Sammie spends the day in the pound at Tom Price

We saw where the ore left Australia at Port Hedland so we thought we better go see where it comes from. Off to the town of Tom Price - we organised a tour of the mine and organised Sammie (good story I will tell you in a sec) and headed the 300 odd K's into Tom Price. We meet some people at one of the free camps on the way who tell us that the only caravan park in town did not take dogs they had tried the day before we meet them.

We have learned on this trip to not listen to anyone - not to say people tell fibes, but things just change on a daily basis (however I do want to say there are some serious cases of the old Chinese Whispers where story can completely change as it are handed down between travellers).  We did believe these people however we were nearly there and I had booked the tour.  So I rang the info centre and the lady tells me they got an email that morning saying yes to dog.  Yeah!

So in we head - now to the Sammie story. The council provides a dog minding service, fantastic, so I go in to the Shire administration to pay and get the directions.  And guess where Sammie spends the day - at the pound! The girl looking after the pound is very nice and she tells us they don't get many strays so this service keeps her busy.  Sammie still not so happy but we are sure he is safe.  And the best bit is when we go back in the afternoon to pick him up.  The girl says would we like some eggs - she also looks after the town chooks and she has loads of eggs and would love for us to take some.  The town chooks I hear you asking -  the pound is next to the sewage treatment plant and they keep the chooks to take blood from they every week to check for any mosquito born diseases.  They were well looked after and looked like they had a great life and there eggs were yummy.  Sam had scrambled eggs for breakkie the next day.

The story goes on - the mine tour was cancelled as the only bus driver has rung in sick.  Sammie is in for the day we can not pick him up till 4.00.  What to do - well lets go to the National Park - we have noticed that wherever there is a mine there is usually a National Park nearby.

Here are some photos of the gorgeous gorges at Karijini National Park