Karijini Western Australia 2019
Denmark
The Karijini Trip Departure
Location: 17 Maple Pl, Maddington WA 6109, Australia
I think we are out of practice. It took longer than we expected to get ready. This the first time as a full free camp. No caravan parks this trip. At least 12 days and no showers. May be a swim at Karijini although the water is said to be a bit chilly. 😬😬
Had to make a detour to the local shopping centre for a couple of last minute supplies. Just remembered them. 😁😁
So, we really got going by 11:45am.
Also had a snack as so close to lunch. Warmed up pizza was ok.
GPS: -32.0599859, 116.00502139999999
Wubin
Location: Wubin WA 6612, Australia
The first fuel stop. It looks like fuel starts to jump in price after Wubin, it is $1.592 for diesel.
Had a quick cuppa across the road from the fuel up while Taleah did some upside down poses.
Only done 280 kms so far. Need to do closer to 400 kms today. Sound like a nice gravel pit 140kms up the road just before Payne Find.
GPS: -30.1062531, 116.62984169999999
Expenditure:
Fuel 91.60 AUD
First Night - Gravel Pit
Location: A Gravel Pit, Great Northern Hwy, Paynes Find WA 6612, Australia
Followed Wiki Camps direction and here we are.
A great gravel pit. We are the only ones here.
Set back off the road about 200 meters. A few trees and a good spread of gravel.
Aidyn spotted the drum for a fire so this must be the spot.
The sunset had some colour, a quick photo shoot and set up the camp 😁😁 and then the fire and this what we remember is all good about free camping.
Dinner, a fire, marshmallow and then no light while looking at the stars. The fire warmed us all immensely but it is not really cold. Still about 16°C out.
Into bed early for an early start. Hope to get 700 kms tomorrow.
GPS: -29.287912499999987, 117.48235546874994
Meekatharra Fuel & Food Stop
Location: Coles Express, LOT 821 Main St, Meekatharra WA 6642, Australia
Got going at 9:00am from the overnight gravel pit. Could not get the kids put of bed. It was 4°C overnight but warmed up quickly as the sun rose.
First stop for fuel and lunch at Meekatharra.
The last 30 kilometer we followed a 7 meter wide load and just before we caught up to the truck had to stop for two 8 meter wide dump truck bodies being transported in the oppose direction.
Fuel was $1.759 per litre.
GPS: -26.5983228, 118.49159549999999
Expenditure:
Fuel 182.69 AUD
Central Gascoyne River Stop
Location: A River Bank camp off the, Great Northern Hwy, Kumarina WA 6642, Australia
Decided that this stop sounded the best of the next 3 stops. As it turned out a great spot by the empty river bed.
Did a scrounge around for some fire wood. Should have brought some with us. Any way found enough for a great fire and after dinner and finished off the rest of the marshmallows.
Not as cold tonight. 22°C when we pulled up and still 20°C at 7:00pm.
GPS: -25.2054925, 119.33172265624998
Earlier Start - Finally 🤗🤗
Location: River Bank Camp off the, Great Northern Hwy, Kumarina WA 6642, Australia
Warmer this morning. A cosy 10°C before sun rise.
Managed to get the crew moving and motivated.
Only 550km to go with a 70km detour to Auski Roadhouse for a fuel top up. ⛽⛽
It is 85kms back to Auski, 117kms to Tom Price and 300kms to Newman for fuel once at Dale's Gorge Camp.
GPS: -25.205472500000006, 119.33177734374996
Newman BP
Location: BP Capricorn Roadhouse, Lot 10 Great Northern Hwy, Newman WA 6753, Australia
This is a hugh site. A massive amount of room for the transport industry. Felt rather insignificant parked in amongst the triples and over dimensional loads.
Bought some stuff for the kids. The chips were really nice. Right up there with the best we reckon.
