Thursday 6th June – Point Samson and back to Yule River

Sunrise at Point Samson

We drove out early to where we watched the sunset last night and then further on to the point so that we could have a look at the ore loading facilities at Cape Lambert in daylight.  It’s quite a huge establishment with its 3.5 km jetty poking out into the Indian Ocean.

Port loading facilities at Cape Lambert

After packing up we set off for Cossack (calling briefly into Wickham), where Roebourne’s jetty had originally been set up.  As ships became bigger and the port silted up Point Samson took over this role and Cossack “died”.  This was helped to some degree by a cyclone in 1896.  The remaining 5 stone buildings have now been restored and it’s quite a delightful spot.  Apparently in August each year they have an art festival in all the restored buildings.  It would be quite something to see.

Ships waiting to be loaded (from Tank Lookout at Wickham)

Cossack

Visited the cemetery which is always sobering.  The Japanese section had quite a few graves of Japanese pearl divers who lost their lives during Cossack's time as a pearling port.  In the European section we found the grave of the 10 year old daughter of the local policemen who had died of tetanus after standing on a rusty nail at school.  We had read about this when we had visited the restored school house down the road.  No wonder they make children wear shoes to school these days.

Fuelled up at Roebourne and after having a look at the area from the lookout at Mount Welcome headed back toward the Yule River for another night.

Roebourne from Mount Welcome

The Old Jail at Roebourne

On the way we called into the Whim Creek Hotel but it was still closed.  Had read somewhere that it had been closed temporarily while the new owners looked at developing a mine on the site.  Obviously nothing happening yet.

Back to the Yule River where we set up camp, had lunch and then a nice restful afternoon.  Contacted Jennie and Richard and the roads are still out of action around Marble Bar so it looks like our excursion to Rudall River is just not going to happen this trip.  Jennie and Richard are now heading to Karijini and we will head north to Broome and the Kimberley.

There a quite a few caravans and a bus in the area that is bollarded off today so it was nice to have the track leading onto the river to get away from the crowds.  The track winds between trees and is fairly narrow so excludes caravans and anyone else that is a bit wide/large.  Fortunately the camper pretty well follows the Prado’s track so we could just manage to get between the trees.

One particular group of three vans (all the same type) belonged to some club and they were playing disk bowls (apparently a game popular with caravaners) to all hours – quite noisy so we appreciated our relative quiet.

Did you say we need some wind protection!!