Ningaloo Reef

Time flies when you are having fun, or so they say, always surprising for me to realise how much has happened in just a few days.  well, when traveling with friends there are always things to do or more places to go...

A short part of the roads travelled

From Kalbarri we traveled north into the Peron Peninsula, to Denham for some shopping and re-fuelling then spent 2 nights at two different beach locations, just south of Denham, great spots and free of charge as well.  We saw some great sunsets and sunrises before driving further north to Carnarvon where we had to stay for 3 days, as Eckhard and Suki both had to see a Dentist (the only one until Darwin, about 2000km away.)  Our next stop was Quobba Station, a campground right on the coastal peninsula which turned out to be rather windy as well but we all enjoyed our stay there, walked the beach with its rugged red rocky coastline, white sand and lots of tiny fish swimming around your feet as you walk in the shallow water.

We were staying at No. 452 for 2 days (south of Exmouth on the Peninsula)

The next stop was Coral Bay and then on to Exmouth, or should I say Learmonth Jetty, beautiful clear turquoise waters, right on a beach with white sand onto the Exmouth Gulf.  Then, after two nights, on to Ningaloo Reef and the Cape Range National Park.  In order to get into a camp spot, you need to register at the entrance to the park with the Ranger, who allocates campspots as they become available.  More about Ningaloo Reef

We are at the Ranger Station already at 7.00 am, already 2 vehicles ahead of us in line to get into the Park.  Before the Ranger (a nice young lady) arrives at 8 o'clock, we witness a beautiful rainbow just as the sun rises.  Simply magnificent!  My Tibetan friends would say that to be very auspicious and extra good fortune for us.  Yes, we are very lucky to witness such a spectacle and to spend time in such a pristine environment!

Quite a Rainbow!

We are allocated two spots at Osprey Bay, beautiful in the Extreme, waves breaking several hundred metres from shore out on the Reef with the ongoing sound of the roaring surf at that distance.  

The Beach at Sandy Bay

Blue skies as you would expect, but we are glad of the breeze to keep the temperatures down.  On our second day we drive down the peninsula to Yardie Creek Gorge where we take a hike along the rim of the Gorge, the only one connected to the ocean.

Gorge Views and dried up trees along my walk

Back on the Westcoast of Australia

The first glimpse of the Indian Ocean when I drive toward Geraldton is really simply beautiful, shades of blue and turquoise as far as I can see and that scene only gets better as I get closer to the ocean.  I park right the town beach with my rear window pointing to the beach so I have a fabulous view while I do my stuff, like cooking something to eat and have a cold drink.  The sky is blue the water blue, about 30 degrees with a breeze off the ocean.  It does not get much better!

The mail I had arranged to be forwarded to Geraldton is not there the following morning (Monday) so after some shopping we spend the day around town, Eckhard and Suki having to also go to Centrelink while I head for my favorite spot by the beach.  We stay another night before driving further north to Kalbarri and its beautiful coast and the gorges in the National Park.  More:

 Looking up to the Lookout at Z-Bend

At Kalbarri we stay at a caravan park right by the harbour and the inflow of the Murchison River that flows here into the sea.  It is a 'must' to visit the National Park to see and to experience the beauty nature has on offer in this part of Australia.  We decide to also descend into the gorge itself as I had not been there when I last visited here 2 years ago.  I am glad we did, some of the scenery is simply breathtaking.

Only standing pools of river water down the bottom

We slowly climb down to the bottom of the gorge which turns out not only rather colourful but also nice and cool while the day above has been increasingly warming up.  We also carry some water and food, dehydration is not a great option down here to consider.

Above are some views along the way down...

Out of the Nullarbor, Norseman, Kalgoorlie and the "Wheatbelt".

Its been a cold night, as most nights in the Nullarbor usually are.  I say good bye to my fellow campers and I am back on the highway, going west toward the town of Norseman, where you can either drive south toward Esperance or north toward the city of Kalgoorlie. 

 

On my last night I have been bitten by what looks like a spider of some sort, as I am now showing a giant bruise on my left wrist, all black and blue, as if I had hit something with my arm with great force.  I decide to seek some medical advice at the Norseman Hospital, where the doctor insists it is definitely a bruise stemming from some impact.  Blood samples are taken to be sent off to Perth for examination to see if I have a "low platelet count", something to do with the ability of blood to coagulate.  The insect bite only given a low probability.

 

The following morning while I am having my car serviced at Kalgoorlie, the Doctor calls me, to tell me my blood is in excellent shape, no platelet problems, in fact, the platelet count is high, my blood pressure 125 / 80 and it looks like I am in the best of health.  I can't resist telling him that my original assumption about the spider bite was probably correct, to which he then agrees.  Nothing to be done he tells me, just take some anti-inflammatories.  Six days after the bite, the bruising is looking like getting less, still painful, but I only wake up twice during the night when the pain sets in for a minute or two, but things are certainly improving.

 Salt pans along the way

From Kalgoorlie I drive west again tothe town of Southern Cross, where I spend the night.  I follow the water supply pipes along the highway which have brought drinking water from near Perth to Kalgoorlie since 1903, when the (still ongoing) Gold boom in the Kalgoorlie area had started.  The pipes are laid above ground, as its much easier to detect any leakage that way, they are painted either silver or white to help reflect the sun and the water won't arrive hot at Kalgoorlie.  I stop for the night at Southern Cross.  

Wheatbelt country

This part of WA is called "The Wheatbelt", with (already harvested) wheat fields stretching from horizon to horizon.  In low lying areas there are also salt marshes and some salt pans where nothing will grow, but on higher ground wheat is the only crop.  Cattle and sheep only become visible as I get closer to the West Coast.  

Salmon Gum Eucalypts

Along my course through the backroads of WA, which are always in excellent condition, even if they are only single-lane roadways, many so-called Salmon Gums grow along the road, their glistening tree trunks reflecting the morning light as if they were wet.

 Seemingly 'never-ending' Highway

Another view of the Wheatbelt in WA

When I arrive at Geraldton I enjoy viewing the tourquiose colours of the Indian Ocean, so I park right by the sea while I wait for my friends Eckhard and Suki whom I have arranged to meet here.  We spend 2 days at Geraldton before heading north to Kalbarrie.