Friday 23^th March, 2012

I was awake already at sunrise. I went outside, observed a small rainbow and enjoyed the sunrise. Sandra got awake a little bit later and thus we started early today. We hiked to the Fortescue Falls which is a bit smaller that the one yesterday. But we could climb the rocks at the sides and thus could enjoy from all sides. Then we walked on a venture along a unsigned path. It proved to be right path. We ended up at the Fern Pool, a small pool with a waterfall. We enjoyed a refreshing morning bath and swam a bit. There was a sound I did not recognise. When I saw the bats in the tree I knew the source of it. Back at the start we walked to two lookouts. On the way we often saw grasshoppers flying away. Our destination we reach after a bit more than 30 minutes. From the Cirular Pool Lookout you can see another pool deep in the gorge where already a few people were swimming. We went back on the same way, but it was a bit faster as we had less picture stops. That was our last hike in the National Park and we decided to drive to the south.

The lunch break and refuelling stop was at a road house. Here it was very busy and we a few road trains (trucks with several trailers). During our 600 km long drive we saw a few animals crossing the road. First a dingo, then two big lizards and some cattle. From time to time we met an oversize truck with different load, from big tires to houses. The further we got the more pools where a the side of the road. At one spot we could not help but had to stop to take a picture of them. A bit after 5pm we reached Meekatharra where we found a place on the camping to stay overnight. In the evening it got cool fast and we were glad about a jacket. Now the temperatures got more pleasant and in the morning and in the evening it is already getting cool.

Thursday 22^nd March, 2012

After getting up we heard again a few parrot chicks. Sandra also saw ibises and thus we went to look for the birds to take pictures. After we went to the Visitor Center of the Karijini National Park. There we informed us about the road situation. The gravel roads are open again since some quite a time. In this National Park you first see red rocks which are partially covered with green. In the Park we found a few yellow and violet flowers, but for the wild flowers we are too early. To sea the real beauty of the park we drove to the the Joffre Falls. We enjoyed the view to the falls from above and then started the hike downwards. On the half way I left my hiking sticks at a rock as we now had to climb. During the hike we saw from time to time lizards, red and blue dragonflies, a milliped, many birds, frogs and ants. A lizard and a bird made me stop as I thought it could be a snake. Down at the river bed we had to go a few meters through water reaching the thighs. Our pants got wet and Sandra had to care that her mobile phone did not start to swim. But here you could see the real hight of the falls. The way back made us transpire. Back at the camper we drove to Knox Lookout. Here we had an extreme wide view over the National Park and its deep gorges. At the Junction Pool and at Oxer Lookout we could maze over very deep gorges. Our last lookout for today was (Mount Bruce). Here we could see the two highest points of Western Australia. Then we drove to the Dales Camping to spend a night in the wild nature. We failed in starting the grill of camping and the grill of the camper. So we only had salad and cold chicken. But we could enjoy the sunset and stayed outside until it got dark.

Wednesday 21^st March, 2012

Already very early in the morning I got waken by the parrots. They started to make big noise shortly after 3am. In between I could sleep again, but it was not very recreative. At 5:45am the alarm rung as there is a long day awaiting us. We enjoyed a bit the morning atmosphere and started just before sunrise. Our first stop was a termite mound to which a sign pointed. Here we watched it from close. Then we continued driving and had to care that we did not hit any sheep as they were grazing at the side of the road. Our journey was accompanied also by emus and a few cows. We also made a few picture stops in the outback. I realized that Australia is not really flat as we were passing a wonderful hill landscape. The area got greener and greener and yellow and red shades made it very interesting. A cyclone had passed last week and there has been a lot of rain. The last 70 km to Tom Price are gravel road. After we passed the 50 km the sound of our vehicle changed immediately. We immediately found our problem: in the back the left tire was completely broken. We were looking for the spare tire and prepared for a long waiting as we did not have mobile phone reception. But very soon two friendly Australians passed and stopped. They helped us to change the tire and we were very thankful. They told us that they are checking the road for damage made by the cyclone. With the spare tire we drove to Tom Price and looked there for a mechanic. He explained that a new one will be 300 dollars. Or he could look if he has an used one. We called Apollo and they wanted a new one which we should have to pay. Sandra explained that we also did not have new tires on the camper. The answer as always: the car was checked for damage. We know this saying already too good. As the mechanic talked to Apollo, he demanded them to pay. Let's see how this resolves, but first we enjoy our vacation. During dinner preparation we talked to an Australian who told us that all gravel roads in the Karijini National Park are closed. The main road is tarred and can be used. We should go to the visitor center and inform us about the road situation. We will do that and hope to see something from the National Park. She told us also that the parrots are so noisy because they feed their chicks and this all around the clock. I just hope they do this not anymore beside our camper.