Welcome to Life Images by Jill

Welcome to Life Images by Jill.........Stepping into the light and bringing together the images and stories of our world. I am a photographer, writer and multi-media artist.
Focussing mainly on Western Australia and Australia, I am seeking to preserve images and memories of the beautiful world in which we live and the people in it.

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Sunday 10 August 2014

Pilbara camping - Part 3 - Karijini to Mt Augustus - Western Australia

Hi everyone, I hope you have enjoyed my last two posts about camping in Karijini National Park in Western Australia's Pilbara region. If you ever come to Western Australia, and have time, you should visit, particularly if you are here around July-August.
If you missed the posts you can catch up here -  Karijini Camping - Part 1
 and here - Karijini camping - Part 2


Today we are back on the road again, heading out of Karijini and heading towards Mount Augustus - the world's largest monocline.
But first the town of Tom Price - 108km from the Karijini's Dales Gorge campground.
We need to fuel up and buy some fresh supplies for the next leg of our trip, plus a quick email catch up and mail some post cards.

Situated on the edge of the Hamersley Ranges, Tom Price is Western Australia's highest town, 747metres above sea level. Tom Price's economy is dependent on the iron ore industry. The area was only appraised for mining in the early 1960's, so Tom Price is a very young town.  

 To keep reading and see more pics, please click on "read more" .....


If you would like to learn more about Tom Price, please click here - Tom Price
Tom Price is located approximately 1600 km from Perth and is situated on the edge of the Hamersley Ranges, within the Shire of Ashburton. It is the highest town in Western Australia at 747m above sea level, hence the name "Top Town" - See more at: http://www.ashburton.wa.gov.au/visit-ashburton/tom-price#sthash.q48NbyJN.dpuf
 You can see an iron ore train and some of the landscape below.



We had been to Tom Price a couple of times before, so didn't stop for long, and were back on the road again late morning, and were now into unknown territory for us. We pulled off the track for a late lunch before turning onto the Ashburton Downs-Meekatharra Road, 231km from Tom Price and 295km to Mt Augustus. 

I think the sign and the pics below say it all - we are a long way from anywhere - 


I think those are the Capricorn Ranges in the distance - on the Tropic of Capricorn.  Desolate it might be......


But it is far from boring..... watch out for stock along the road. There are no fences and you wouldn't want to run into this fellow with the horns. I am amazed at the fortitude of people who come out here to forge a living out of this country.



We thought these rock formations, which looked like pieces of slate stacked on their sides, were really interesting



 This is a 4WD road and conditions can be varied depending on when the grader last came through. There can be corrugations, dips, creek crossings and washaways.  We had been told the road was rough, but we found it to be in fairly good condition, although we stopped and chatted to a group who had a flat tyre.  Make sure your tyres having plenty of tread, and it is wise to carry two spares.  Please drive according to the conditions and take notice of the road signage. We drove around 60-70km/hour.



Around 4pm we started looking for a potential campsite and pulled off the side of the track around 4.15pm and set up camp. Doesn't look like much I know but it was so lovely being out in the bush totally away from anyone. Not one vehicle went past during the night. We made a small fire and toasted marshmallows after dinner. 

We weren't near a watering point, so no stock wandered through during the night.  Something to be aware of if choosing a camping spot in station country.



 I always have my camera....I liked these mud patterns....and the small plant pushing up through the cracks.



Perfect peace and quiet.... we had a wonderful nights sleep. Just the dark sky, the nearly full moon and the stars for company.



We were up early to see the sunrise on the nearby hills...



We wanted to get on the road early so we had breakfast, packed up and left camp around 8am, crossing the Ashburton-Meekatharra shire boundary not long after leaving our camp.



Some kangaroos were out having a hop and a forage....



It was another beautiful blue sky day and we drove through a vast landscape of mountains, creek beds, floodways and winding roads, scrub, spinifex and changing vegetation.  And wildflowers. Can you see the spikes on the one in the bottom RH corner?



We travel with our Hema gps map navigator as well as paper maps, but it is always comforting out here to come to a signpost and know you are on the right track




Only 145km to our destination Mt Augustus. Here is the view from the Yallowerie Hill Lookout...nearly there.....a hot shower and hair washing is calling....



And this is where I will leave you till next time, when we camp at Mt Augustus for a few days and explore this amazing "anticline" rock. 


Thanks for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. Have a wonderful week.

