Saturday, July 10, 2021

Day 81: Sat 10 Jul - Newman to Free Camp (Gascoyne River (South branch) Rest Area), 283 km; total travelled: 8 250 km; total driven: 10 538 km

 5-19 degC, getting cooler by the day as we head South, still nice and sunny though

We crossed the Tropic of Capricorn again today.

We hit the road at 8:50 this morning, only to stop 3 km down the road at the "proper" entrance to Newman.  Here there is an info bay, some metal animal sculptures and and old iron ore carrying truck. Why we missed this on our tour yesterday is a mystery, however, we have now seen it.  Did we tell you how good the roads are in WA? :)

We stopped at a deserted free camp for mornos then continued the trek towards Meekatharra. Just before 1 pm, we set up camp at the above mentioned free camp, had lunch, then an LLD. Whilst Wendy prepared tonight's (and probably tomorrow's as well) dinner, Greg went for a walk along the Gascoyne River, that was mostly dry as a bone.

The landscape today was very much like outback QLD - flat, dry and therefore quite barren. Instead of dead kangaroos, we saw at lest 12 dead cattle. We guess the farmer has done the sums and it is cheaper to lose a few cattle every now and then, than fence such a huge paddock.

We sat outside and watched the sunset which was plain tonight.

Newman Mosque, behind a very high fence


The proper entrance to Newman


Goethitic iron ore

Hematitic iron ore


Some interesting facts about the iron ore carrying trucks




Looking down on the 3.7 m high wheel of the truck

The truck

Landscape today

Wedgie


Gascoyne River


Outside cooking - chicken curry, seems to stay in the van for days otherwise

Greg's favourite trees, you can see how A. Namatjira was inspired to paint 

Looking South - drone shots

Us

Us and our neighbours - plenty of space 

Truck heading South

The other side of the free camp

The truck parking area and dunny






















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