Just back in
Adelaide from a trip across Nullarbor, up west coast,
Dampier Peninsula,
Gibb River Rd and
Mitchell Plateau,
Katherine and back down the centre.
WA sure is buzzing. Particularly impressed with the WA wayside stops and Parks. Wayside sites in WA are spacious,
well set our, usually set back a bit from the main rd, good basic
toilet facilities,
well maintained The system of volunteers at parks works
well and both looks after the site and has
well informed, friendly people to assist. Wa, this made out travels a pleasure. The other states could learn a lot from the way you do this. The quality of outback highways was also impressive.
We were trapped by the big rains on the
Dampier Peninsula last month. (9inches of rain in one night, and it went on for days. The aboriginal community where we were staying, a bit north of
Beagle Bay, were wonderful and made sure we had everything we needed. They told us they knew we were trapped there and therefore we were now their guests and wouldn't charge us
camping fees. There was no sun to keep solar powered fridges going and they realized this and offered their freezers for our use. Great people.
10 years ago when we were around the same area and along the Gibb, we were frequently depressed by the condition of aboriginal people. It is much, much improved. Rarely saw public drunkeness this time, people look healthier and happier. Very few kids around the streets when they should have been in school. Far more indigenous people in service industries in
places like
Derby. Lots of evidence of programs run by the communities themselves to improve diet and cut down on smoking and drinking.
Also impressed by the conservation care evident in the
Ningaloo area. I think much has been noted and learned from the Qld destruction of the Barrier Reef.
Ningaloo is in far better condition than the Barrier Reef and the locals seem to want to keep it that way.
Really enjoyed the trip. Only sorry we had to come
home a bit earlier than we wanted and nightly we look at our weather and the weather up there. We will be back.