Useless Loop

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

/ lynnie57 / 1 Comment

Much as we liked Useless Loop (as well as Bec and Kim’s wonderful hospitality), we had some teething problems and ended up staying a few more days. The first issue was with the van. The rough road and corrugations must have done something to the electrics because the roof, which usually rises with the press of a button, would not lift. There is a way to over-ride the button but we weren’t keen on doing it as we lacked confidence in following the instructions correctly! It wasn’t a major problem for me as I can stand in the caravan without the roof raised, but John can’t. We did ring Eagle Outdoors and they gave us some things to try but without luck. We had four nights with the roof lowered!

Our second issue was the weather. The storm that started when we were in the pub, lasted all night. Despite the low roof, we were very warm and comfortable in the van, and there is nothing nicer than listening to rain on the roof and thunder in the distance. It rained on and off all weekend and the road from Useless Loop to Overlander was closed. Apparently it becomes very slippery when wet. Kim and Bec made us very welcome and looked after us all weekend.

When there was a break in the weather, we all went to Tourist Beach. John and Kim tried some fishing off the beach, the kids and Mojo the pup ran around, and Bec and I sat chatting. We all noticed the dark clouds – but too late! We all got drenched packing everything into the cars.

John fishing off Tourist Beach

Kim helping Naia to fish
Bec and I enjoying the (short lived) sunny weather

We had planned to stay two nights in Useless Loop and ended up staying four. When the clouds cleared and the road opened, we took a chance and headed to Overlander Roadhouse for the night. It was a bit hairy at first but we made it.

We had a night at Overlander to pump up our tyres, get some of the red dirt off the caravan and re-fuel, ready for the next leg of our trip.

It was still pretty wet at Overlander
Our caravan got its first taste of the red dirt visiting Useless Loop!

Setting off (almost) on our own

/ lynnie57 / Leave a comment

It was time to leave Kalbarri and family behind and head off on our own – well almost. Some friends suggested we call in and park our van in their driveway at Useless Loop in Shark Bay. We have never been there and thought it was a lovely way to start our holiday. Besides, Useless Loop is fairly remote and we thought they probably didn’t have many visitors. We decided to pop up to visit and stay two nights. Great plan!

Useless Loop is located in Shark Bay, opposite the town of Denham and Monkey Mia. It is a closed company town with 70 employees and their families servicing the Solar Salt Operation. John and I had to be sponsored and meet certain requirements to be able to enter the town.

View of the salt ponds from Useless Loop pub at dusk

Kim and Bec warned us that the road to Useless Loop was not in the best condition. Boy were they right! We filled up with fuel at Overlander Roadhouse and set off towards Denham with me in the driver’s seat, and then took the road to Useless Loop. It started off as bitumen but soon changed to gravel and corrugations. We expected it to be a bit rough but we were not prepared for the shaking around our poor car and caravan had to endure. We were all shook up for the best part of three hours. But we survived and made it to the town before dark.

We made it to Useless Loop

Kim is Principal at the Useless Loop Primary School, a beautiful little school with only two classes – lower and upper primary. They have a lovely home and a lovely life actually. We met some of the locals and it is clear that Useless Loop has a tight-knit community. While Kim was working and Lennox was in school, Bec and Naia took us on a drive around the area. We had a picnic at Cosy Corner, a lovely little bay with an area for camping, and also checked out the fish cleaning area where we saw lots of small sharks swimming all around. It is a beautiful little town with the ocean on one side and the salt ponds on the other.

With a population of around 200, there is a small convenience store that opens for an hour each day, a medical room, library and playgroup. In the evening we joined the other families at the Mess (aka the pub) and had dinner there. There was a pool competition going on and a raffle for meat packs. Everyone knew each other and all the children played together. What a great atmosphere and a terrific place to bring up a young family.

On the desk at the Mess

As we enjoyed the ambience of the local pub, we were treated to a wonderful display of lightning – then thunder and then a massive storm that went on all night. This made the road out impassable and it was closed. Kim and Bec must be used to this because they weren’t at all phased that they were stuck with us for a few extra days. Bec mentioned she had bought in extra supplies in case that happened. She had obviously been caught out before.

Our wonderful hosts, Bec, Naia, Kim, Lennox – and Mojo the pup!

We had a lovely visit to Useless Loop but, because of the rain, our planned two nights there stretched out…..