Day 128 – 21st May 2018 – Giralia Station to Tom Price

Col and I were up early and completed the final pack up of the van.  Joyce, James and Denver came over for a cuppa and we enjoyed the last moments hanging out with these great people.  We then said our goodbyes and headed up to the Homestead to say goodbye to Jen and Indya.  We agreed to drop off some brochures for Denver to the Tourist Centres and Road Houses nearby on our travels.

With the goodbyes said and done, we headed off for the next stage of our adventure!  We both felt sad to close the gate on this part, but excited for the next stage.  So good to experience a glimpse of life on an outback Australian Station and with such great people.  It felt good to be part of a community and contributing to a common goal.  We will definitely remember this time and be grateful for the experience.  We will miss you Giralia!!

Col closing the gate for the last time at Giralia Station WA
Col closing the gate for the last time at Giralia Station WA
Leaving Giralia Station for Tom Price WA
Leaving Giralia Station for Tom Price WA

We had intended to stop at Paraburdoo overnight before heading to Karijini Gorge, but we changed our mind mid transit and decided to go to Tom Price.  We will do a shop tomorrow and fill the water tanks and gas bottles before setting up camp at Karinini for a few nights.

The drive to Tom Price took us about 7 hours with stops.  We left just before 10am and arrived just after 5pm.  The drive was beautiful with the stunning red hills of the Hammersley Range popping up, and the changing landscape.  Both Col and I were on the radios expressing appreciation of the amazing landscape.  All went well with the drive and we pulled up safely at the Tom Price Tourist Park for the night.

I would like to share that I reversed the boat quite nicely into it’s spot tonight.  I have finally worked out an easy way to reverse a trailer without doing your head in.  Here is my simple solution when reversing in a straight line (remember that I am a Learner and not a Professional but this works for me).  Forget Left hand down, right hand down, this totally does my head in especially when looking in a mirror.  Just remember when you see the trailer/van/boat in the side mirror  of the car that you are not going straight.  If you see it in your right mirror turn towards it (right) to move it away back behind the car.  If you see it in your left mirror turn left to move it away.  Don’t make big adjustments, you only need a small adjustment to get the boat back behind you again.  As I said, I am a learner, but this concept has revolutionised my driving.  I have been trying to practice a little more too and am finding that I can finally drive backwards in a straight line with the boat staying behind me, woo hoo!  Small steps!

 

Day 127 – 20th May 2018 – Giralia Station

So today is our last day on Giralia Station as we head off in the morning to Karijini Gorge.  I seriously cannot believe it has been a month already.  Both Col and I have loved the experience as well as the people on the Station.  It has been a privilege to be part of the Giralia Station Crew.  We will definitely miss our time here, it has been a highlight of the trip so far.

I met up with Joyce and we did our 8km walk on the airstrip, the last one as I will need to do the final pack up tomorrow.  Usually Bunjil accompanies us on our walk but today Hunca Munca and Rosie joined us.  Rosie is terrified of everyone and fiercely protects her parent’s bus, John and Kate.  She is a little dog that was adopted, her previous owners were abusive and she doesn’t trust anyone now.  But both Hunca Munca and Rosie walked with us for the first 2 and a half kilometers of our walk.  It was very cute but both Joyce and I were super paranoid about them wandering off near the edge of the airstrip, so called them back frantically anytime they got close to the edge.  It was interesting that they walked with us for the first time today in the absence of Bunjil who usually accompanies us on our morning exercise regime. Continue reading “Day 127 – 20th May 2018 – Giralia Station”

Day 126 – 19th May 2018 – Giralia Station

The day started in the usual fashion with me meeting Joyce for our 8km walk out on the airstrip.  When we got back James and Joyce came over for morning tea.  I then did the camp kitchen and focused on doing some blogging as we suddenly had mobile coverage!!

In the afternoon we had news arrive regarding Bunjil but it wasn’t happy news unfortunately.  Jen found him under the art room near the Homestead and he had been bitten by a snake on the day we saw him yelping.  Very, very sad but I am relieved for the family that they know and can now grieve for him.  It was a bit challenging getting him out and they buried him in the front yard of the Homestead.  We all feel incredibly sad as he was a beautiful dog and will be sadly missed at Giralia Station.  He was only 9 months old but I thought he was so much older because of his calm temperament.  It is a reality of pets and animals on a remote Australian station and the Blakes have been through this situation with other horses and dogs before, it is not new to them.  But very sad to say goodbye to a beautiful dog and he will be sadly missed.

