed us quite some distance to see if all was ok, when they left they gave us their sat phone number and said they would bring parts out to us if we needed them.
We travelled the next couple of hundred kms at 70km but we got into town ok, so it was book into a caravan park get some rest ready for a bit of work next day.

25th April 2014

Anzaz Day and we are in Carnarvon Big4 caravan park, it has been raining on and off all night but the morning looks as though it is clearing.
We came into town to do all the usual domestic chores, washing, grocery shopping etc and Merv needed to plck up a couple of things from the hardware.
The morning cleared nicely so we decided to have a walk along 1 mile jetty, there was a few people fishing but nobody catching anything,  I reckon it is too far to carry all your fishing gear, better off the beach.
We had a nice fish dinner and then sat around with Merv being taught how to play crib.
It rained all night again, the people in town told us Coral Bay had got 4 inches of rain I am glad we sre heading North.

26th April 2014

Left Carnarvon approx 11am raining pretty steady with a nice bit of wind.
We headed for Barradale rest area for the night, we were so supprised by the amount of water that was laying about, it was like lakes in places and there is no way you would want to drive off the bitumen onto the shoulder of the road, it would be so easy to be bogged in red mud. The Lyndon River was flowing almost like a flood, the best thing everthing is beautiful and green.
We arrived at the rest area approx 3.30pm, the river we were near was dry. after lunch Merv put on a new trailer plug, he will fit the safe later.
We sat around in the evening having a beer and talking to Paul, a man and his wife who have retired and travel around taking care of national park camp sites, he was on his way to Karajini. Paul told us some places to visit.
While we were sitting around the sky got darker and darker.
Approx 9pm all hell broke loose, thunder, lightning and rain like I have never seen, you could not hear yourself above it, there was 2 families in tents,  you could hear them screaming to one another as they tried to get everybody in the cars for shelter.
The next morning we walked down to the river we were near, we walked up the middle of it the night before, a dry river bed, when we got down to it, it was in full flood, another damned good reason NEVER camp in a dry river bed.

More Tamala Station holiday photos

These are a mix with Hamlin Pool included

Wednesday 16th April 2014

Left for the big journey, met Liza and AJ, we were going to spend the night at Sandy Cape but being school holidays it was full, so we went to Lake Indoon, the lake is a ski area at times but this time of the year after a hot dry summer it was completly dry. It was a lovely place to stay, very quiet, toilets, showers and free gas bbq, we will definatly make it a rest stop in the future.

24th April 2014

This morning was the best yet weather wise, as we had not had a breath of wind all night the water was like glass, Liza and AJ would so much have liked to take the kayaks out but they were packed up the night before.
Liza and AJ set off around 8am for the long trip home, approx 10hrs with stops, AJ has a golf tournament that he has organized for the next day, Anzac Day.
We left approx 10am headed to the station to return the gate key, while we were there I was there I was talking to the station owner who was about to go and fix the fence near the gate, someone during the night had puttied the lock up so that when people went to leave they couldn't get out, there was a club in there that wanted to leave around 7am so they cut the fence, unfortunately thy didn't think to fasten it up a little to stop the stock from getting out. With the mentality of some people it is no wonder that some property owners don't anyone on there places.
We had a good trip, pumped the tyres up when we hit the bitumen then headed for Hamlin Pool, as Merv had not seen the Stromalites, the colour of the water in there is amazing, signs everywhere no boating, no fishing, no swimming, no walking on the beach, I was expecting a sign that said, no fun. We looked into the Hamlin Pool caravan park, this is one to miss , very run down, the toilets even had a sign private access only. We originally went in for a cup of coffee as there was advertising on the road, but when you walk into the shop we quickly changed our mind, a bottle of ice tea and hit the road.
We arrived in Carnarvon approx 4pm.
we had some light rain showers during the night, so nice to hear the rain on the roof, it has been so long since we have seen any real rain.

23rd April 2014

The last day taking the boat out before we leave tomorrow, the crew, Liza,Merv and Selina, AJ headed out with his kayak, we went out to a place we found yesterday which was only approx 2km, it was pretty sloppy when went out, we went a bit farther than AJ.
We weren't out there long and Liza had a big pinkie on but it snapped the 50lb braid at the boat, after that we were on to them, landed some lovely fish, Liza caught one that had the huge big age lumps on his head. It was a real pleasure after catching them watching them swim away when released.
AJ didn't land one but did have hook ups, we did go in and tow the kayak out further where he got on and fished around us. He did get messing about and capsized, so after righting things we decided we had caught enough and it was lunch time.
Happy hour and a few drinks to celebrate a wonderful holiday, seafood cabinara for dinner.(Lizas' flathead)
The night was so still and clear, after dinner we walked down to the water and checked out the stars, one never sees stars like tht around the city, absolutely amazing.

