Have stopped here before, and it is terrific little spot, provided by the local Shire. However, last night proved to be a bit different. Got in in the afternoon, set ourselves up comfortably, there were two groups of indigineous having a bit of a get together in the park, no problem - then three cars with police, and two police riding horses arrived to talk to them, and move them along. Took a while, with some abuse to the police from the locals.
All quiet and good, so we have some dinner, do a bit of computer work, then decide to go to bed. Not long after, cars started driving into the parking area near the toiletts. Went on for a while, then we went to bed. Some young indigenous arrived and were mucking around, making a bit of noise, we thought, ok, they are not too close to us. Then they started moving around, making more noise, some other campers packed up and left, and when a couple of the locals started hanging around our car, we thought - time to move. Billeeeeeee jumped in the drivers seat, I put things away as best I could, and dialled 000. We drove off in a hurry, not knowing where to go at that time of night, so just headed down the Goldfields Highway towards Menzies. Parked up for the night in a large parking bay about ten k out of town.
I have been travelling this country on and off for about 20 years, and have never been so scared, not for my safety, but fearing damage to our little toad.
Anyway - all good now, got a good nights sleep, will go back into Kal, stock the fridge etc., and head on to Menzies, to visit Lake Ballard.
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
Not staying in Kal again Jules? Glad there was no harm. You needed us and Sandra & Darrell and especially Ginger & Meg. That would have sorted them out.
No. Bowden. But that is close to Walker. Same number of letters and both have an E and a W.
Enjoy Lake Ballard and Gormley's statues. Make sure you have a hat, sunscreen, water and plenty of time to walk around the lot. I have friends that know Anthony Gormley and they say he is an attention seeking jerk but I liked the statues at Ballard.
The Phantom
-- Edited by The Phantom on Wednesday 6th of January 2016 01:46:47 PM
Have just arrived in Menzies - in the caravan park for tonight - will have a look at this interesting little town today, stay the night, head out tomorrow and stay at the free camp out at the Lake.
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
No. Bowden. But that is close to Walker. Same number of letters and both have an E and a W.
Enjoy Lake Ballard and Gormley's statues. Make sure you have a hat, sunscreen, water and plenty of time to walk around the lot. I have friends that know Anthony Gormley and they say he is an attention seeking jerk but I liked the statues at Ballard.
The Phantom
-- Edited by The Phantom on Wednesday 6th of January 2016 01:46:47 PM
Hi again - a lot of artistic people are "attention seeking jerks" - else why would you promote your work? Did you stay at the free camp out there?
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
No, we stayed in town. The CP was new and were doing deals to attract people so it was good value. If I remember correctly there were several areas to camp that looked OK. One spot had a couple of vans that looked as though they had been there some time but it was July and the weather not so hot.
Be aware that you are there at the worst time of the year for heat and extra precautions are required.
Make sure you head to Niagara Dam. Go to the right and camp down in the valley. Some nice shaded areas and a brilliant free camp. The dam wall is interesting and it is also interesting that the dam was built for the steam trains but never used. Better water supply was found at Kanowna.
Make sure you visit Kanowna. A lot of history and really good pies at the Grand Hotel.
We stayed in Kalgoorlie in November for 3 weeks visiting our daughter who at the time was working in the hospital there, we drove into the free camp but seeing the assortment of local indigenous hanging around the adjacent park, we moved into a caravan park nearby.
We were only going to stay in the free camp overnight anyway to get our bearings but the dust being blown around and the aforementioned put us off.
Later we spoke to several who came in the CP, who had done similar to us, one couple had been knocked up in the night and asked for grog and money, they left in a hurry too !
A week or so later while having a coffee near Woolies in town there was a huge crowd with police everywhere moving people on, but they just shuffled from one place to another !
We felt quite threatened at the time, and got quickly away from there, our daughter later told us there had been a big influx of people with injuries, at the hospital so maybe a clan dispute, who knows, but not a nice place to relax while it was happening.
And before we get jumped on for being racist, we are not we just don't want to feel hassled while doing what we do, by anyone.
Our daughter has now relocated so we will not be back there in a hurry.
-- Edited by banjo on Thursday 7th of January 2016 11:25:17 AM
Billy spoke to the woman in charge of the RV park at the council chambers, she said there were a lot who come in from the "lands", for Christmas, then just hang around with nothing to do - when he said we were going to Menzies, she said, well there are only a few houses there and mostly black, so if you don't want to mix with them, be aware - basically said we were being racist -huge difference between being hassled by ANYONE, and being a racist. Have never had a problem before, anywhere, in fact one of our best friends has two part aboriginal children, and we love them to pieces, like grandchildren to us.
Put a sour note on Kal for us, that is for sure.
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
f you go out to the Niagara dam - there is a "ghost" mining town that still has some hopefuls living at and a pub - make a point of going in for a beer. It was up for sale late last year, but doubt if anyone has bought it. The old girl who runs the place can tell you about its and the areas history, you get some FIFO miners come in and the beer is nice and cold !! The pub owners built a block of shop in a main street layout just past the pub and it even has roundabouts in the roads - hope sprang eternal at that time.
The Dam looks too muddy to want to swim in, put there are flat and shaded camping spots and a dump point.
If youre going north from there - PM me and I will give you another great gold mining relic that you can happily occupy a day with as well as a great tea rooms at it
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
There are a number of towns in this great country which are best to avoid. Dubbo, Moree, Alice Springs, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Boggabilla, just to name a few.
Due to a lack of effort by the police and councils in these towns, the traders are losing a lot of potential income.
The plight of many of our indigenous people is no better than those unfortunate enough to live in third world countries and this is something that needs to be seriously addressed.
However when I visit a place the last thing I want is to feel intimidated by groups of often drugged out or drunk locals whose threatening behaviour ruins your holiday.
Best to stay well away from towns with a reputation.
Thanks for all the posts - as I have said - stayed inKalgoorlie (in the RV camp a few times). Have also stayed at Katherine, Dubbo and Moree, and Alice Springs - never had an ounce of trouble any of them.
Arrived in Kambaulda RV camp late yesterday afternoon, having decided the camp at Lake Ballard was just too open and dusty, with little shade, lots of clouds and we thought we might get rain - so left - got a light sprinkle on the way down to Kalgoorlie. The camp here at Kambaulda is terrific, you can get a shower at the recreation centre, about 50m away for $2.50, there is a dump point with water, as well as a potable water tap - quiet as can be. Ranger came this morning to welcome us, and tell us where things were - lovely man, and as there are no others camped here, he said we could stay for a couple of days, when it is busy, they enforce the 24hr rule.
So here we will stay to clean the red dust out of the motorhome, today and tomorrow maybe, then be on our way again.
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
