Cliff Head North - Free Camp

We were quite happy to leave Greenough and head to our next camp.... Cliff Head North.    We did the "grey nomad" thing & stopped for our lunch in a beautiful bay in Dongarra & headed to the lookout!

The 3 vans stopped at the Lookout in Dongarra.  The Wilkins, The Kratz & Smail's!

Sue, Patty & Kathie at the lookout in Dongarra

One interesting stop we had was to see 4 Dingo's...   Much to my horror we went in an enclosure similar to the one this picture & had to stand in a line & let the dingo's sniff us!!     I think one liked the taste of my melting moment biscuit I had just had for morning tea........ However the dingo's in this picture were howling so Patty & I decided to stay on the other side of the fence while the others went in!

This is our camp at Cliff Head North which was right on the beach again.....we were sheltered from the afternoon sea breezes by the cliffs in the background and as you can see the weather has now got warmer again.....

 However, we did have some visitors during the night.... these wild goats came down to our camp and went through Kathie's rubbish bin.    Patty & Kel stayed in this camp on their way up from Bussleton & while they were camped here, someone fired a shot over their van & shot one of the goats on the hill, it fell down the cliff behind their van,  it was hung it up in a tree & carved it up into chops.    Patty declined the chops when they were offered to her!!

Our fabulous camp oven roast..... beef & pork in the camp ovens & potatoes in alfoil behind the ovens!!!  We had a great camp meal together which will be our last for awhile as we are all heading in different directions in the morning!!

I know this photo is dark but if you look closely under the chair you will see coals from the fire.     We were told if you put coals under your chair it warms the rest of your body.... & true to their word it is amazing!!!  

The van finally gets its first clean since leaving Adelaide.    Because water is precious up here no parks will allow you to clean your car or van, but Tony used the last of our water in our tanks in the van to wash it at Cliff Head.    It feels like we are in a new van again!  Yeh!!!! & I don't get dirty clothes everytime I lean on the van!

The Spangled Emperors part ways at Cliff Head North & say goodbye!!!

There were a few tears here as we said our goodbyes.....  we have been travelling together for 1 month now & shared many experiences & stories together ..... my shark ring will remind me of the fun times we have had together.   We will miss their company but we're sure we will see each other again & definitely keep in contact!

THIS IS "SHARK GIRL 2" (2IC) & "KING SPANGLED EMPEROR" 

 "38 OVER & OUT!!!!"

Geraldton

Not a lot of driving today so took our time and did a few touristy things on the way......

This is the "pink" lake at Port Gregory - not many people live in this town but the Lake was worth a stop!                                                                        We drove on to Northampton for a look & ended up staying for scones, jam & cream & coffee.  We wouldn't normally indulge in this sort of morning tea on our own but it was very nice & could get use to it very easily!    The country butcher was great here as well!

We stayed in a small village near Geraldton called Greenough at the Rivermouth CP, right on the river (recommended), but when we got there it looked quite run down & quite a few permanents,  but the BBQ area was new & camp kitchen wasn't too bad either.   We all set up camp and for the first time on our trip suffered the colder weather.    So with our warmer jackets, scarves and beanies we headed over to the camp kitchen for happy hour.

 The next day we strolled through Geraldton (not heaps of shopping done here as we had the guys with us) but found a great fish & chip shop (Sail In) for lunch over looking the beautiful bay.   The guys are standing in front of the "Yellow Submarine" right in front of where we had lunch!

I am on the right & the bronzed lady on the left is waiting for her husband or boyfriend to come home on the HMAS Sydney which was sunk by a German ship (in disguise) off the coast of Geraldton.   The dome in the background is made of 645 seagulls representing each person who lost their life.   This was erected before they located the wreck.   They are now extending this memorial to include a water feature.    On the step are 644 seagulls with one solitary seagull in the middle facing where the ship went down also representing the 645 people who lost their life.   It was quite a moving memorial!!

After a long day in Geraldton we headed over to the BBQ area for Happy Hour and Sausage Sizzle.    As you can see we are quite rugged up for the cold and standing around the BBQ to keep warm!      Kel, John, Tony, Patty, Kathie & me!

Finally our dinner is ready & as it wasn't raining through the shade cloth overhead and the wind had dropped we manaaged to stay for a few wines afterwards.










