WICKHAM AND COSSACK

We decided to check out a new beach on Saturday so it was up early to beat the heat. Car all loaded up with everything it was off to port Walcott beach, near Wickham.

We had never been to the town of Wickham before even though its just 20 mins out of Karratha and we pass it all the time to go to Point Samson, so we decided it was time we had a look around. The town was nice and cleaner and somehow alot greener than Karratha, its smallness made Karratha feel like a huge metropolitan. We saw things that made us laugh, like the big massive dump truck in the kids playground, a fish body proudly displayed on a fence post, and the community chalk board at the end of town.


On the way out of Wickham going towards the beach we were stopped by an iron ore Train. I haven't mentioned it before but these things are 2.5kms long! So it was quite a wait.


We finally got the the beach and was surprised how nice it was. We had a nice swim and a bite to eat then set off for a bit of a walk to the other end of the beach. By the time we got back it was really starting to heat up so it was back into the car and off for a look at Cossack.





Cossack is an historical town and an interesting place to visit, the buildings have been beautifully restored and the town itself is like one big museum. Cossack was originally the first port in the North West back in the 1800's with thousands of people seeking their fortune in the Pilbara gold rush. It was also home of the fast growing pearling industry, but sadly once the pearling grounds were all fished out the industry moved north to Broome. Then a huge cyclone hit the town and it was finally abandoned in 1950. We also found a really nice beach (another one) called settlers cove but unfortunately by this time it was way too hot to go and have a swim.




Settlers Beach with Jarmin Island in the back ground



Then It was off home for a rest before heading out to Woodsides first social club event for the year, Dinner drinks and two movies. A very enjoyable night.

New Vehicle

We have a new vehicle, more of a shopping trolley for me. Don't get me wrong, I love the landcruiser but going shopping is always a drag with having to get the back Wheel undone and locked out of the way before opening the back, and it is very thirsty being a petrol.

The new one is awesome, so nice to drive, parallel parking is a breeze and general handling is awesome. We got it nice and cheap and have decided to spend a bit of money on it and "hot it up" a bit. We are going to get it lowered, get a new flare kit on it and spoiler, shiny new alloys and a big bore exhaust. I will be the envy of everyone in Karratha.

Towing Seans dream boat will be easier with this one too.

The kids will love going to school in it. and you can see why

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Things have been really quiet the last couple of weeks with the kids being back at school and Sean working weekends, the reality for me is that the holiday is over and this is my normal life now. I have even begun baking!

The kids are happy to be back at school, and Janaya is doing her last two days this week of half day kindy. Next week she will be doing two full days a week, which will really give me and Sean a chance to spend a bit of time together and do some fun stuff alone. Planning to play a bit of squash, some swimming, and Sean has promised to teach me how to play golf!!!! Having being part of a co-ordinating team for the onerahi Kindys Golf Tournament for the last 5 years, and My brother and Sean being avid golfers I am still yet to have my 1st game. (though I am a mini golf queen, that just doesn't count)

We are missing the greenness of home alot, but its funny, the longer we stay in this environment, the more it tends to grow on you, and you begin noticing the beauty of some of the landscapes etc. We drove off road after a swim at the beach the other day, and had roos leaping out at us along the way, the kids being quite taken with a baby one hopping along. There was a massive escarpment that dropped vertically down to the beach, and with the sun low in the sky, the different reds and colours shining from it was quite scenic. We are really glad we didn't buy a brand new car now, we seem to pop off road quite often and take a drive, something we wouldn't have done in a flash shiny Holden.





We took a drive out to have another look at the jump up, (I mentioned this in one of my first posts). Its quite impressive though a little more over rated than what I was expecting. It is classed as extreme 4wd driving but its only very short. It is steep and narrow (only just wide enough for a vehicle) with a very rough surface made up of loose smooth round boulders, which isn't really a problem but at the very top there is are two big rocks that you have to somehow negotiate your way over. You would definitely need someone guiding you up thru there, which I am happy to take that job and leave the driving to Sean. We are planning a camping trip out there soon when it cools down a bit. We will have to take the side steps off the wagon, even though it has had a lift kit put on it making it higher than most landcruisers, (The top of the bonnet comes up to the top of my shoulder and its higher than Tayden) I will probably need a ladder to get in it being somewhat vertically challenged.

Looking up "The Jump Up"



Looking Down





And finally the rocks at the top, the photo doesn't do it justice as those rocks look 5 times bigger in real life.