Fuel price was ok at $1.669 per litre. The BP has 8.0 cpl off fuel over $80 purchase by way off a confectionary selection bin. Not really 8.0 cpl off.
GPS: -23.454021599999994, 119.7983899
Expenditure:
Fuel 148.96 AUD
Auski Roadhouse
Location: Auski Tourist Village, Great Northern Hwy, Karijini WA 6751, Australiao
Expected a bit better than we got. Toilets were clean. No bitumen, just concrete under the fuel canopy..
The nozel blew back the diesel and dribbled down the side of the car and clicked off. Luckily the nozel has the latch working and I was off checking the van.
Price was 14 cents per litre dearer than Newman.
Full tank of fuel and only 85 kms to go t ok Dale's Camp instead of 200km ex Newman.
GPS: -22.377257999999994, 118.6908094
Expenditure:
Fuel 74.14 AUD
Dale's Gorge Campsite
Location: Bungarra 35 site number, Unnamed Road, Karijini WA 6751, Australia
So here we are and checked in via the Camp Host on site.
Site found and parked in it without an issue. Only appears to be less than a quarter full at present.
Looks like a fire ha been through the area a year or so ago. New growth just starting to happen.
Setup took about 1.5 hours. The kids did help a bit this time.
GPS: -22.468817499999997, 118.54986328125004
Fortesque Falls
Location: Fortescue Falls, Dales Rd, Karijini WA 6751, Australia
We are pretty much set up and Taleah has asked more than a few times to go for a swim.
Here we are at the first gorge to see just how cold the water is. My watch says 17°C, and Aidyn has just arrived and has gone for it with out testing the water. 🙄🙄
The water has a tingling sensation and turns out to be 16°C.
We did stay in for about 15 minutes and it was still a bit tingley.
Sun has set now and getting dark, so back to the top of the gorge and back for dinner.
GPS: -22.4777579, 118.5506552
Karijini Nation Park Visitors Centre
Location: Karijini Visitor Centre, Banjima Dr, Karijini WA 6751, Australia
The first place we visit is normally the Visitors Centre. This trip being no exception. The whole structure is made of steel. Steel plate on the outside walls and steel beams main structure. A nice rusty finish! 😆😆
The change in temperature of the steel walls from the outside to the shaded entry was significant. We can't imagine how hot the steel must get in summer.
Some interesting stuff inside. The usual souvenier stuff. Julie bought a new hat and the obligatory material badges.
Spent a good hour and a half reading all about the area.
GPS: -22.4809439, 118.46297440000001
Expenditure:
Badge 6.00 AUD
Hat 50.00 AUD
Fern Pool
Location: Fern Pool, Karijini WA 6751, Australia
Most like called Fern Pool due to the Maiden Hair ferns an another variety not know to us.
The swim for today at Fern Pool gas a much longer swimming hole. Most likely over 50 meters long and the temperature is 19°C. 🏊♂️🏊♀️🏊♂️🏊♀️
This will be the preferred location for a swim we think. Julie nearly went in, but probably has to work up to it a bit more.
Some very old looking trees growing around the the pool. Also fish in the water. They look like Rainbow Fish. 🐟🐟🐟 Not seen any mention of the type anywhere except in the Junior Ranger book given to the kids at the Camphost checkin.
Time to go, very tricky getting shoes back on as the entry/exit to the water is very muddy with what appears to be very sticky black dirt. 👣👣👣
Aidyn put his towel over the muddy wooden man made jetty so he could put his shoes on. REALLY!! 🙄🙄🙄🙄
Time to go.....
Back to the top. Taleah has now counted the steps to the top of the gorge at 283. I think we will take her word for it.
