Don't know why, but I like the sound of
the name Dampier (although Dampney-er would sound a whole lot better, what says Hugh Janet?)
but was in for a serious shock on arrival.
From thousands of miles of wilderness, some strewn with these large Termite mounds,
this was the start of all that could be looked forward to here!
Road
Trains can come in varying shapes, sizes and lengths, this is a 'medium
one, and as I may have mentioned before one was encountered with 96
wheels - a monster.
However, the point is we have now reached Mining Country which, should the politicians manage it correctly (unlike our own circa
North Sea Oil), Australia could become the richest nation on the planet
in the none too distant future. If it's lying beneath the earths
surface, then it's most likely here with
GOLD, now fetching over $1,000 an ounce, being in world terms 'plentiful' here, right down to
IRON ORE (the loading depot and
rolling-stock {thousands of waggons} just south of the city) along with
but
most prominent at the yardarms of another 30 or so vessels anchored in
the 'roads' is the red and 5 gold stars of the Chinese ensign. It would
be safe to say that any nation trading with China (India, Brazil et al)
on this scale is in for a massive killing! As an aside, the Australian
Government, among much controversy as being far to close to existing
Marine Nature Reserves, have recently released 'drilling acreage' off
the coast here which is calculated to produce Liquid Petroleum Gas for
the next 185 years!!!!
The furthest north I had ever planned to go was Port Hedland, just 200 'clicks' up the road, which is what I did but
it was bumper to bumper with vehicles like these all the way
so
it was refreshing to reach open countryside once again with a little
less traffic. It felt as though I'd had a brief visit to Hell's Kitchen,
and while interesting it was good to get out!
Having
forgotten to publish this photograph on the was north, it has come in
handy as for the second time in a few days we once again crossed the
Tropic of Capricorn. One thing that was being looked forward to here was
a visit to the world renowned Roadhouse of the same name. Seemed like
the rest of the world had the same idea that day, with wall to wall
lorries not even enough space to park a small car - ever onward.
I made it to the very attractive little town of Newman well before
nightfall, some 390Km , but with just one motel at extortionate prices
(miner's rates) it was another lay-by, well out of town, no man-made
light and a
"Starry,
Starry Night" as Don McLean said in Vincent (those clouds quickly
disappeared). Talking of which, this is my second favourite painting in
the world.
Peach Blossom in the Crau
Van Gogh