Not sure we would recommend or come back to Greenough, but we did have a good time with friends we are travelling with.     The next morning we headed for a free camp - Cliff Head North near Dongarra.  

Kalbarri Part 2 - Quad Bikes

One of the highlights of Kalbarri was our Quad Bike Tour at Wageo Beach.

After brief instructions on how to drive our quad bikes we travelled a short distance from the Homestead through gentle dunes and onto the beach.   After the initial nervousness & getting used to the bikes we all began to enjoy the ride (incase you don't recognise who is on the bike..... it is me!!!)

 

We are looking a little more confident here.... Patty & Kel, Sue & Tony & John & Kathie.

We headed South  along the beach taking in the spectacular views, then it was off the beach & back into the rolling dunes, following each other up a razor-back dune overlooking a steep drop to dense bush vegetation in front of the beach.

After 2 hours of driving along the beach & sand dunes it was time for our morning tea break.   We headed back north along the beach and stopped by a lagoon on the beach for homemade sandwiches, cakes, tea & coffee.     Very nice........

I am not sure what was in the cakes as Tony started planking.........

John thought he was on a side car.........

.

As did Kel...........................

I did it...... our tour guide found a safe part of the beach for the girls to have a go driving as we were a little nervous!!!     Once I went a few kms I felt quite confident, but still would have been worried in the dunes driving in the soft sand.

We headed 3 km North along the beach to more challenging tall dunes.   It was definitely the pinnacle of the afternoon & after the gradual increase in challenges it was a thrill to ride up the last steep dune & reach the top to see the spectacular views.    Kathie, Patty & I standing on the edge of the large dune we had just ridden up!

Whatever was in the cakes for morning tea hasn't  quite worn off yet  & they were our drivers!!

We drove along the whole bay in the background of this photo and through the sand dunes....... We had an absolute ball & felt quite energised after 4 hours of riding the Quads!!!!

Next Venture.... Geraldton

Kalbarri Part 1

We would have loved to stay one more night at Whalebone (as other campers seem to do illegally) but decided to continue onto Kalbarri.......Hamelin Pool was on our way which is where there are living Stromatolites.     Here are Patty & I walking along the jetty looking at the stromatolites (they are the dark patches in the water.)

 The vegetation on the Western Australian coast is unbelievable & I am continually amazed at how beautiful the country is....    This picture shows some of the vegetation we could see heading into Kalbarri...

 Until the rain came.....   this is our first taste of cool, wet weather......lucky it stopped raining by the time we made our camp but unfortunately wasn't enough to wash the van.

Our camp at Kalbarri.... first time we have had the back & side screens up .... this was to keep us warm at night for our Happy Hours & protect us from the sea breeze.   

 This view is looking from our camp to the river......even when a van was on the site in front we still had good views.    Kalbarri is a very pretty town & "the girls" managed to find quite a few good shops to browse in & spend money!
                             
We set of with a picnic lunch to the National Park to view the Murchison Gorge & Lookouts. 

By the way, I recommend anyone coming to Western Australia for a holiday buy the the monthly or yearly permits to visit the National Parks.   We have found it would be much cheaper this way.   We have been paying $11 a car every time we enter a National Park & most of the tourist attractions are in a National Park.

Fantastic views of the Murchison Gorge but the flies were unbelievable.   This is our new look wearing our fly nets.....

 Sue leading the way with & Patty & Kel following up this steep rock face to see Nature's Window.   We sent Tony ahead so he could show us the way....

And here we are...... finally at the top and sitting where all the tourist sit for the photo...... but it does make a great shot and views of the gorge were pretty good as well!

We did encounter this snake on our return to the car...... "snake whispher" Tony came to the rescue again....  this is the 2nd snake we have seen close up on this triip.

Tony loved the surf beach here but the waves were too big for the kayak.   

The views from the lookouts in Kalbarri National Park were quite spectacular & very similar to the Great Ocean Road.

Kalbarri Part 2 next....

Whalebone - Free Camp

There are 4-5 Free camps along the coast from Denham    The morning you want to camp in any of these you have to ring to see if any are available (only 4 sites to 1 camp) so it is a bit of pot luck if any are available & we wanted 2 sites...  We managed to get into Whalebone Camp so headed off for our next venture.

Along the way we called into Eagle Bluff & walked on the boardwalk over the top of the cliff.  Definitely worth a look!  The views were spectacular!