This should be good for the legs each day. 🚶♂️🚶♀️🚶♂️🚶♀️
GPS: -22.478903199999994, 118.5488412
Circular Pool
Location: Circular Pool, Dales Rd, Karijini WA 6751, Australia
Today we rode about 2 kms to the start of the descent to The floor of Dale's Gorge where we find Circular Pool. 🏊♂️🏊♂️🏊♂️🏊♀️🏊♀️🏊♀️
A very picturesque spot with a type of lily growing in the water. Lots of reeds an vegetation. Madden Hair Fern growing profusely from the cracks in the rock faces that have water seeping out. Some water falling about a metre or more into the pool from the the rock face.
It seemed that the temperature was 17°C at first but then my watch showed 15°C in the middle of the pool. The water was warmer where the water falls into the pool. But of course, to get there you have to swim through the coldest parts. 😳😳😳😬😬😬
The big question, did we go in. Well of course, never back down from a quest. 😎😎😎 Aidyn was at the pool before we arrived and was already half in the water. He got in fully after Kim got in followed by Taleah. The water was stinging the skin a bit more than Fortesque Falls.
Julie had more sense an took photos.
We staying in for a good 10 minutes or more. It was as they say "quite invigorating". 😳😳😳
We chatted with another caravaner couple for the next 15 minutes until we were, now too cold and proceeded along the Dale's Gorge floor to Fortesque Falls.
GPS: -22.475086099999995, 118.56213229999997
Forstesque Falls
Location: >Fortescue Falls, Dales Rd, Karijini WA 6751, Australia
Aidyn, yet again did not wait for us and we eventually caught up with him at Fortesque Falls already in the water.
Taleah joined him for yet another swim. 🏊♂️🏊♀️🏊♂️🏊♀️🏊♂️🏊♀️
We had our lunch and counted the steps to the top again. Kim got 287 &s; Taleah got 285, so we will need to count some more times.
We walked back along the top of Dales Gorge to our bikes. Julie took another look at Circular Pool from the top and spotted what looked like a black trashy. Did Aidyn have his trashy? Noooo he did not.
Julie and Taleah went back to Circular Pool while Aidyn &s; Kim rode back to the caravan. That didn't seem fair but..... Aidyn now owes big time.
GPS: -22.4777579, 118.5506552
Power In The Van
Location: Dales campground, Dales Rd, Karijini WA 6751, Australia
Overnight on the first night here we managed to drop the batteries to 10.8 volts. This created some weird flashing of appliances. Namely the bunk DVD players and the overhead oven lights and and fan as well as a few LED lights.
Not sure why this happens with all the circuit protection built into the various charging equipment. 🤔🤔🤔
Spent the next two days trying to charge up the batteries with the genset. It was having issues running without stopping. Seems to have something effecting fuel flow. A bit of a shake and it runs ok for a while then shuts down. I have to keep it on a slight tilt. At the end of the fuel tank, with guage on almost empty it runs without stopping. Must be some gunk in the tank. 🤔🤔🤔
Ran the genset for 6 hours yesterday an got the voltage up to 14.5 volts before the genset ran our of fuel. Only ran the van fridge overnight and left the Engel off.
Had 12.6 volts showing on the batteries in the morning and the PV is now putting 3.0 amps into the batteries.
We thought we may have run the batteries down too far to recovery. 🙄🙄🙄
I guess we will have to do some more research on all this stuff. Previously we would camp overnight and then travel or stay a a caravan oark with 240v.
GPS: -22.4723833, 118.55078130000001
Family Swim In Fern Pool
Location: Fern Pool, Karijini WA 6751, Australia
Yahoo, we managed to get the whole family into the water. A cosy 19°C which felt a tad warmer on the sunny section.
Stayed in for almost 20 minutes. We must be getting acclimatized.
GPS: -22.478903199999994, 118.5488412
Remtrek Astronomy
Location: Dales Rd, Karijini WA 6751, Australia
We booked into an Astronomy Tour by a guy called Phill Witt.
A great night with clear skies no breeze, a moon not too bright that set before we finished showing even more clarity. 🎆🎇✨🎆🎇✨
Heaps of information from Phill and put it all together rather well for the patrons.