I am linking up to Mosaic Monday, Travel Photos Monday, Our World Tuesday, Wednesday Around the World, Travel Photo Thursday, and What's It Wednesday.  Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

Mosaic Monday
Travel Photo Mondays
Our World Tuesday
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global
What's It Wednesday
Travel Photo Thursday


You might also like 
Karijini Camping - Part 1
 - Karijini camping - Part 2
Holland Track, following the path of the prospectors

 
Tom Price is located approximately 1600 km from Perth and is situated on the edge of the Hamersley Ranges, within the Shire of Ashburton. It is the highest town in Western Australia at 747m above sea level, hence the name "Top Town" - See more at: http://www.ashburton.wa.gov.au/visit-ashburton/tom-price#sthash.q48NbyJN.dpuf

25 comments:

  1. Oh I am loving this armchair camping-road trip with you this summer. Your photos, as always, are stunning. Love the Kangaroos.

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  2. oh what a great life being able to get out travelling, camping in the middle of nowhere and seeing all that you did. Fabulous photos Jill.

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  3. Definitely wilderness camping and so nice to see the sights through your camera. I noticed you have been sharing the fauna along the way which interests me. That's a funny sign for stock on the road although it wouldn't be if you ran into a large beast and flipped over.
    Thank you for joining Mosaic Monday.

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  4. Yup. I see why you needed the chocolate! Those gorges are beautiful. I'd be perfectly content to view them from the top. Beautiful wildflowers collages...my favs.

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  5. Loved the kangaroo pics, and wow the photo of the full moon and your camp is amazing. I can almost feel the solitude and serenity oozing from this post and you capture the spirit of outback camping so well. Yes, the fortitude of the folks who make their lives and a living from such harsh terrain is indeed inspirational.

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  6. This certainly looks a long way from anywhere. I don't know if I could handle outback camping, the scenery is beautiful.

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  7. What fabulous photos - it looks like the perfect place for getting away from it all and finding peace and quiet! I am amazed that so many beautiful wild flowers grow in such a dry place - I've enjoyed sharing your holiday!

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  8. Beautiful scenic shots, Jill! Your camping trip is really an adventure in the middle of nowhere. The kangaroos are cool! I would love to see them in the wild.. Great post, thanks for sharing!! Have a happy week!

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  9. Wow, what a beautiful post. Love the color of the surroundings, reminded me of the southern Utah and parts of Arizona and made me a little homesick for cactus and dry earth.

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  10. Wow such remoteness, but a raw beauty that is incomparable with anywhere else in the world. I can't wait to see your photos of Mt Augustus.

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  11. Wonderful country jill. Oh how I love the outback!

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  12. Oh my goodness, what an amazing adventure!! I'm not sure how I'd feel being so far out in the bush. Scared? Loving it? I'm not sure... Sometimes we have gone into the wilderness in the back-country of the mountains here and I do love it. There is a fable here, I'm sure you've heard of it, of the Sasquatch, or Big Foot that people see occasionally and the native's have talked about for generations. I think of those things when I am out totally alone. Oh dear, I shouldn't confess such things! ;) I'm amazed at the wild flowers in the desert. Such beauty in the midst of such dryness. I always love your amazing photography.

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  13. It looks like a fantastic place to visit! I hope one day to be able to travel to WA!

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  14. No wonder they call it the Red Centre Jill ... a very unique part of our big wide country. You have captured it beautifully.

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  15. Living in a desert state here in Nevada, USA I love to get on the road and just go. Keeping in mind that I always let someone know where Phoenix and I are headed and when they should expect to hear from us. But, your trek reminded me of just hitting that open road and sometimes I wish Phoenix knew how to drive so that I could just gaze out the window! I'm a map "addict" and I often pull up blog posts to see exactly where folks "are" or "were" and it was fun finding Tom Price! :)

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  16. I would like to see a kangaroo! :)

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  17. WOW Jill from camping spots, no fuel beyond this point, mud cracks, glorious flowers, kangaroos, all so outstanding and the scenery, my goodness so beautiful. That scene with the huge mountain is just stunning with the lighting over it! Your journey takes you through areas there and here that would most probably be like our Utah, Nevada and Colorado. I can sort of imagine where you were, and the feel of it, based on where we have been here. I cannot wait for our next journey to begin....less than 3 weeks now. Take care~

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  18. I a loving your 4wd camping adventure. Can't wait for the next one. Yes I can see the thorns - wouldn't want to step on that one. :/

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  19. What vast expanses and lovely scenery!

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  20. oh my gosh, amazing! those kangaroos! great shots.
    b

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  21. I always love your shots Jill...truly" life images"
    Love that fuel sign/warning.

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  22. I'm SOOO jealous!! I have wanted to visit Mt Augustus for AGES - maybe next year! Look forward to the next installment!

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  23. Amazing road trip.... and how cool to see kangaroos in the wild!

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