The trip from Broome to Karratha is a boring one, with little change in scenery. However I'm glad I was in a car rather than a motorbike (first time I had that feeling on this trip - I miss my motorbike and the freedom it gave me). The wind was howling, and made for some eye watering sand storms. When an oncoming road train passed me (going in th opposite direction) the pressure wave of wind hitting the car was like a sand paper dump. I hated that feeling, so I slowed down when they approached and moved as far left as I could.
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| Sand and strong winds. Felt and sounded like sandpaper rubbing. |
I'm staying in a motel in Karratha which is 18 km's from Dampier. Karratha has a population of around 20,000 whilst Dampier has much less. Karratha is the dominant living town, whilst Dampier is the working town for Rio Tinto iron ore, BHP salt and North West Shelf Project. Dampier has so many apartment style blocks which looked abandanded. I suspect most of the population works in or around Dampier but lives in Karratha. Karratha has a bakery!!! So looking forward to fresh bread rolls.
Dampier, on the coast is so far, my favourite seaside place. I wish we still had our 6.5 mtr ocean going boat so we could visit the Dampier Archipelago, which consists of 42 islands within a 45 km radius from Dampier. No beach boat ramps, they have proper concrete ones. I also wish I had a 4wd to drive to some isolated land based fishing sites. Oh well, next time.
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| Dampier harbour |
Dampier is also the base for the north west shelf project. Gas and oil is sucked from the ocean floor from several sea riggs 145 kms off shore. The oil / gas is pumped via underwater pipes back to Dampier where it is processed and the gas is piped to Perth, via overland pipes or shipped overseas with the oil via tankers.
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| This huge site receives the gas and oil from offshore and does it's magic to purify and separate it ready for distribution. It's a very involved process as the gas contains other chemicals / gasses that are not wanted. |
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| 3 massive underground liquid gas storage containers. If I can remember the facts from the North West Shelf Project info centre, the liquid gas is stored at about minus 160 C. |
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| "Red" dog - famous in the Pilbara. Died in 1979. If you haven't seen the movie or read the book, do yourself a favour.... |
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| Dampier Lawn Bowls Club - for those of you interested in cheap beer :) |
Smart move to head south IMHO. At least, you now have a better idea of vehicle needed for the NW, and times of year. Incidentally, in Broome, from mid June till the Shinju Festival, 3 months later, they need to activate the overflow caravan areas! Grey nomads......Then, it empties fast.
ReplyDeleteHi Wendy, Yes I think it was the best move. ABC radio had Bureau of Meteorology this morning and asked about the temps - Karratha - max 32 but at the time of broadcast 10.30am, it was already 38. Marble Bar had 43 degrees at that time.
ReplyDeleteThe original plan was to do this on a motorbike, which would have given me access to any road, so I knew coming here I would be frustrated with my trusty VW Golf. Even going fishing to a river or coastal area, you need something more than a 2wd or perhaps a 2wd you don't care too much about :)
Looking forward to when I do this again and so much more with a 4wd.
Thanks RP