Saw a few satellites and many shooting stars.
As thing go, money well spent. The kids got a little cold in the end, but we are sure the enjoyed it.
GPS: -22.472017499999986, 118.55194140625001
Expenditure:
Fee 100.00 AUD
Kalamina Gorge
Location: Kalamina Gorge, Kalamina Rd, Karijini WA 6751, Australia
Dropped into the visitors centre and sucked up some internet with many others doing the same and made a one night booking for Tom Price on the 15th.
Here we go, here we go. on to the dirt. About 35 kms of dirt to Kalimina Gorge. Rather rough corrugations, so it was a dawdle to get there and back. 🚜🚜🚜
Kalamina Gorge (Class 4) is only about 50 meters deep, so not so difficult to climb up.or down. A fairly flat walk along the bottom of about 2 kilometers before you cannot go any further. 🚫🚫🚫
The kids went swimming at the end and when we got back to the start section. The adults we less inclined.
Some Rainbow Fish seen, a couple of "standard" ducks, a garden variety lizard and one like the TaTa lizard. Many dragon flys, but very little bird life and heard only one frog.
A relatively easy climb back. 😏😏😏
GPS: -22.416678899999997, 118.40300060000001
Knox Gorge
Location: Knox Gorge, Karijini WA 6751, Australia
This was our first Class 5 walk. The climb down was certainly much more tricky and steeper. However, the floor walk was pretty much the same as most of the Class 4 walks.
A much cooler walk as the gorge gets less sun at the timewe were there.
There was a deep pool half way along that you could jump into from a reasonable height. Aidyn was jumping in before we could get a camera ready. Eventually Taleah jumped in as well. Got some good photo sequences and video. 📸📸📹📹
Had lunch and fnished the walk to the end. The end was a very narrow section. Probably 1/10th the width of the gorge itself and disappeared downward to some other gorge unkown. During mass water flows it would be very spectacular on both sides. Have no idea how you could view it though. 🤔🤔🤔
As normal the return is very much quicker than the journey there. The climb up was actually easier than the one down. The one down was more slippery on the loose stuff. Going up was just harder on the ticker. 😓😓😓
GPS: -22.368803999999997, 118.29726029999999
Joffre Gorge
Location: Joffre Gorge, Karijini WA 6751, Australia
By now the temperature was a bit higher. The first part a Class 4 was in the sun and not much to see. The second is a Class 5 and a good climb down to the gorge floor.
You get to walk to the bottom of what would be a major water fall. There was not a lot of water flowing. More like a small trickle.
The other end was into very narrow section of what we were told was a 300 meter swim to the end, and the back we suppose. Water was 16°C. so about normal. 😉😉😉
Except for the climbing not a lot to see.
Headed back to camp for a swim at Fern Pool.
GPS: -22.390638499999998, 118.26858399999999
Fern Pool For Our Daily Wash 😁😁😁
Location: Fern Pool - Dale's Gorge, Dales Rd, Karijini WA 6751, Australia
I think we were still warm from the days activities as it took longer for us the get in today. That is except for Aidyn. He rushed ahead and was already in and swimming about.
We decided to have a rest day tomorrow and do the 6 gorges in one the next day. 😥😥😥
GPS: -22.475627499999995, 118.55201953125001
Karijini Rest Day 😴😴😴
Location: Bungarra 35 site number, Unnamed Road, Karijini WA 6751, Australia
Cleaning day it seems. Julie has kicked everyone out and gave the van a once over. Looks much better for it.
Had the genset going most of the day. Still cannot fathom the finer points of this battery charging. Just cannot get the batteries past 2 out of the 5 bars on solar display panel.
Drawing 4.5 Amps with the fridge an Engel running. The PV is putting in 8 - 10 amps.
Even with the genset running not getting the batteries fully charged. At this stage I have to conclude that the batteries are not holding charge.