Hunca Munca and Bunjil, Giralia Station WA
Hunca Munca and Bunjil, Giralia Station WA

Continue reading “Day 126 – 19th May 2018 – Giralia Station”

Day 125 – 18th May 2018 – Giralia Station

We had planned a big fishing day out on Friday and planned to go and pick up the boat and bring it back in preparation for leaving on Monday.  James and Joyce were going to come in Col’s boat and Denver, Jen and Indya in Denver’s boat.  Col and I headed to the boat shed early to get the boat ready and James and Joyce were going to meet us down there.  The Blakes were also going to meet us at the boat ramp.  We did the boat prep and Col started putting Denver’s GPS fishing spots into the RayMarine but it took quite a while.  The first one he put in was the Homestead :) but you don’t know what they are until you enter them! Continue reading “Day 125 – 18th May 2018 – Giralia Station”

Day 124 – 17th May 2018 – Giralia Station

No run this morning after my late night!  Had a relatively quiet day today.  Another couple, Ian and Sandy, have arrived to help out.  Ian is a carpenter and he is working on renovating the bathrooms.  They seem like a lovely couple.  We all got together for afternoon tea at the Homestead.

Still no sign of Bunjil :( Continue reading “Day 124 – 17th May 2018 – Giralia Station”

Day 123 – 16th May 2018 – Giralia Station

Started the day with an 8km walk/run again with Joyce.  Really nice to have someone to exercise with and a great way to start each day.

After the run I cleaned camp kitchen and cleaned the van then we headed out again for more rock collecting. Continue reading “Day 123 – 16th May 2018 – Giralia Station”

Day 122 – 15th May 2018 – Giralia Station

Joyce and I started the day with an 8km walk on the Airstrip and Bunjil the Station Border Collie accompanied us, collecting sticks for us to throw while we walked.

After the walk we then headed out to the quarry to do some rock collecting.  We seem to be selecting bigger and bigger rocks each time we go, we might all be getting a bit competitive.  We are now professional rock collectors and do this task quite efficiently.  The Station is looking great as a result of these efforts. Continue reading “Day 122 – 15th May 2018 – Giralia Station”

Day 121 – 14th May 2018 – Giralia Station

Indya, Col and I headed to Turquoise Bay for a Snorkel today.  Turquoise bay is about a 2 hour drive from Giralia so we tried to get away early.  The beach is beautiful, so much coral and shells washed up along the shore it would provide hours of entertainment just picking through it.  The water was moving fairly quickly so we decided to do a drift snorkel and walked up the beach.  You need to stay aware of where you are as there is an opening in the reef and a rip forms with the water rushing through it.  You wouldn’t want to get dragged out to sea as the waves then crash over the rocks on the outer reef. Continue reading “Day 121 – 14th May 2018 – Giralia Station”

Day 120 – 13th May 2018 – Giralia Station

Happy Mother’s Day to all the beautiful Mums out there!

I woke up feeling much better today and Col kindly made me breakfast in bed on behalf of my kids, which was very much appreciated.  I let Joyce know that I would be walking a bit later and taking it a bit easy.  After breakfast I headed out to the Airstrip and started walking it initially, but felt ok so did the run/walk for a few laps.  I did 7km in total.

The Airstrip, Giralia Station WA
The Airstrip, Giralia Station WA

Continue reading “Day 120 – 13th May 2018 – Giralia Station”

Day 119 – 12th May 2018 – Giralia Station

Unfortunately I woke up fairly early Saturday morning and was not feeling very well, nothing serious just an upset stomach and queezy.  I didn’t eat dinner the night before and didn’t have an appetite, so might have been something I ate in Exmouth on Friday.  I just took it easy on Saturday.

I spent some time over at the Homestead working on the laptop and this was the office for the day.  Not a bad place to sit and watch the world go by.

View from the Homestead, Giralia Station WA
View from the Homestead, Giralia Station WA

Continue reading “Day 119 – 12th May 2018 – Giralia Station”