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!!  

From Wittenoom to Port Hedland... and my near arrest!

So I finally made it out to Wittenoom, after desperately wanting to visit for over 15 months.  It was even more ghostly than I imagined!  Wittenoom town was closed in 1966 due to growing health concerns over blue asbestos mining.  In 1978, phasing down of the township commenced, with the town even being written off our maps.  3 people still live out in Wittenoom (one even comes into Tom Price for physio) despite the Government's removal of services and intention to demolish all remaining houses.  It was truly amazing.  The day Wittenoom closed people fled, leaving behind furniture, cars, a fully stocked mine workshop... you name it.  It has remained untouched, giving the town such an eery feeling.  Sadly I didn't get too many great photos as I refused to wind the car window down:)

I could really imagine life out there.  The kids would have had so much fun as the town is surrounded by some amazing waterholes.  We stopped at a beautiful, secluded waterhole on the way, set amongst the Hammersley Ranges.

Anyway, that's all I know about Wittenoom.  I've decided to stop googling as it's completely terrifying me... but what an amazing, albeit very sad, part of WA's history!  

A week after my trip I headed out to Port Hedland to do some teaching at the new Hedland Health Campus.  It's very swish, a little piece of the metropolis in an otherwise hole of a town:)  For example, it's the only town in the Pilbara offering dialysis, so people come from miles away to spend the week getting treatment.  There was obviously no forethought as these people have nowhere to stay over the week, so sleep/pass out drunkenly on the bitumen next the hospital.  Everyone drives by pretending not to see... and in fact a murder even occurred there the week before my arrival... 

Despite it not being the prettiest of places, I had such a ball!  Although I caused a bit of a stir on my Sunday arrival.  I 'let myself in' to liquorland and was happily browsing when security guards and employees raced in!  Apparently everyone knows the Pilbara-wide rule that you can't purchase booze on a Sunday... Everyone but me it seems!!!

One of our students from last year works there and she organised the best ever week for me, I could have stayed forever!  I played mixed netball, touch rugby (I even managed some votes in the Hedland comp), volleyball, dined at the yacht club and got my ghetto on at the PIer nightclub!  I somehow managed to get kicked out and now my photo is on a wall for deviants, never to be allowed back in!  In my defence, I'm just making sure the Pilbara won't ever forget me!!!

bum pain 2

Yesterday, in an attempt to work off my Vietnam kilo's, Gina and I braved the brisk morning air and hiked our butts up Mt Nameless! In about 35 mins no less... all 1128m of it!

As if that wasn't enough adventure for the day, we then went out to Hammersley Gorge with her daughter, Hannah. It's the first time I've ever been to spa pool, and it was just beautiful. The small, enclosed 'spa' is constantly fed by a waterfall. As the water travels over heat soaked rocks before entering the pool, it's kinda warm! Who would have thought, a natural spa in the desert? Sitting in there with a cider, and some great company, was a blissful way to spend my Sunday:)

travel queen

I have to apologise for my laziest ever period of non-posting!! And I have so much to fill you in on!!

In 3 weeks, I managed to travel an easy (as in could easily bore you death!!) 2954km... by car! I was reminded yet again of how truly huge Australia is. We popped over to Karratha for 'work'. Here I managed to sneak in some time at Hearson's Cove (a beach of shells, no sand), cuddle up to the Red Dog Statue in Dampier and drive a manual on the hunt for some Aboriginal rock art... off road!! Kirsti and Binnie didn't let me stay in the driver's seat for long, I think we're all still happy to be alive!

I was then lucky enough to spend 2 weekends in a row in Coral Bay. Now I know I said Exmouth was heaven, but Coral Bay is literally an oasis on earth. And the pies!!! I enjoyed a lovely work retreat with my 'physio posse', and returned a week later with most of my 'mad holligan' friends. Gina, Jase, Hannah and I even camped on the road side on our way down... how I've changed:) I even pitched my tent in Coral Bay that weekend (after being offered a lovely, air-conned room)... and soon realised I was not made for camping. God, in the peak of summer, what was I thinking?!? That is the hottest I have ever been... and with the least airflow.... tents are FOUL!! And it's not like you can cool down in the showers... they are fancily supplied by an artesian bore and are always warm!

I went beach 4WD'ing, had some amazing meals at Fin's cafe, enjoyed many drinks around our campsite, swam in the bay with massive snapper around my ankles, snorkelled with 2 turtles and some sharks, enjoyed quite a few cauliflower cheese pies and I even got to catch up with Dr Sarah G. It really is the place to holiday!!

On returning to Tom Price I hosted book club. Yes, I am quite learned and highbrow... unlike the rest of this town, I don't spend my spare time nursing a beer... Who am I fooling?? Our book club is aptly named RED club... read, eat and drink. Probably in the reverse order of what we value most, and it's awesome!! It has turned into the night of nights... with the host often preparing a 3 course meal and offering a theme. I served a morrocan lamb tagine (thanks Denise) and we discussed Jo Nesbo's 'The Snowman'. Well, those who had read it that is... I'm sure some people are just in it for the wine:)

I also hosted my birthday party... 26, 'a slippery slope to 30'. I had a lovely night, with my 'mad hooligans'. We started with drinks and food in my backyard, and ended up at the golfie just over the dangerous ditch. We went to bed at around 4am so it must have been a cracker!!