We did not use the genset at all yesterday and voltage was around 12 volts only after a day on the air while out. The only thing running were the Engel and fridge (4.5 amps draw).
Charged as many devices and batteries as possible and made more water while on 240v.
Took the drone for a fly over Dale's Gorge. Stayed high so as not to cause any issues and complied with the CASA regs. There is a sign at the start of Forteque Fall saying No Drones. 🚫🚫 I am sure that applies in the gorge only. Took some photos and video.
Finished off with the usual dip in Fern Pool. Got there as the sun was setting and it took a bit gumption to get in this time. had a 10 or so minute refresher and headed back in the dark.
Update on BBC the battery charging. I think it might be the Engel drawing more than the batteries can handle. Suspect the batteries are compromised or something else.
GPS: -22.468787499999998, 118.54999609374997
Mount Bruce - 1235 meters
Location: Mount Bruce Punurrunha, Unnamed Road, Karijini WA 6751, Australia
Great start to the day by leaving 2 of my 3 camera at the van. Only have the mobile. 🤯🤯🤯
This is the second highest mount in WA, it also looks bigger than Ayres Rock. Will have to check.
You can climb to the top (Class 5) but that is not the intention today.
According to my watch we amended only 200 meters. The rest of the climb looked like a climb up a rock face of maybe 50 plus metres then across along the rugged top of the rises up and down to the peak.
It would have been a good day for the climb with a cool constant breeze.
GPS: -22.598818599999998, 118.10127620000002
Tom Price
Location: Tom Price Visitor Centre, 1 Central Rd, Tom Price WA 6751, Australia
After the short trek up Mount Bruce we had lunch back on the car park and then headed for some minor supplies and fuel in Tom Price.
A very tidy looking town. A good amount of greenery possibly due to the water supply from Marandoo Mine being share to the town.
Diesel was $1.729 per litre.
We will be back for a nights stay in the caravan park on the way home.
GPS: -22.6942263, 117.7947909
Expenditure:
Fuel 117.24 AUD
Weano Gorge
Location: Wittenoom WA, Australia, Weano Rd, Karijini WA 6751, Australia
Today has turned cooler with a cloud cover a very little sun. The usual 25°C has be unceremoniously replace with 21°C and a light breeze.
It was a good de as l cooler in the gorges with hardly a sweat being broken.
Us adults are not too enthused about the prospect of getting wet. The kids on the other hand can't wait.
There is a walk along the top of the gorge of 1000 meters before the desent to the Weano Gorge floor. Not a very difficult desent as we recall.
Quiet a bit of vegitation along the water course. It looks like it has been well established for several seasons. We noticed lots of weeds growing. most likely brought in by us tourists.
Got to the half way point much quicker than we thought and headed along the next section to Handrail Pool.
A little tricky due to the possibility of a slip on the wet rock, the hand rail made the descent into the pool easy.
Still very slippery around the pool.
Aidyn couldn't wait the get in, but did take longer than usual. The watch says 14°C making it the coldest so far.
There is a further section after the pool that you can access via a swim or a deep wade. (Chest high). The adults decided that it was too cold this time and sent Aidyn back I to the water and I to the next section for photos. We think he may have spent 20 minutes in the water. Taleah didn't bring her bathers so did not swim.
We headed back to the car park for lunch.
The ascent was steep with steps made from surrounding rocks. Moderatly strenuous climb as they go.
GPS: -22.356942499999995, 118.28410546875004
Hancock Gorge
Location: Hancock Gorge, Weano Rd, Karijini WA 6751, Australia
Now fully recharged with food we headed to Hancock Gorge via two lookouts, Regan Pool and Oxer Pool.
They appear to be closed to the public and used by Cayoning groups. There was a group with helmets and all the gear we could see below.
Right here we go, heading for Hancock Gorge which is probably the most difficult gorge available to the unsupervised public. Maybe on a par with sections of Knox Gorge.
