Day 56: Tom Price to Nanutarra Roadhouse

 


It was a long drive today, with not much between Tom Price and Nunatarra. We chose the longer path, as it is all sealed road. The first part of the "fastest route" is unsealed, and very dusty is yesterday's experience is any guide. The route does take us through Paraburdoo, another town established by Rio Tinto in 1972, to support their Pilbara Iron Ore mining operations. 

Also famous as the birthplace of Red Dog, about whom a movie was made. There is a monument to Red Dog in the town.


Another feature of the town is the "Jolly Green Giant", a massive retired Terex 33-15B haul truck, now on display as a tourist attraction.



The scenery is similar to Tom Price

For us, the main attraction was Kez's Cafe, seemingly the only cafe in town, as it had a constant stream of customers seeking their morning cup of coffee, or breakfast. We had a fair wait to get our coffee, and the owner had to duck out to the IGA next door to top up on some supplies for one customer order, but the coffee was good and we headed off refreshed for Nanutarra.

Hoping their might be somewhere along the way we could stop for lunch, we eventually pulled over at a roadside rest area, (bare bit of dirt beside the highway), and made a sandwich in the caravan for lunch.
Wildflowers are beginning to appear along the roadside and there were quite a few where we had stopped.


Our roadside stop


Bachelors Buttons




And others






By the time we arrived at the roadhouse it was past check in time of 2 pm, so I joined the queue of people paying for their fuel, to get our caravan site location, as the cashier handles everything. 


Nanutarra Roadhouse


Entry to the caravan park

We ended up in a site next to another NSW tourist from Singleton, also heading in the same basic direction as us, with a different time frame. We will most likely see them again.

Nanutarra Roadhouse is on the Ashburton River and there is a short walk from the campground to the riverside, and a footbridge across the river which looks like it used to  be the single lane bridge on the highway. We still see many single lane bridges on major highways on this trip.





Ashburton River





Tonight we are taking a break from cooking and will dine at the road house expecting a hearty and not too expensive meal. Because of the number of contractors, truckies, and single workers in these areas, the roadhouses are generally well supported during meal hours and some caravaners also support them.

Our meal of Barra, chips and salad met our needs and washed down with an inexpensive WA white wine made for a reasonable meal after a long day on the road.


The dining room

Tomorrow we will arrive back on the coast at Exmouth where we intend to stay for four days.




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