Tom Price, Western Australia.

Approaching inland ranges

We were now headed inland into Tom Price on our way through to Karijini National Park, the second in WA.  Weather was warm, clear on leaving Ningaloo and Exmouth.  We were to travel about 360k's today before stopping at a free night stop.  Here we met another couple from Wauchope, NSW. Lyn and Lance were headed to Exmouth having left Tom Price that day.  Since the decision was made that we would stay, they did too.  We chatted for about an hour about our trips so far, families and past trips they'd done.  It was a lovely evening.  For some reason we found it difficult to get to sleep that night, so we got up to play Scrabble until we decided that our brains were now totally dead since we were coming up with words like 'play','rest','sum'! 



Oh don't mind us ...we're just crossing!



Next morning after breakfast we said our goodbyes,exchanged email addresses before continuing onto Tom Price Tourist Park.  The scenery inland was beginning to change, the landscape colours too.  Even though there had been little rain throughout the Pilbara region it was quite beautiful, lush with lots of small green shrubs,that looked like cotton balls dotted all over the place. Medium sized gums and hilltops that were stretching further inland. Where the sun shone the ground looked like this rich glazed chocolate with hazelnuts (rocks) through it, or like dark caramel toffee, or even like chocolate crackles!

Just don't push me over the ledge!

We set up, realised we had coverage so caught up with the emails and finally was able to get a call to Melissa back home.  It was great to hear from her and know that their engagement plans were under control and things were being prepared relatively well.  After a quick lunch Daniel and I got into the car to head out to Hamersley Gorge, the furthest Gorge at Karijini.  It was around 2.30pm now, the weather a little cooler.  We had our walking gear on as we made our way down into the Gorge.  A beautiful sight of blasted red coloured escarpments with green trees dotted along the ridges.  The water was freezing yet flowing over huge boulders from a spa above through the canyon.  A few photos a walk back to the top before heading back.

Hamersley Gorge



I hate flies!

The spa

Wild flowers, by Daniel.....(inspired by Leigh)

The colours of Australia











Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth, Western Australia.

I caught a fish!

We were not going to leave Coral Bay this morning without another shot at tennis! Yes that's right we both got up normal time at 7:00am had breakfast and off to the tennis court at 8:00.  We loved it, I know I did....because I finally won!

Just photograph the fish!

But that was yesterday....today however, it was a draw.  After packing we headed for the showers and collected more desalinated drinking water, 20 litres, plus every time I made my way to the bathroom I made sure to take another 2 litre bottle to fill.
That's the thing we were told by a WAlian, that after Kalbarri there is no fresh water! So we have to collect it where we can and usually you can if you're staying at Caravan Parks up North, no problems.

My Ningaloo Shells

We drove out from Coral Bay onto the road to Exmouth, Ningaloo Reef National Park. The drive was about 130ks north.  The weather clear with another blue sky over us.  We'd been on the road about 30 minutes when we noticed up ahead people who had been parked the night before behind us had stopped on the road.  As we slowed, the mother was running back to the car to show her kids a Thorny Devil she'd spotted on the road. How cute!

View from Vlaming Lighthouse

Travelling further north we came across some cows standing on the side of the road with two cows bashing each other.  I was hoping they weren't going to spill over on to the road!  We hit Exmouth just after lunch but headed out towards Ningaloo Reef to our stopover at the Lighthouse Caravan Park.  Set up, we wasted no time in getting out to the beach. Daniel taking his rods. Coverage we didn't have here but television, to some degree was ok.

We took a drive up a little further to the real lighthouse where there we were certain that reception was available....yes! so we caught up with Leigh and Heather, Maxine rang us but didn't leave a contact number so that will have to wait.  The view from the top across the Exmouth/Ningaloo Reef area was remarkable.  Exmouth was once home to a military naval command base for the US and Australian Forces during the second World War where communication was set up for submarines across the Indian Ocean.  Now it's a suburb that's making most of new land sales around it's beautiful marina.

