Rick and Rae's Travels: Wed, 15th Sat, 18th June

We called in to have a look at the very interesting North West Shelf Gas plant visitors' centre on our way out of Karratha. By mid-morning we were heading on our way 40 kms north-east to a place called Cleaverville Beach, clocking up 14,000kms of our trip on the way.

We had to negotiate 13kms of dirt road before arriving at a pretty beach camping area. Once again, it was very busy and we were lucky enough to find a spot overlooking a rocky beach. It was a sunny day of around 24 degrees and we had TV, internet and mobile phone!! What more could we want for $7 per night! The tide was very low so we walked out on the rocks and chipped a few oysters. They weren't very good however and we got bitten by Midges (Sandflies) for our efforts. We met our neighbours Chris and Fran who were going to be staying for another week.

On Thursday morning we had two brothers squeeze in near us in their motorhome. I spent some time catching up on the blog before having lunch. Then, after lunch we drove about 20kms to the Visitors' Centre at Roebourne. Here we filled several water containers for our neighbours and had a look through the old gaol building. Water was available here for a gold coin donation. We left Robourne and headed about another 20kms further out to Samson Point. It was low tide and the tides here have huge variances - 5.5m high expected during the time we were in the area, but known to be anywhere up to a high of 8m. We had a look around the marina and boat ramp area where Rick ended up speaking to a fellow who was originally from Kiama.

We then drove back inland a few kilometres to a place called Wickham, where we went up to the Tank Lookout. Down below we could see the outdoor theatre. These towns are really just places for the miners to live in while working.

We then drove out to Cossack. Cossack is a historical town that used to be a centre for pearling activities but is now really only a ghost town. We were out there to see the famous 'Staircase to the Moon'. Between March and October each year, when conditions are just right, visitors to the North West region of WA are treated to a natural spectacle - the Staircase to the Moon. This natural phenomenon occurs only when the full moon rises over the exposed mudflats at times of extremely low tides, creating the optical illusion of a staircase reaching for the moon. The staircase occurs three nights each month from March to October.

Friday and Saturday were quiet days catching up with the blog and walking the beach. Once again it was windy on both days only calming down at about 3 in the afternoon. Rick's eyes have been sore and itchy for a couple of days. He appears to be suffering an allergic reaction to all the dust and the grass pollens that are being blown around. At least he could watch the V8s qualifying on telly on Saturday afternoon