Tuesday 21st November – the drive to Karratha and Dampier

It’s becoming a good habit.  I like to get up early and squeeze a swim in before having to shower and check out.  A nice start to the day when you’re going to be sitting on your behind for most of the rest of it!

We set off about 930am, stopping off almost as soon as we’d started to take in Exmouth War Memorial.  Some amazing feats of bravery were born here.  For example, Operation Jaywick.  Fourteen Australian and English members of a special operations unit sailed from here in September 1943, returning a month and a half later having sunk 37,000 tons of enemy shipping in Singapore on a stealth mining mission.

The rest of the journey was uneventful.  Apart from the significant rise in temperature.  It was really noticeable compared to Exmouth.  We stopped at a roadhouse to fill the tank and standing in the shade felt like being in direct sunlight!  We are really going to feel the heat from now on.  We successfully found the Discovery Resort in Karratha where our pal Johan (who we’d seen with his wife Lara in Perth a couple of weeks back) stays whilst working here.  We booked our spot for two nights and text him to let him know we’d landed.

Johan arrived at our pitch just gone 5pm and a plan for the evening was quickly formulated.  First things first he took us to see the project he is currently working on.  What a mammoth task!  Johan secured the contract to fit all the fascia to this huge red building – an Art centre for Karratha, designed to fit in with the surrounding red hills of the City (below).  Originally due for completion by Christmas, the project is running behind schedule meaning that Johan is not going to be making much money after all this work AND he will be working up here again in the New Year until completion.  So not ideal.  But hopefully great for his future CV, being responsible for such an iconic landmark for an up and coming City like this.  The aim is to make Karratha more appealing to the workforce as a place to live, rather than the current situation where the majority of workers stay here temporarily whilst on a contract and then get the heck out.  Maybe because it’s so hot here?  Or just that it’s so remote?  I was shocked to hear that Johan and his team work 11-12 hour days.  Outside.  In this heat.  No siesta or anything.  Very impressive.  It must take a lot of getting use to.

Karratha's soon-to-be Arts centre

From there, Johan drove us the 20km to the coastal town of Dampier. What is such a small town contains impressively huge businesses in exportation of iron ore, gas and salt production. On average, 16 ships depart each week, each carrying approximately 180,000 tons of iron ore.  I don’t have the figures for the salt and gas industries but you get the picture.  There is massive trade in natural materials from this corner of WA.

The coast of Dampier - a hive of industry

All those workers need somewhere to go and unwind at the end of a long, hot day.  We got taken to try out the Dampier tavern ourselves.  Johan treated us to cold beers out on the deck whilst watching the sunset and that was followed by a tasty portion of squid, chips and salad (for me, of course).

The view from the bar at Dampier tavern

The daily routine is much earlier here due in part to the temperature.  Johan starts work before 6am and works 13 days on with one day off.  It is no surprise that bed time here is about 9pm as you need to make the most of the cooler dark hours to get your sleep before the 5am alarm!