We travelled north to Karratha, stopping only for fuel along the way, passing mining vehicles and big mining camps.

We'd been recommended the 'Cove' caravan park at Point Samson, so we headed there for a few nights, it's just a stones throw from the waterfront, the Point Samson Caravan Park and the tavern.

Nice big sites with concrete slabs and good amenities, the night we were there they had a country band playing at the rotunda, however we headed over to the Tavern to enjoy the music of Jeff Bruce-McGinn, who we'd met in Exmouth, but not seen play.

We had an enjoyable evening playing pool, talking to the local miners and listening to music - some favourite requests were fulfilled and we sang along.

The next day we visited an ex-Coonamble resident who has moved to Wickham, went shopping in the fortified Wickham shopping centre, refreshed our fuel. Wickham is the highest selling alcohol takeaway store in WA, the highest being Karratha, probably because they've removed all pubs from nearby Roebourne.

We spent a few hours at the historic village of Cossack and learnt about the old days, some beautiful old buildings and well sign-posted.

We checked out the beaches and the fishing along the channel on the way into Point Samson and then packed up for a big day ahead, heading back down into Onslow for a trip out to the Mackerel Islands.