Yes!

<>

Another fish!

Daniel had made a decision to stay for one more day.....We woke, had breakfast headed for the tennis courts with him winning 5 games to my 3. After showering,changing into our cozzies, Daniel with rod, bait, fridge in hand we were back at the beach.  This time he was on a roll. I walked along the beach and saw the fresh turtle trails that had made their way onto the sands to lay their eggs in the dunes above....amazing feat, two dugongs as they swam in the shallows, a turtle checking on her lay as she swam a metre from Daniel's cast. He was lucky on his last day, each time he cast I swear he caught. In 2 hours standing on beach shores he pulled in 12 fish.  Needless to say we had a lot to freeze before we departed the next day, or shall I say needless to say what was on the dinner menu tonight and possibly for the next 5 nights! I can't honestly, remember the last night we had meat.  Daniel's fishing has made his ego bigger than the caravan's entrance! But what can you say when it's all in a day's hard work!



View from the Lighthouse to the Caravan Park and Shore









Exmouth Town Centre....Frangipanis!



And for Mother's Day Dinner....Fish, but of course!









View at Sunset from the Lighthouse



Heyleigh's first day at the beach!



Time to go home!



Even the marina waters were clear, with an abundance of oysters growing on the rocks with colourful marine fish you could see at water's edge.

Coral Bay, Western Australia

Shell Beach, literally covered with millions of tiny shells!

Carnarvon...all you need is a one night stopover!

Goodbye Monkey Mia with thanks for the memories,good weather,beautiful beaches,sands,fish and dolphins. It must be said that the Western Australians are actually hiding their state treasures!  We'd love to come back to WA to see more of what it is that we've missed and to tell you the truth that's a lot!
We headed back into Denham to post a few postcards before heading back towards the North West Coast Hwy.  On the way we saw a couple (he, French, she Taiwanese) stranded on the other side of the road trying to flag down passing cars.  It was about two in the afternoon,very hot and they looked distressed so we made the decision to pull over.
 

Coral Bay Beach foreshore

There were three of them with one left at their car.  They'd camped over night but in the morning as they were leaving got themselves bogged in the sand.  We unhitched the van with Daniel going back with the guy to winch them out with his car. Half an hour later, hooked up we were back on the road. 

We arrived at a free camp for over night at Edagee.  Exhausted we made a quick dinner before turning in for an early night.  Next morning at nine we'd arrived at Carnarvon Wintersun caravan park.  Three loads of washing done, on the line, we headed into town to do our stock up at Woollies.  Always remember to eat first before you go shopping otherwise you end up with more in the trolley than you actually need!
Carnavon is a stop only for a night, stock up and move on. 

The water was a myriad of blues

Destination of Coral Bay reached at about 2.00 in the afternoon.  The beach was magnificent.  The tide was out,the sands were velvety under foot with bright blue depths of shallows.  The coral display of rock was brilliant.  A 4 wheel drive took us to some cliffs,sand dunes and not much else except another moment of getting bogged.

Early morning rise took us to the tennis courts where we played for half an hour before getting on the bikes heading to the foreshore boardwalk(Small) but the views to the Indian Ocean fantastic. A long black at Finns Coffee shop before getting back to the van putting on the bathers to go snorkelling.
Once the snorkel was on in we went.  Beautiful snapper so close to the shore swimming past, I swear they were looking at us! Daniel coming up out of the water enthusiastically repeating that he wanted to bring his rod back.  No, you can't! it's a Sanctuary zone I kept telling him. His instinct not defeated he decided to head to the 'free zone' and try his luck there. I stayed behind to write postcards, read, wash the caravan floor, kill the flies before Daniel returning to add that he didn't have the right bait.  The fish out there were huge he just needed prawns before taking off again.

