Thursday, August 24, 2006

22 August 2006

22 August 2006
We packed up in mud that clung to our shoes making it very heavy to walk and extremely slippery. We were finally on the road at about 8AM and headed for Perth with rain a lot of the way. We arrived home at about 3:30PM. We had traveled almost exactly 15,500 kilometres since leaving home 83 days earlier.

21 August 2006

21 August 2006
Left Coral Bay at 8AM after farewelling everyone. We traveled down to near the turnoff to Kalbarri and decided to have a break at a picnic spot which turned out to be the spot named Galena Bridge which we first visited when we went to Monkey Mia together. We decided to stay the night here as it was on a river and there were only a few other caravans on this side of the river. At midnight it started raining and we had to move the chairs out of the rain.

20 August 2006

20 August 2006
Had our last snorkel in the morning before having lunch and then exchanging photos with Bill and Joe. Started packing away the annex and other items in preparation to leaving in the morning. We had a pizza and cider alone and enjoyed the sunset and stars before heading to bed.

19 August 2006

19 August 2006
Went for a long swim and snorkel with Joe, Kerry and Bill in the bay and came across a huge Potato Bass under one of the boats. We had a second snorkel off the point with Kate before heading home for a late lunch. We all (except for Joe who babysat the dog) went for a sunset sail on the Coral Breeze which is the yacht we got married on. After a wonderful sail, bubbly and sunset we all went for dinner at the restaurant and then had coffee at our caravan with much laughter.

18 August 2006

18 August 2006
Drove to 9-mile beach with Joe, Kerry, Bill, Kate, Phoebe and Anna. We walked a long way up the beach collecting shells and looking at clams in the shallows. We then had lunch and chatted and headed home. We then went and snorkeled with the Spangled Emperor fish near all the boats and had a quick look at the coral in the bay.

17 August 2006

17 August 2006
Went for a snorkel with Joe while Kerry looked after Mishca and then Keith paddled almost to the outer reef with Joe in Kerry's kayak. We had a nap in the afternoon before having supper at the Coral Bay Hotel.

16 August 2006

16 August 2006
We woke up to very strong wind gusts which blew dust and sand all over the place. The caravan park sprinkled water on the roads to reduce the dust and fortunately by midday the wind had died down and it turned into a beautiful day. We went for a long walk along the beach at about 11AM and then after lunch we swam way out to look at the huge coral gardens with Joe and a German girl who was too scared to do it on her own. The coral was spectacular. After dinner we again went for a walk along the beach with Joe and Kerry and Mishca their dog who chased crabs. There were hundreds of little fish jumping and also some very large ones too. Had drinks with Bill and Kate and showed them some things about digital image processing.

15 August 2006

15 August 2006
At about 10:30 we headed for Oyster Bridge through the sand dunes with Joe and Kerry in their Jeep where we had the beach to ourselves. We snorkeled, had lunch and chatted till mid afternoon when we headed home for a shower and drinks together.

14 August 2006

14 August 2006
Had a relaxing day doing very little and then at 3:30PM we went to watch the Spangled Emperor fish being fed. These fish are about 60cm in length and swim between your legs while looking for food. Vlasta went to photograph the Wallaby Joey at the CALM office. We then had drinks with Joe and Kerry before having supper and heading to Maud's Landing to look at the beautiful black night sky.

13 August 2006

13 August 2006
Snorkeled at another location just around the corner from the main beach and saw a wide variety of fish. We also came across a sting ray feeding on the sandy bottom which appeared quite undisturbed by us watching it closely. After supper we took some photos of the pitch black night sky which came out quite well.

12 August 2006

12 August 2006
We walked to Paradise Beach along the back road and then back to Coral Bay along the beach. The morning was hot with a fair breeze blowing. After lunch we decided to try the snorkeling at Paradise Beach so took the car back along the dirt track and headed for the sea. We were very disappointed to see that 90% of the coral was dead from a freak natural event about 4 years ago where the coral spawned while the wind and tides blew all the organic material into the bays which subsequently killed all the coral due to oxygen deprivation. There was quite a lot of new coral growing but it will be many years before things look better.

