Oct 29th, Thur up in Tom Price Country

Hello my friends and followers! Sorry, no access to a computer until today. The flight here was long, approx 21 hours in the air; altogether I watched 5 movies between Vcr and Perth. Was another couple from Banff who I recognized, but didn't know and I approached them in Sydney. They were Doug and Donna McKeown on their way to Brisbane.
Lorraine collected me from Perth without any hiccups; I was in bed by 8:30pm...Tired..Its good to be back here.
On our third day of touring now and its very very hot. Landscape is beautiful, same but changes each day. Lots of trees, red sand, wild oats, wildflowers... Perth to Meekathera day one was a 10 hr drive incl. stops, Then yesterday it was from there through Karijini Nat'l Park to Tom Price. This morning on top of Mt Nameless via 4-wheel drive with a guide, with views of townsit, the surrounding hills and big iron ore mine site. We toured the mine today but not much going on - because of security we weren't able to tour the pit. Saw the train cars being loaded and conveyers moving the crushed ore around.
Did my first driving stint yesterday - Stay left, stay left is my new mantra! Not much traffic on the roads except for dozens and dozens of road trains - a tractor unit with up to 4 trailers attached. I didn't actually have to overtake one but they are good about letting traffic behind them know its ok to pass. They are so long, so I was hugging the far left side of road!
We haven't seen many animals, saw our first "LIVE" kangaroo this morning on our tour. Lots of dead cows by roadside; quite a few live goats in another place wandering freely. The stations are absolutely huge and many of them run cattle, sheep and or goats and then when its time to round them up they appparently muster by air and motorbike - they could be found many miles from home!
But heat whew! Air cond is a must, not a luxury. Thank the lord. Been getting to bed around 9pm - still recovering from jet lag, but we are also on road by 8:am This morn, our tour up the mtn started at 6:45am and it was already about 25 C. Temps are in high 30's and going up 40 further north.
The terrain is considered semi-desert, around here in the Pilbara, lots of spinifex dots the hills, mountains. Very sharp grass and you don't want to land in it. I tried to extract a piece of grass, it was so sharp, my finger stung for few hours.
This afternoon, we are touring some of the gorges and tomorrow some of same and tonight staying in an ECO Tent hmmm, will let you know what that is like.
I'm sweating like a hog right now as I learn to acclimatize.hahahah... Tom Price started out as a closed mining town but now anyone can live here if they wish...most people though are connected to the mining, which employs around 900 people. Shops close early, as no one to service accept the locals. Next town is miles away!
Anyway over and out for now. I'll connect again next time I see a computer - a couple of days from now perhaps

Today is the day I begin my "silver wing holiday" After leaving Calgary at 9pm, I'll board an AC 777 direct to Sydney out of Vancouver, about a 15 hour flight non-stop. Have lots of reading material with me but hope I sleep for most of the journey! Then I clear Customs/Immigration in Sydney, with about a 3 hour layover before boarding a Qantas flight to Perth - another 4 hours or so. I should be good and tired by the time I get there - 2 days later at 1pm local time. Lorraine my dear friend will be there to collect me and take me to a comfy bed!

Counting down the days, soon the hours before I take airporter to Calgary on Sat, Oct 24th and fly off to Sydney and Perth via Vancouver. Nearly packed and getting more excited every day.