A very long and hot ride today. We met our first kangaroo on the road. Fortunately we saw it in time and were able to avoid it. It is also becoming increasingly obvious that we are in the tropics and this is the wet season. No actual rain but lots of green and quite a bit of water on the side of the road and even some rivers with water in them.

Most of today's ride was through the Pilbara, which was surprisingly beautiful in a rugged sort of way. As we got further north quite a bit of mining and lots of very large trucks. Karratha is a very nothing sort of place and everything seems to be expensive. We pulled into a fairly ordinary caravan park and asked for a cabin. To our amazement we were told it would cost $280 for the night. As I expressed my "amazement" to staff at the park became very defensive and said the this was normal as we were in a mining town. Big deal, just cos the miners get paid big money doesn't mean everyone does. We eventually found a different park which was more reasonable, though we are in a small caravan miles from anywhere. Fortunately we had some emergency food with us. The funny thing happened when I bought a bottle of coke in the park shop. Made a comment that I would rather a beer but as we were so far from anywhere the coke would have to do. A staff member said to wait as he might be able to help. Shortly afterwards he came back with 4 stubbies. He said we could have them as someone had left them behind. Bonus!!.