11 August 2006

11 August 2006
We spent the morning relaxing and then went to talk to the local CALM (Conservation And Land Management) office to get information about snorkeling etc. The lady at CALM had a little Euro (type of wallaby) joey which she was looking after as its mother had been killed on the road. We then headed along a 4x4 track up the coast to visit the lagoon which is good for snorkeling. We found ourselves on a very sandy and steepish track so had to deflate the tyres and had to get up some speed to get the car back out while Vlasta took video of the whole scene. We had the whole beach to ourselves and after snorkeling and walking along the beach we headed home for a well earned drink and supper.

10 August 2006

10 August 2006
Had a relaxing day doing very little besides some shopping and updating the internet. We did however go and watch the sunset from Maud's Landing which is a few km from Coral Bay.

Thursday, August 10, 2006

9 August 2006

9 August 2006
Packed up and headed into Exmouth for petrol and post some cards before making our way down to Coral Bay. We setup camp next to a family we met at Barn Hill, what a coincidence and to top it all Geordie, their daughter, dreamed the night before that we arrived and camped next to them! We walked around Coral Bay to see what had changed and watched the sun set and full moon rise simultaneously and watched freshly caught fish being unloaded on the beach. Later we had dinner at the restaurant with our neighbours before having drinks and chatting until late.

8 August 2006

8 August 2006
The wind came up during the night and continued most of the day so we headed to Exmouth to do some desperately needed shopping. After a quick lunch before heading to Turquoise Beach to snorkel where we saw another turtle and Keith saw a pair of Clown fish (Nemos). After a glass of wine we headed to the beach over the road from then caravan park to watch the sunset and the nearly full moon rise.

7 August 2006

7 August 2006
Drove to Osprey Bay where we snorkeled with sting rays, and fish of many descriptions, sizes and colours. We also took more photos - again :-) and then headed to Sandy Bay for a picnic lunch. After spending most of the day along the coast we headed back to the caravan park for a nap and then drinks with our neighbour before having fish and chips from the local cafe.

6 August 2006

6 August 2006
Drove down to Yardie Creek and saw an echidna on the road. Keith snorkeled in Osprey Bay while Vlasta took photos along the beach. The colour of the sea has to be seen to be believed. Moved on to Sandy Bay and took more photos of this picturesque beach. Visited a number of other beaches while we made our way back to the caravan park, stopping at the visitor centre where we watched a pair of breeding Sea Eagles feeding its chick with a freshly caught fish.

5 August 2006

5 August 2006
Moved to the Lighthouse Caravan Park and then went to Turquoise Beach for a snorkel where the current drifts you along the corals without requiring much effort. We encountered a large turtle which was only frightened when he saw us above the sea when he took a breath!

4 August 2006

4 August 2006
Managed to book into Coral Bay for 11 nights and a further 4 nights at the Lighthouse Caravan Park north of Exmouth. Headed along the coast to explore and witness some of the largest waves they have here. Watched the sunset with a bottle of bubbly from a beach near the lighthouse.

3 August 2006

3 August 2006
Left early for a long days travel and while Keith was filling up with petrol in Karratha he was interviewd by ABC Radio about high petrol prices, then about an hour later we turned on the radio and heard the whole interview on the air! Arrived in Exmouth at about 4PM where we had a well earned shower and good nights sleep.

2 August 2006

2 August 2006
Traveled to within about 150km of Karratha where we found a lovely free camp spot by a river where we stayed for the night.

1 August 2006

1 August 2006
Christened our new fishing rods but did not catch anything. Many people go fishing in their tinnies and leave their vehicles on the beach. Had fun on the beach with a dog who chased the Frigate birds and Boobies up and down the beach. Had pizza delivered to our door before giving a slide show on Antarctica.

31 July 2006

31 July 2006
Left for Barn Hill which is about 150km south of Broome along a corrugated, sandy dirt road off the main road for 8km. Barn Hill is a cattle station and is situated close by the beach. Barn Hill has ablution blocks that are open to the sky so you better take care not to get sun burned while sitting on the loo! There is plenty of fishing walking and swimming with many activities provided by the owners. Had a stroll along the beach under the stars before heading for bed.

30 July 2006

30 July 2006
Did washing and shopping in preparation for travel the next day. Went with some friends and a bottle of bubbly to Cable Beach to watch the sunset with the camels. The car had its second visit onto the beach this holidays!