22nd April 2014

Tuesday and another lovely day to go out in the boat, the wind blew fifty bastards last night but the morning is great, a bit cooler than what it has been but that may mean not as much  seabreeze.
Merv and I took the boat out while Liza and Aj went fishing from their kayaks.
We got fantastic pinkies, huge one's, and some great sharks, when we had enough out at the 10km mark we came in closer to try for some flathead but all we did was pickup more big pinkies.
Liza and  AJ caught a large number of butteries but no flathead, wock the dog sat on AJ's kayak all the time which was approx 3 hours.
Later in the afternoon we waded over to Ram Island to try and catch a snapper off the rocks, but no luck  although we did get to see another dugong swimming by, and a turtle. So before the tide had us stranded  it was back to camp for dinner and a few beers.

21st April 2013

Easter Monday, Liza, AJ and Merv went out to try their hand at catching a fish, Liza and AJ caught some big pinkies, AJ broke the tip of his overhead rod on one, Merv caught a lot of shark .
While they were away I took the dog on the kayak, we had a great time around the bay and over to the island
In the afternoon Merv and I went for a walk around Ram Island, we had a nice swim at a little beach at the back of the island, as we were walking back we came down onto an area overlooking the water and saw large schoals of snapper and yellow tail bream, Aj took the kayak over to try to catch some but no luck.

20th April 2014

Easter Sunday up early for fishing, the crew today, Merv, Liza and Selina, AJ stayed and took his fishing kayak with his little dog to try around the island and adjoining bays.
We travelled approx 10kms out to the fishing spot, it wasn't long before Liza had caught a nice pink snapper, then a monster flathead, unfortunatly it got off as we went to land it, there was lots more pink snapper caught, with Liza and Selina catching two really big ones, but could not keep any, lots of fun anyway and we handle them with great care for releasing.
The wind came up a bit, as it does here, so we went inshore a little where Selina caught a big flathead, Liza and Merv caught some nice sharks, which were released, the flathead along with another smaller one Merv caught was taken for dinner, there was also a lot of butteries caught for bait to use the next day.
AJ didn't have any luck catching a fish but him and his dog had a great workout.

19th April 2014

Easter Saturday it is a bit windy today, and picking up, which is common for this area. Merv and AJ launched the boat for a day out.
Merv and Liza headed out, AJ and I were both under the weather a bit so we will go tomorrow.
While the others were in the boat i waded around Ram island trying for a whiting.
Liza and Merv had a good day, came in with nice fish for dinner, they threw away a lot of pink snapper, they cant be kept in this area unless you have a tag to put on them.
Merv has just taken his rod down to then edge to try out a new lure and has come back with a nice spangled emperor, yum, seafood banquet for dinner.

18th April 2014

Good Friday we left Gladstone Bay and headed for Tamala Station on the Shark Bay Road. It was approx 50kms down to the overlander roadhouse where the turn off for Shark Bay is.  After fueling up we set off, when we turned onto the useless loop rd for Tamala we hit the rough road, really bad corrugations and the dust, but we arrived in one piece just a little shaken and rattled,(but not stirred).
Our camp site we were allocatted was Ram Island camp site, so picturesque that it was hard to believe, the water crystal clear and magnificent colour. 
After we made camp we took our rods and went for a stroll, as we walked along the top of a low embankment we noticed a Dugong feading, we stood watching for awhile as it got a bit closer, then it turned came straight at us, when it got metres from us it lifted its head had a good look at us then left.
At night we walked down to the water with the torches, when we honed them onto the water it came alive with hundreds of longtom leaping out of the water.

17th April 2014

Headed further North and decided we would stay the night at Gladstone Bay, it was a beautiful day Merv, Liza and myself waded trying to catch a fish, Liza landed a longtom, I hooked one and played it for awhile but Merv caught a seagull, did it perform as he tried to release it, it did fly away none the worse for its experience. At night Merv cooked dinner on the fire pot and later it was beer and toasted mashmallows.

Getting ready for the big trip

Monday 14/4/14 just put the sticker on in final preperation for the trip