Point Quobba to Tom Price - 784km

After several days with out phone signal it was nice to arrive in Tom Price today.  I have been making notes as follows: 

Point Quobba to Lake MacLeod rest area  -  170km

Sunday 9^th June.  As I journey North the scenery is ever changing.  The soil is changing colour to a deep orange/red the further North I go, and just after the Exeter turn off the landscape was dotted with termite nests – some about 2 meters high. 

Lake Macleod rest area to Barradale rest area  -  189kmMonday 10^th June.  

I passed the Tropic of Capricorn today, and and arrived at the Barradale rest area at lunch time.  I spent the afternoon sitting in the shade and there was not a fly to be seen.  Amazing! 

Barradale rest area to  Beasley River rest area  -  240km

Tuesday 11^th June.  Today I headed North for the Nanutarra Roadhouse to fill up ($1.90 per litre - ouch!!)  before turning off the main highway and heading towards Tom Price.    The road is bitumen all the way now and it was a fantastic drive to my overnight stop at the Beasley River rest area.   The scenery heading into the Pilbara is spectacular, dramatically changing from flat, dry bushland to red rocky hills covered in green tufted grassy looking plants.  From afar they look magnificent, but close up the plants are very deceiving.  Instead of being soft and grassy the tufts are like sharp needles.

  

Beasley River rest area to Tom Price  -  185km

I had a good run into Tom Price.  I saw my first dingo today.  I saw it in time to slow down, and it sauntered across the road in front of me.  There is obviously plenty to feed on because it was in very good condition with lovely shiny coat - not like the dingos I have seen on TV.  Tom Price is like a little oasis in the desert.  Lush green lawns everywhere which was very unexpected.  I'm staying the night in a caravan park because I have booked to go on the Rio Tinto mine tour tomorrow morning.  I'm dropping Oscar off at a kennel at 4 pm this afternoon and will pick him up at lunch time tomorrow after the tour is finished.   I don't know who will be feeling more traumatised - Oscar or me.  Will write some more tomorrow before I leave Tom Price.