The first section of note requires a knee high wade, or a waist high wade if you lost you way along the shallow line. We swapped to our water boots, Taleah had bare feet and Aidyn stayed in his sneakers as he has been doing for the whole trip.
The next section was the Spider Walk just after the Amphitheater. The Spider Walk was slippery difficult to do unless up high on the rock walls. It was easier to walk through the calf high water. So we did!!
The gorge went for another 50 plus meter as it narrowed the opened up to a rock pool (Kermits Pool) before we are stopped by a warning and a drop. Probably a cool waterfall when there is more water flow.
Aidyn and Taleah went swimming in the pool. There was also a small section in the water flow the kids could get a water slide. Only about 4 meters before friction takes over.
While we were there one of the Cayoning participants came past us. He was moving so fast you could have sworn he had suction cups on his boots.
We spent about 30 minutes exploring and taking photos before heading back. The light was get low now and the sun had set by the time we left the car park.
GPS: -22.358615299999997, 118.2846958
Tom Price For One Night
Location: Tom Price Tourist Park, Nameless Valley Dr, Tom Price WA 6751, Australia
Got going from Dale's Camping Gound a tad after 10:00am and dropped off the 12 days of food scrap waste at the rubbish trailer located at the overflow camp area.
Got to Tom Price just before 11:30am and went to the bakery for lunch. Ended up being a Brumbys.
Stocked up with some fresh stuff at Cole's for the trip home. Aidyn has started eating Glutten Free Kelloggs Corn Flakes again. Might have to get a second job. Wait a sec. Do I have a first job? 🙄🙄🙄
Off to book into the Caravan Park.
A nice cool breeze blowing. A quiet peaceful park. They have a pool. Guess where the kids have gone? 🏊♀️🏊♀️🏊♀️🏊♂️🏊♂️🏊♂️
Julie has gone to sit shot gun over some washing.
I have "Quiet Time" at the moment. 😴😴😴
The temp outside is 29°C and the warmest we have had so far. It might have been warmer earlier but who knows?
Watching the battery charge now we are on 240v to see if we can get a green light for "Fully Charged" on the batteries.
GPS: -22.6969831, 117.76270139999998
Expenditure:
Brumbys for lunch 24.00 AUD
Coles Shopping 120.00 AUD
Early Start Sort Off
Location: Tom Price Tourist Park, Nameless Valley Dr, Tom Price WA 6751, Australia
Ready to go at 8:00am but the kid found the local Galahs and started feeding them. It was worth the delay as the kid loved having the galahs sit on them. GPS: -22.6969831, 117.76270139999998
Nanutarra Roadhouse
Location: Nanutarra Roadhouse, Lot 4 N W Coastal Hwy, Nanutarra WA 6751, Australia
Decided to top up the fuel at Nanutarra Roadhouse even though it is more expensive than any other place.
$1.799 cpl for diesel.
Well 😬😬😬 peak hour at Nanutarra Roadhouse. Ques on everything. Lucky with the fuel, only one van which moved just after we pulled up, but the que to pay took longer than the fuel up. The que for the women's toilet was out the external toilet door and about 15 lasses all waiting in the que. 😖😖😖 Some looked a bit tense.
We bought a standard box of family (large) chips at $9.90 and left. We calculated at over 10 cents per chip.
Too crowded for a quiet lunch in the can so went 10km south to a parking bay. A great bay with a hugh area and fully bitumenised.
GPS: -22.5430156, 115.5007624
Expenditure:
Chips 9.90 AUD
Diesel 114.58 AUD
Gravel Pit Just Out Of Coral Bay
Location: A Gravel Pit West side of the road - Ningaloo WA, Australia, Minilya-Exmouth Rd, Lyndon WA 6701, Australia
After a few options we have decided on the original to stop tonight at a gravel pit just off the road before Coral Bay.
A bit dicey as no camping along this road. Really just pulling over for a break, actually. 😉😉😉
A warm 29°C with a cool breeze from the ocean.
