Day 147

Date:- 8 August 2010
Distance:- 63.03 Km
Distance to Date:- 8464.10 Km
Start:- Harding River Caravan Park - Roebourne
Finish:- Miaree Pool Rest Area
Comment:- Yesterday afternoon I spent the time catching up on my blog then cooked tea, washed up and then into bed about 8.30pm.

Had a very good nights sleep and was up about 6am, cooked breakfast, packed and on the road by 7.30am. One km out to the highway then rode through the small township of Roebourne. An old town with a number of art galleries, a very good museum in the old goal, or so I am told, a large police station and a service station. The local pub has been shut for quite some time.

About 8 km out of Roebourne I had to stop at a railway crossing while a train passed. It was about 1km long. I didn’t count the carriages but there were three locomotives pulling it.

There are a number of small aboriginal communities and mining sites dotted through the area.

The first 12 km out of Roebourne was gently up hill and then flatten out as it crossed the desert plains. Quite a bit of traffic around but once past Karratha was minimal. Again, cloudless skies with a light north east breeze.

About 20 km out a group of about 25 cyclists passed me heading north. They had a police escort front and rear, an ambulance and backup vehicles. There was no advertising so I don’t know if it was a charity ride or not.

A massive flock of birds (corellas and galahs) rose up in front of me and flew across the road and I lost sight of the road momentarily.

Rode past the first turn off to Karratha (Pop. 14000) at 32 km out and stopped at the Karratha Roadhouse (Truck Shop) which was another 7 km on. Had a quick bite to eat before continuing on. There was a Gas Plant which seemed to be out in the middle of nowhere.

From here the road continued in a south westerly direction and at 63 km out A sign for Miaree Pool. Someone had told it was a nice place to stay, and I must say they were right. I crossed over a bridge then turned right and down a gravel road and found a nice spot for a tent in the shade of a tree an the bank of this water way.

Once set up I had a bit of a snooze, got up and wandered around and met Ken and Marlene from Mandurah, south of Perth.

Had tea and rejoined Ken and Marlene while I had a cuppa before retiring to my tent to do my diary.

Tomorrow I will get to Fortescue River Rest Area.