Coral Bay coral cliffs

On return disappointment as he added that they didn't take the bait, instead we opted to take an evening stroll along the beach as the sun set.  The tide was out and you could walk an almost kilometre where we'd been snorkelling earlier that day.
Home again, a glass of chilled Chardy, fish, rice and Chinese cabbage on the evening's menu. What another day in paradise!!

Sunset at Coral Bay

C'mon let's play tennis!

Finns Cafe for coffee after tennis and bikeride

Monkey Mia, Western Australia

Welcome to Monkey Mia

Denham Seaside Tourist Caravan Park was located on the foreshore.  We got ourselves set up and organised.  Daniel went into town to check the fishing from the jetty coming back with some sparkling wine.

Chores down, done time to watch the Royal Wedding.  We thought it was lovely just enjoying the spectacle of colour, the cheering of the crowd, how lovely the happy couple looked, the dress, the bridesmaid's dress, William and Harry toasting them with the sparkling wine! Great night.

A dolphin!

No time to waste next day we were headed to Monkey Mia Resort. Here I am thinking we'll get to swim with the Dolphins but of course that is not the case.  Dolphins on our mind we set down the van headed straight out to the main drag where the dolphins congregate for their timed feeds.

It was a lovely sight to see such graceful animals as they swam in close to the sand bank.  There was one dolphin that had her dorsal fin attacked by a shark about 3 weeks prior, she was only about 2 years old.  That was a bit distressing for me.  However, there are 2 families that come in for this 'feeding programme' most of them are females with their calves.
In all I think there were about 13 dolphins that come in every day. 

Marysia...look here!

The Department of Environment and Conservation don't allow for patting of the dolphins as there is a risk of transferring human diseases including the flu.  The set up is a little funny really.  People are asked to line up on the boardwalk as a staff member walks along talking about the dolphins before inviting the spectators down to the water line as the dolphins make their way in.  Once the dolphins are close enough you're invited to step into the water only so far though.  The staff member continues to walk up along the line of people with a dolphin in tow waiting for it's feed.  This continues for about 10 minutes before a few members of the public are chosen to feed a fish to at least 3 dolphins.  A good show I suppose, people madly taking dozens of pictures and standing knee deep in water.

Daniel...did you get that!

Weather at Monkey Mia was great.  Daniel and I spent most of the time on the beach, reading, sunning and Daniel catching fish.  Caught this time included a small reef shark, flatheads, baby snapper and some other fish!  I don't usually hang around when it's time to fillett them.  I'd just as rather he put them back!  The evening as the sun went down was a spectacle in itself.  The colours of the sky were remarkable hues of red, orange, deep blue and purple.  The water was so calm it was virtually like a mirror with little boats just anchored off the beach.

We had no need for television and didn't even bother putting up the antenna.  We sat out on the beach until the sun set before returning to practice on the guitars.  Early nights meant early mornings to catch another display of the dolphins!

A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do!

I had the opportunity to leave Daniel to his fishing as I ventured along the shoreline and gathered seashells in the afternoon sun.  The variety was amazing. Different shapes, colours of all sorts.  Back at the camp we had visiting Emus, who were more than happy to get some bread.  I almost had my hand taken off!

On our final day here we decided to take a trip out to the Blue Lagoon Pearl Farm, this is the one that 'Farmer Wants a Wife's', Farmer Jamie runs with his family!  No he wasn't with the girl that he hooked up on the show.  He was actually chatting up some young female tourists that he met the night before in the local resort hotel.
It was a great visit and the pearls were, let's say, very beautiful and very expensive!

Crystal Clear Waters

I Love Monkey Mia!

Marysia ...can we go now!

....let's have a coffee!

Beautiful!

Give me that bread!

Anymore bread in there?

What a surprise....not the only one fishing you fool!

Daniel please throw it back!

My shell collection

Happy hour at sun set

Relax........I am!

Hold on to your keys please!

I Think I'll just sit here...it's safer!

Jamie's Pearl Farm

That's him behind the counter!

That's him behind the wheel!

Hey!