We  arrived at Whalebone Camp in time for lunch.  We managed a site right on the beach as you can see in the photo.   Can't get much closer than this with a van our size!  Tony is getting ready for our sausage sizzle.....

Patty & I enjoying a champagne at Happy Hour watching the sunset over the beautiful bay.

 Kel & Tony enjoying a beer watching the sunset......Kel managed to catch an edible whiting but Tony had no luck here!

We woke up to a full tide and beautiful calm waters right at our doorstep......

This camp is for 1 night only .....interesting though..... only 4 camp sites available and 8 were camped there for the night!

We reluctantly packed up and headed for Kalbarri....

Denham

I have finally caught up with my Blogging and I am actually writing this from Denham......(think this might be a first!)

We packed the vans up ready to leave by 8:30 as we were hoping to get to the markets to buy our fresh vegies before we left.    Patty & I managed to find a "few"other things to spend our money on at the market as well as the fresh vegies........     We had quite a long drive today so stopped at the Overlander Roadhouse for lunch & a break, but looking at the greasy meals & flies we decided to eat in the van.

Before we reached Denham we came across a beautiful beach "Shell Beach".    The shells are beautiful but very tiny and stretch across the whole beach (no sand at all).     The shells are 5 metres deep which is quite incredible!     The water is very, very salty though.

Crushed shells are used in the caravan park to keep the dust & sand down so you are walking on crushed shells (a litle like dolomite)

Kel & Tony on top of a mound of shells.    The beach is so white it looks like snow!

Patty & I standing on Shell Beach.........The shells from here were also used to build the "Old Pearler Restaurant" in Denham - it is quite a unique building as all the bricks are made of compacted shells.     

We were shocked to get up on our first morning at Denham to find clouds everywhere, windy & quite cool.    Our first "bad" day we have had on our trip!    After a group meeting we decided on a day trip to Monkey Mia.

Patty & I with the crowd waiting to be chosen to feed the dolphins who venture into the Bay.   I was lucky enough to be picked out of the crowd to feed one of the dolphins...... I think it was meant to be as the dolphins name was "Nikki".   I would have put a photo up of me feeding the dolphin but the cameraman wasn't up to his usual standard today......

Sue, Kel, Patty (& Tony behind the camera) waiting for our lunch at the Monkey Bar...... 

We thought Monkey Mia looked a little run down and could do with some money being put back into the tourism here (& Patty & Tony thought a few more prawns on their pizza would have been good too).    Kel & I enjoyed our Seafood Basket!

Our second day wasn't looking much better so decided on a drive and picnic lunch to Big Lagoon and Peron Homestead.   The vegetation on the side of the road was quite spectacular although the road was very narrow and not too many places to pull over when a car was coming the other way.   We did come across one caravan coming towards us & was tavelling quite fast!   Not a place for vans....

We didn't stay long at Big Lagoon as we were covered in sandflies (or midgies) as soon as we got out of the car so decided to keep going and have our lunch at the Peron Homestead.   The guys were hoping for a fish here!

 The Peron Homestead provides an insight into how life was on a working Sheep Station back in the 1950's.     When we arrived Patty & I thought we had found 2 handsome shearers, but on closer look, I think it is Tony & Kel waving at us!

The "Hot Tub" we are standing in front of was the original vital water supply for the Homestead's stock but is now used as a Hot Tub.   The water temperature is around 40 deg & had warnings not to stay in too long ..... the water didn't look that inviting so we decided not to go in although quite a few did!!!!

 We were lucky enough to see a father Emu & 3 of his chicks having a swim in the warm water.   We think the mother was near keeping an eye on them incase a preditor came!  They actually layed right down in the water so you could only see there heads.   It was quite incredible to see!

 We are in the shearing quarters here and Shearer Kel is trying to shear a troublesome sheep!

 Here we are in the Cook's Kitchen - I think you can see who does the most work in this kitchen..... one is drinking a long neck & the other is cooking.......

Dinner is ready!!!!!    This is the dinner bell which I think could be heard all over the Homestead!

The weather is starting to improve now ....

 We are leaving Denham tomorrow and hoping to get into a free camp which is right on a sheltered Beach.    It is a little "hit & miss" as we have to ring on the day to see if there is a spot..... if not we will head on into Kalbarri!