In the depths of despair... once again!

Well, today is day one post Tom Price living.  And it sucks!!  I made the very difficult decision (for both my finances and love life:) 4 weeks ago to end my time in the glorious, ever warm Pilbara.  But it really didn't seem real until yesterday, as I flew over glorious North WA for the last time.  I landed in Perth, in the pouring rain, feeling like it was a symbol... the whole of the world was crying with me!  And I thought I was done with the punched in the face look... (circa February 2011) 

It's amazing to think that 18 months ago I thought I'd made the worst decision of my life... god, how things change!

I had such a great last weekend in TP.  It's making me teary to think about now.  I really need to keep these tears in check as I'm surely  on the brink of being dangerously dehydrated...

Friday did not start well.  I fell off my bike on the way to work, splitting my helmet near in half.  Lesson learnt though... do not attempt to ride with no hands.  Plus, it was pretty embarrassing!  Nursing my whiplash, I struggled through the day, in need of a serious drink!  That night, friends joined me for a final red breeze (my fave!) dinner.  It was so nice!  And I even managed to take half of my guests to the pub!  

At Red Breeze 

On Saturday, I finally packed... amazed at what I managed to accumulate!  I then enjoyed mulled wine with friends and a final night at the Tom Price pub.  Predictably, coins was played.  I'm seriously thinking of quitting physio to become a professional coins player... it combines 2 of my best talents, drinking and throwing money away:)  

With Lilli, Haines, Gina and Jayden

Jase, Gina and Tbag

On Sunday, Jayden took me out for my first trip ever to magic pool... and it was magical!  If only if was warm enough to swim.  I think to camp there is reason enough to return to TP.  I had to laugh though, Jayden picked me up, to take me out to the middle of nowhere, with a huge hunting knife in between us on the seat!  I had to inform this is not usually a winner for the ladies:)  I love listening to his stories about growing up in Karijini and I'm going to miss his friendship a lot.

Magical Magic Pool

Then came what will be forever known as: Miserable Monday.  Work put on beautiful lunch for me, but suffice to say it was bittersweet.  Beth gave a truly lovely speech and I looked back over the past 18 months.  I'd like to think I've really changed... that there's a little bit of red dirt in me forever now:) I've even held reptiles for goodness sake!  I couldn't have worked with a better group of people, who really did make my time in Tom Price so happy! That night I said good bye to Gina, my Pilbara bestie, who no doubt saved my life all those months ago.  I kept my fluids up after all the tears and managed to play my last game for our undefeated KD's.  To look at some pictures of the day check out lovely Lou's blog; http://lafe-lunarover.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/red.html  

World's best colleagues

So I start my new job on Friday, and I'm really terrified it won't live up to TPDH... aka the best job any physio could ever have!  In fact, I'm terrified about everything!  I can't believe how much I miss Tom Price already, it turned out to be the best thing I ever did!!  For my career, and myself.  I've made lifelong friends, and realised what an amazing, and vastly different state I live in.  I'm so proud of myself and what I've achieved.  It's been unforgettable, I can only hope the rest of my life's journey will live up to it:)  Things have a way of turning out though don't they?  And, as I write, I'm already planning my next trip to Tom Price for the healthy kids week in October... the Pilbara certainly hasn't seen the last of Mons...  Watch this space:)

True Aussie Heroes

Karijini camping, howling dingoes, spider walking and life-saving roadside rescues... just another weekend in the life of a Pilbara Princess!

Curo had his last ever Tom Price visit this past long weekend... so I had to plan something truly unforgettable!  We ventured out to Karijini, braving the below zero nighttime temperatures in a real tent!  No delux "eco-tents" this time... (*sob).  We headed out on Friday afternoon, just before the sunset and cooked up a storm on the bbq.  That night, I was woken at least 5 times to sound of howling dingoes... luckily Curo convinced me that we were safe as "dingoes only eat babies"!  This even swayed our wine choice the following night, opting for a bottle of 'howling wolves' to accompany our aussie meat plate... Crocodile is still my favourite!

No eco-tent luxury...

The next day we did my 3 favourite gorges; Weano, Hancok and Joffre, spider walking and all.  I remember swimming with Mum and Dad at the same time last year, but I think something has happened to me... maybe I've acclimatised and find anything below 40 degrees cold?  I'm sure the water froze my ankle bones, I literally felt teary even having my toes in the water.  Any spots of water walking had to be done at an extremely fast pace and swimming was definitely out of the question...  I felt quite guilty for teasing Dad about his cold ankles last year!

Hancock Gorge - on the way to Kermit's Pool 

Showing the world how spider walking is done!

After another night fending off dingo attacks and making the freezing temperatures bearable with a 'wine blanket', we packed up (EVERYTHING was a dark shade of red) and set off early, intending to do the Hamersley Gorge loop on the way back to town.  About 15km before the turn-off onto sealed road, a Britz hire van came flying around the corner and rolled about 300m in front of us!  If we had left 30 seconds earlier they would have crashed straight into us!  Approaching the accident I was mentally checking off my CPR skills and was truly surprised to see the 2 boys struggle out of the wreck.  The driver had his arm out the window as the car rolled so I cleaned his wounds and put his arm in a sling while Curo went to get help.  2 hours later 'help' arrived in the form of the ranger... you wouldn't want anything worse than a broken arm that's for sure!  It really gave me another insight into how unprepared tourists are for the isolation of the Australian outback.  These Swiss boys didn't have water (but had plenty of beer), had zero experience on dirt tracks and failed to get insurance on unsealed roads... whoops!  Bet they bought a lotto ticket later that day!!

Sadly, saving lives prevented us from getting out to Hamersley, but it certainly didn't wreck the rest of our adventure.  We had a thai dinner party that night and a scrabble re-match.  I won this time... thank god!  

It definitely was unforgettable.  Every time I head out to the national park I am amazed by how beautiful WA is.  In all honesty, I have changed... I know I'll be making time for camping and outback adventures from now on!!