I stopped last night is a spot in the Perth hills called Northam from which I could decide in the morning weather to head via main road in any 4 directions depending on rain! The sunrise was spectacular and Great! As with all photos here, justice is not done...

I wonder if the lack of explanatory welcoming signs in the state is being compensated for at Goomalling... they had 2 within 100 M of each other!

Continuing North.....

This region is called the Northern grain belt, apparently there's a bit in the middle no one grows anything in...But as with everywhere in this region they mine Gold and other minerals.

Change of scenery....

There are these large salt pans all over the place which at the moment have water in them all due to the heavy rains in the last week.

I had to imagine this place when the wattle is in bloom.....

Unlike the southern parts there was no shortage of town signs along this road, the Great Northern highway.

Lots of long straits.... 

The gold field region of the state. All over the place are these man made mountains of tailing's from the mines. They look like hills from a distance until you get closer to them. You can see them scattered everywhere, these are some pictures of the ones closer to the road. It's a disgusting blight on the landscape generated by greedy people who don't care. Some of these mounds cover many kilometres of country and protrude a couple of hundred feet in the air. Who knows what habitats are being wiped out, let alone the kilometres of tunnels underground being left empty...

This is one that has been left for some time I'm guessing. Even though it has long been abandoned the fence around it remains and is secure. I was unable to get anywhere near any mines, active or not. There were also hundreds of little side roads with signs "keep out! Private mine site". apparently anyone can stake a claim to a chunk of ground and rape the country side as they see fit.

It's not wild flower season... but I found this flower, in the wild, therefore it is a wildflower......

As far north as I travelled. Apparently there is a road here where your car appears to roll uphill.... I couldn't find it.

There is a hill with a lookout. From here I was able to get some photos of some of the mess the mineral mining is doing. They are taking mainly gold, but also vanadium, mercury, magnesium, cobalt, zinc, selenium and copper... once again money is the most important thing and the country doesn't matter.

an open cut mine, the hole will be left and the mountain of dirt also left, cost's to much to fill it back in.

the town of mount magnet in the background.

This is a typical road condition sign you see about the place over here, I saw a few with truck only.....

A road train..... 

Change of scenery

This spot is between Sandstone and Leinster. It's a natural formation called London bridge.... 

I found a large red rock... not Ayres....

Another change of scenery...

Another rock formation... Not RED!!!! well sort of...

I finished up at Leonora tonight. In the morning I'll ask around and look at the roads and decide which way to go.From here is the Great central road to Yulara, if it's open!

I had dinner at the local pub and while waiting for my food I was chatting with an Aboriginal man, also waiting, and asked him what he thought about the mining. He said "my people", which I thought was interesting as he was expressing general consensus and not his own opinion, he went on... my people lost their heart generations ago, now it doesn't matter cos there's too many of us getting paid too much and moving away to the city to spend it. He had no concern or passion in his description. I asked again and emphasised what did HE think... he said it's too late to do anything, the country's buggered, besides, I've got a job in a mine. 

I guess it's been too big for too long. I just wish the government would make them fill the holes in when they're done so the country looks better.

920Km