Hottest Aussie Town in the World's Largest Shire

Where are they? You may well ask. Marble Bar of course.

Port Hedland - Marble Bar 200km

On almost the spur of the moment we decided to back track up the highway for 50 km, then turn off  and visit Marble Bar. The 'Big News' was that it was cloudy and looked like rain as we left Port Hedland. As it turned out there was a very slight drizzle for about 10 minutess and then it was sunny again. We enjoyed the drive to the Des Streckfuss rest area, a free roadside stop next to a waterhole. We sat in the sun for the afternoon, watching birds, reading and listening to passing road trains. We were amazed by the number of trucks carrying ore from inland mines to Port Hedland. They did go all night but we were a fair way from the road and Merilyn wasn't troubled by the noise. We shared a campfire and nice chat with a couple from Seymour. Next day as we approached Marble Bar we passed through some very attractive hills. Marble Bar is in the Guiness Book of Records as Australia's Hottest Town because in the Summer of 1924, for 161consecutive days leading up to 20 April, the temperature never dropped below 37.8 degrees C. That is Hot! Today, mid-winter, it was a cool 28 degrees - real nice! A man we chatted with in town who was visiting his 80 year old mother who won't ever leave the place, said that summers are unbearable. It is a very small town, but is in the largest Shire in the World - from the Indian Ocean high water mark to the Northern Territory Border.We enjoyed an historic walk around part of the town with some fine views from a lookout.

'. These two pictures are looking up the main street at 3 o'clock on Thursday afternoon. One shows the historic 'Iron Clad Pub' and the other the General Store/Post Office/Roadhouse. A young aboriginal boy had just come out of the store and was kicking a football across the road. It's not much bigger than Pomonal!

Can you spot the Bertram's A van?

Today (Friday) we completed the historic walk in the morning and after an early lunch drove to historic Comet Mine - a gold mine - where there was an interesting museum. On the way back we fossicked for Jaspar, took in the view at Flying Fox Lookout, recorded 19 species of birds at Chinaman Pool, and marvelled at the Jaspar that the original settlers thought was marble - hence the town's name. Altogether another very good day - no clouds again but a fairly cool breeze.