Karratha

We left Point Samson on the Monday and went into Karratha.  Through BCA, we had been in contact with Les (the Anglican Minister in Karratha) prior to leaving Point Samson and once we had setup at our caravan park in Karratha, we gave Les a call to see if we could come over and do anything for him to help out.  Les was happy to have us come over, so we went to the church and had a cup of tea with Les.  After a brief chat, Liz and the kids went back to the caravan for lunch, and Mike got on the end of a Mower to mow some of the vegetation (I wouldn’t really call it grass!) out the front of the church.  Having never mowed Spinifex before, it is a really difficult job and it took ages to hack down the long, dead grasses in front of the church.  After doing some mowing, Mike also relocated quite a few rocks around the garden for Les.  By the time that was all done, it was quite late in the afternoon.  We said goodbye to Les and went back to the van for the night.

Mike working up a sweat at the Karratha Anglican Church

Mike and Les

We wanted to go and see Dampier and some of the surrounding area, so on Tuesday we got some schoolwork done and then headed out to have a look around.  We went into Dampier to see ‘Red Dog – The Pilbara Wanderer’ and then drove out to the North West Shelf Visitor’s Centre (right next to the Gas works) where the kids completed an activity sheet which allowed us all to have a good look around the displays (and the kids got a prize at the end too – Natalie got a drink bottle, and the boys got a pencil case).

Sam, Natalie and Josh at the Red Dog Statue

The North West Shelf Gas Plant near Dampier

Sam holding up the pencil case he had 'earned' at the Visitor's centre

We drove to Hearson’s cove on the way back to Karratha and stopped for a quick walk and some afternoon tea.

Hearson's Cove

When Mike was mowing the vegetation at Les’ place, he saw a portable air conditioner in the shed that was not being used, and it happened to be the exact same model as the one that had just died in the caravan.  Mike asked Les if it was for sale, and (to cut a longer story short) it was for sale!  So Mike bought it and installed it in the caravan.  Therefore we now have a working air conditioner in the van again (yippee)!

We needed to do a big shop before we left Karratha the next day, so we went to Coles and re-stocked everything we needed.  We continue to be amazed at how much food we seem to go through each week!  Food and Groceries is our biggest cost by far (followed by fuel, then accommodation).  So it’s always good to shop at a big supermarket where the prices are generally a bit cheaper (and there is more variety too) compared with some of the outback towns.