Broome and on down to Perth

16 Aug Met up with a buddy of mine that I met in Ko Samui today. We called to her flat for afternoon Tea and was great to catch up with her. We had been good freinds at the detox. Later in the afternoon I went to a crocodile farm and saw huge crocs and watched the tour guide feed them chicken carcasas. He threw hard plastic balls in their pen and instinctivly they jumped out of the water and crushed them like grapes, v. entertaining. I went down to the beach with Corina and her freind to watch the sunset and enjoyed a cheese and wine snack. Her freind had a dog and I spent lots of time and effort throwing the ball for him, felt like home. Fair play to Corina, she invited us to her place for dinner (me and 2 freinds from the hostel) and lots of good aussie red wine.

17 Aug Met up with a couple of Irish girls (Trish and Ruth) today as they were interested in travelling with me in the camper to Broome. We disscussed the route and the time etc and we were all in agreement which was great. we decided to leave the following day. I went to the beach again to see the 'ships of the desert' a camel train that passes along Cable beach every day, About 20 camels in all. After that Corina joined us for another fine sunset and had a few beers whilst enjoying the spectacle.

18 Aug Up at 7am today and met Ruth and Trish at 8am. We went shopping for a load of water and groceries for our 7 day journey. Eventually we hit the road and drove all day through the nothingness to a mining town called Port Headland (PH). There was a spectacle to be seen there called the 'Staircase to the Moon'. This involved a full moon and a low tide co-inciding to creat a moonshine glimmer over the wet sand that created an illusion of a illuminated staircase to the moon. It was amazing but no photo would do it justice. We went into town to look for accommodation but everything seemed to be closed. We found this backpackers hostel listed in the lonely planet and went inside. We met this man in the hallway and he asked us what we were doing, i replied that i was looking for the reception. He said that this was a private house and we were to leave immediately. We apologised profusely and the girls turned on the Irish charm and he came round. as we were leaving he acknowledged that it was a hostel but had since become a private residence. We decided to leave PH and drive way out of town as everything was full of miners. We drove in the dark dodging Kangaroos and cattle until we found a quiet layby and decided to stop there for the night. The girls were too afraid to set up the tent and we all slept in the back of the van. Good craic and very cosy.

19 Aug Hit the road at 6.30am and headed south towards karinji National Park. I left the girls asleep in the back of the van and I drove about 2 hours to the nearest roadhouse (petrol station / truck stops) where we showered and changed. later in the morning we arrived in Karinji and drove around to the Gorges along dirt roads. Thank god the vehicle was not mine as they were dreadful. Looked a few Gorges and did a few short walks. We camped at the national park campground and made dinner in our little camper kitchen. To be fair, the girls cooked and did it well. I ate like a lord and enjoyed ice cold beers. lovely. That night we finished washing up etc and put our rubbish in a bag. I left it at the back door of the van so it would be smelly while we slept. The girls went off to the toilets and i was putting stuff in the side door. I heard a rustle and went to the back of the van to see what it was. I saw nothing and the rubbish bag was gone. The girls arrived back and i told them to get ready quick and get into the van. It was dark at this stage and I got my LED flashlight out and start shining it into the Bush. There were dozen of illuminated eyes watching us, I started throwing handfuls stones at them and kept shining the light at them. They were wild dingos, and the girls had dropped some raw meat during their dinner preparation. Although dingoes are supposed to be harmless, a starving wild animal is never to be trusted. We got into the van and the girls passed on the tent option for the 2nd night. The following morning paw prints were all around the van. It was a good laugh though.

20 Aug Headed away from Karijini towards a town called 'Tom Price'. We shopped and showered there and headed towards Exmouth 500km away. We didnt expect to make it that day but wanted to chew up as many kilometeres as possible. We fueled up at this roadhouse and it was starting to get dark. We needed to go a 100 km more and didnt like the dark driving. As luck would have it a road train passed and we tore after it. We sat behind it all the way as it bulldozed its way through the wildlife and we got to our campsite. Lady luck was on our side as we pulled in a couple of South African girls were nursing a lovely fire and BB ing kangaroo. We swopped beer for Kangaroo and heat (cold in the desert a night) and had a great evening.

21 Aug With the 2 girls fast asleep again I drove to Exmouth (Ex). Ex is a quiet spot and had a night lighthouse and beach. We bought some supplies and headed to Coral Bay (CB). Got to CB late and went to bed.

22 Aug We all booked on a quad biking tour which was mighty craic. They were new 500cc quads and we drove over the sands dunes and track in the area. We did some real challenging stuff which was great and a surprise. We saw turtles, beautiful white beaches with turquoise waters. We left about 4pm and headed to Shark bay / Monkey Mia (MM) 375km away. I drove till 2am (girls asleep in the back) until 2am. We needed to get there that day as there are wild Dolphins that come to shore at MM at 7.45am. We parked in the visitors centre carpark and slept.

23 Aug Got up at 7am and went down to the beach to watch the Dolphin spectacle. It was amazing as they came up and looked at everybody with direct eye contact and played in the water as they waited to be fed. I was right up beside them in the water (no touching allowed) and was a great feeling. We went for breakfast in a local cafe and the seagulls would land in on a table and eat the scraps before they were cleared. Amazing. Along the shore in MM there are lots of Pelicans. Wierd looking creatures that seemed to enoyed being photographed. They would open, then close their mouth. Then they would turn left then right. neck up, neck down. It was hilarious. They mangement feed the Pelicans too as they would muscle in on the dolphins otherwise and that appartently would stop the dolphins coming in.
Later that day we headed towards Kilbarri National Park (KB NP) and were stopped by the police on the way. They randomly turned around and chased after us. We were completely legal other than having 3 passengers in a 2 seater campervan. They let us off and off we went. The 2 girls are quiet good looking and charm their way in and out of evrything. Great. saw Seashell beach (only sea shells on the beach) and stromolites, an oxegen producing organism that existed 160 million years ago. That night we didnt get as far as Kilbarri but stopped at a campsite, lit a bonfire and ate and drank. Bliss.

24 Aug Hit the road at 7am and got to KB NP, checked out a few Gorges and enjoyed driving on the dirt roads (just sand, no tar) Got to a town called Geraldton that evening and Ruth met a Cork lad that she knew. He was working there as a blocklayer so we ended up staying at their house that night and watched the Cork / Kerry semi final.

25 Aug Headed towards perth on the last leg of the Broome - Perth journey. we stopped to see the Pinnacles. A strange landscape with tower like mounds popping out of the ground. Like a huge bed of nails. Drove on to Perth and arrived late afternoon. I spent the evning going around to all the hostels putting up notices offering a lift share to Melbourne. After al that, we got to Ruths freinds house and I slept in he van on their driveway.

26 Aug Washed the van inside and out this morning. I met up with Brian Fahy, a freind from Galway who moved out here 9 months ago. He brought me around to see the sights. I was telling him that the radio didnt work in the van and he told me that the gargae he worked for was a mitsubishi garage and they fixed it for me. great. I got a call from 2 girls (Sally and Sonia) today wanting a lift to Adelaide, i was going to give it a miss as id been there already but what the hell, it was on the way and near Melbourne. We will leave the day after tomorrow. I met up with another girl I met at the detox called Lyndall. She made me a big dinner and met up with her sister and niece who were at the detox too. great night.

27 Aug went out to Scarborough beach today andHilary harbour. Beautiful seaside towns in the Perth suburbs. Had a nice lunch and looked at fabulous boats in the jettys. Meeting Brian tonight and staying the night. Heading south tomorrow on my 7 day journeyto Adelaide.