Only one other in the gravel pit, a full size coach fitted out as a home towing an enclosed trailer a vehicle. A Toyota Hilux ute no less.
It only stayed for another 20 minutes. Just enough time to load the Hilux and head towards Exmouth. We guessed he parked the coach did a day trip into Coral Bay wither Hilux.
Heading into Coral tomorrow for a look. 🐋🐬🐟🐠🐡🦈🐙
We have been here a couple of hours now and another two vehicles have pulled in. Still very quiet except for the odd car etc going past. No caravans as yet, just a car and small van of some type. 🚙🚗🚙🚗
Oh, here is another vehicle. We may get a few more yet.
It's now 6:30pm and there are now 10 plus cars and mini van's with us. It sounds like most are foreign travelers. 🇦🇨🇦🇩🇦🇪🇦🇫🇦🇬
One has just parked in front of the car only about 2 meters away. That will be interesting if we move first. 😁😁😁😁
GPS: -23.040977500000004, 113.89145703125004
Coral Bay. 🤗🤗🤗
Location: Coral Bay WA, Australia, 44 Robinson St, Coral Bay WA 6701, Australia
Arrived in Coral Bay and a wee change from the early 80's. The layout at the beach is pretty much the same but the infrastructure has certainly changed. Even has wind turbines.
Very little for day use visits with a caravan. A good the we were early as the 10 - 11 am window is rather busy with those leaving and those arriving. One road in and out with the only turn for a caravan through what looks like the Ningaloo Reef Resort gravel car park.
We managed to get two nights here at the Bayview Caravan Park. Everyone is stoked. Now we just have to front up at 11:00am and get in with the van. It is certainly wall to wall caravans, campers and tents in both parks.
Everthing is within walking distance and bikes are probably the best option. Did not see any bike hire yet.
GPS: -23.142437500000007, 113.77190234374993
Coral Bay Beach For A Dip
Location: Bill's Bay, Coral Bay WA 6701, Australia
Time for a swim. The kids have been ready for a swim since before we even got into the caravan park.
A light breeze and a wonderful sunny day to enjoy. The kids were in the water swimming too soon to calculate. Kim swam half way across the bay.
GPS did not work on the watch so didn't know the distance. 📡📡📡📡📡 ☹☹☹ I saw lots of fish darting left and right as you swim over or past each coral bombie. Saw a couple of nice size Snapper as well. Also, a lot of new Blue, Purple Staghorn Coral clumps growing on the existing clumps as well as in amongst the dead stuff.
Julie went in for a swim with Taleah after I got back. It must have been warmer that she thought as she was in much longer than normal. The Fenix watch said 20°C, so we must have been getting acclimatized to Fern Pool in Karijini.
We adults basked in the sun on the white sand with no red dust, 🤗🤗🤗 for while and until getting warm again.
Kim went for another swim, 🏊♂️🏊♂️🏊♂️🏊♂️ this time all the way across the bay to the first sandy dune after the rock shore area. It turned out to be only 375 meters one way. Ah well, don't want to over do it. 😁😁😁
Julie and Taleah went for a walk along the rocky shore now being exposed by the dropping tide. They saw a Stingray, snapper, Crabs and other sea critters.
Aidyn followed the crowd to the Snapper Feeding and come back adamant that he want to to go on a fishing charter tomorrow to catch big fish. 🐟🐟🐟
GPS: -23.1424321, 113.76921739999999
Five Finger Reef - Beach Day 🐠🐡🐠
Location: Five Fingers Reef, Unnamed Road, Lyndon WA 6701, Australia
The track was soft enough for 21 psi in the tyres. All good now once they we dropped to that.
Met up with Greg &s; Carolyn &s; kids &s; friend for the rest of the day at the beach. For a bit of fishing and snorkeling and......