Now, as if that wasn't enough... I also spent Easter in Vietnam with my Melbourne family! Am I on a perpetual holiday or what!? It was even better than I imagined. I'm still thinking about it! We travelled from North to South, via Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Cam Tho and Ho Chi Minh City.

My highlights were; noodles for breakfast lunch and dinner!! Bun Bo Hue is what dreams are made out of! Visitng King Minh Mang's temple... whoever said 500 wives was too many? Drinking snake wine (or was that cobra, scorpion and pelican wine?), more aptly named 'Vietnamese Viagra' by our guide. Holding a 20kg python named Tommy with the fam. Eating the most amazing pineapple at the floating markets. Killing our own prawns on a Vietnamese style BBQ (the kids were too traumatised to eat). Playing 'spotto' for 5 to a scooter. Visiting the Cu Chi tunnels and being amazed by the country's history. G&T's. 5 star luxury, with breakfast included!! 4 beers for $2.... the list could go on!! We also spent 4 lovely nights, staying at a mega mall (!) in Penang, for Denise's family reunion. To be honest, I'm glad we left... I would no doubt be broke otherwise:) It was a good way to end 2 truly great weeks, I had such a blast!

Happy Anniversary

Tonight I am celebrating 12 blissful months in Tom Price, with a lovely bottle of pinot! Shouldn't that read a xxxx stubbie? Honestly, who would have thought?

So what have I learnt?

1. A flat out no is the best way to ward off advances at the pub. (This does not however mean that the same man will not try again the following night. Points for determination I guess?)

2. A simple hat is the best way to ward off nits.

3. Eating world record sized insects helps to (marginally) reduce a fear of all bugs!

4. All snakes are bad snakes, even the common household variety.

5. Tears get me quite far (especially with telstra!), but give me an ugly face. Was this the actual reason for my 'allergic reaction/swollen face'?

6. Having a child before the age of 20 is always a terrible idea... all my patients are a glaring tribute to this!

7. The best way to make friends is to flash half a town!

8. I can do some pretty great things when I'm challenged... including climbing a 1235m mountain!

9. I like physio, and I'm not too shabby at it:)

10. I can survive by myself, in the middle of nowhere, with no support, and make the absolute best out of it!! That's my best ever lesson!

And what do I want to achieve this year...

1. ... some life direction... perhaps in the form of a five year plan?

I promise I'll get started tomorrow...

(Ps: This photo is taken at Tiger-eye pool, a local waterhole that fills up only after heavy rainfall. You need local knowledge and a good 4WD to get there... I guess that's me now... a local:)

Road trippin' with cyclone Iggy

On an impulse, I spent the weekend just been in Karratha... despite an imminent category 4 cyclone alert. I knew I'd made a great decision when my last patient for the day rocked up rolling drunk... and no, a mid-week public holiday is not a good enough excuse, surely you can still call to reschedule? This just confirmed what I already knew Tom Price to be... 'a drinking town with a mining problem'.

So, feeling sufficiently dirty and with nostril hairs singed from the smell of booze, I closed up shop and crashed Binnie and Ross' road trip to Karratha... but I can't say I was super happy about it. We drove via the unsealed access road... parts of which were flooded with water. I very bravely closed my eyes as water licked our bonnet, and truly felt glad to be alive when we arrived in k-town!

Needless to say, our holiday plans were rained out, thanks to cyclone Iggy. I even had trouble sleeping for fear our cabin would blow away! But it did make for some good relaxing, shopping (not that you can even call it that in the Pilbara), catching up with friends ands eating out.... to my great delight, they even had a McDonalds!!

2 wet days later, the cyclone forced us to drive the long way home, all 7 hours of it!! This turned out to be a blessing in disguise. We headed up to Port Hedland, then travelled via Auski to Tom Price. Along the way we stopped at Point Samson, a beautiful, lazy beach side town, boasting the best fish and chips in the Pilbara. Sadly, the high heat, along with all the rain made for some wicked humidity... I couldn't un-fog my glasses, let alone my camera lens! Next stop was Cossack, for a real history lesson. It was built in the 1880's and was actually the first port in the north west, a centre of trade for the burgeoning pearling industry. My favourite part was the old courthouse, it still held records of the types of offences committed in the early 1880's! Who knew bathing out of hours was a punishable crime! We also strolled through the old cemetery, separated into Japanese and European sites (a lot less romantic than I made it sound...) The view atop the lookout was pretty amazing too! I was astounded by the leprosorium! We drove past Whim Creek, and the oldest pub in the Pilbara, on the way to Port Hedland. I can say with surprising ease that Port Hedland was not worth the visit, perhaps the biggest hole in the Pilbara?

So really, cyclone Iggy ended up making my weekend! I am so glad Binnie and Ross dragged a terrified me along!