A great afternoon with the kids trying to do everything at once. Greg caught an octopus which was a hit amongst the kids. Sad news for the icy was that it was going to be for bait. 🐙🐙🐙
Flew the drone around a bit and go some good footage. Aidyn buried himself up to his neck in the beach sand.
The fishing was not very enticing. The standing joke was the fish new where the line was directed the sanctuary and did not cross it.
Used the car's sun shade awning for the first time. It has been attached to the car since we went across Australia, 🙄🙄🙄 and never had the opportunity to be used.
Sighted a Sea Eagle on the way back. Also stopped at the Wind Turbine with the eagle nest built on top. The nest has halted the maintenance on the turbine until the Sea Eagles hatch their eggs. 🦅🦅🦅
There was a Sea Eagle on one of the support cables. Most likely the mate of the one we saw on the way back.
Well, we are all worn out from a day in the sun. Now to start the preliminary pack up for an early start tomorrow.
We hope to do two 600 km days to be home for Friday afternoon.
Might have to come back to Coral Bay some time or other. 😏😏😏
GPS: -23.1797459, 113.7657069
Coral Bay Rage 😡😡😡
Location: Coral Bay WA, Australia, 44 Robinson St, Coral Bay WA 6701, Australia
Some time over night the whole Caravan Park were treated to 5 plus hours of Rage Music from the locals.
Apparently, from the talk around the park it was the backpackers and those working as casuals in Coral Bay holding a Rage in the dunes somewhere away from the town.
Well in the tranquil night of the Coral Bay coast the music traveled quiet easily to us sleepy tourists.
The music steadily got louder until about 5:00am when it stopped and most then got a couple of hours sleep before getting up I would have hated to be in a tent or camper. It was loud enough in a caravan.
Julie got up in the middle of it all and closed all the windows and vents.
We would have love to know who they were and pay them a visit and wake them from their day time stupor.
But really, the powers of Coral Bay should have a word or two.
GPS: -23.142437500000007, 113.77190234374993
BP For Fuel &s; Lunch
Location: BP, 1134 N W Coastal Hwy, Brown Range WA 6701, Australia
Timed it well at the BP. Only had to wait a few short minutes to fuel up.
The JB is longer than the Jayco was and we don't really fit in their parking bays anymore.
Julie still waiting for a toasted ham cheese and tomato for me. Rather slow service we though as they did not seem any busier than usual.
Not complaining about the prices even though they have all increased since last time we where here. Just saying, that for what they charged ($6.50) you would think they would be able to make a proper toasted sandwich.
The bread was toasted, but not buttered. The ham and cheese were cold. It was like eating a cheese sandwich with crispy bread. Must see if they have a comments page.
Finished lunch in the caravan and bolted for the tarmac.
Hopi g to make Galena Bridge for the night.
GPS: -24.8623777, 113.71282629999999
Expenditure:
Food 20.20 AUD
Last Night Away - Galena Bridge Stop
Location: Galena Bridge Camp Area, LOT 69 N W Coastal Hwy, Ajana WA 6532, Australia
Drove past Nerren Nerren 24 hour stop. Lots of travelers in there for the night. Decided to continue on to Galena Bridge. Kms you can do now we won't have to do tomorrow and we will easily get home in daylight.
As expected, there are lots here at Galena Bridge as well. Last time we stopped here we pulled in the dark with no moon. It is much easier to see in the daylight this time.
We found a spot in amongst the rocks and holes near a small tree at the back. Not ideal for foot traffic but late comers don't get the prime spots here.
Had a small fire for the kids. It is nice to sit around a fire. The temp is probably around 18°C at 7:00pm. So, it's a nice evening with the moon rising ever so slowly behind us.
GPS: -27.8278185, 114.689514
Lunch & Sustenance
Location: Badgingarra Roadhouse, 2 Meagher Dr, Badgingarra WA 6521, Australia
It was under 2°C this morning at Gelena Bridge. Amazingly we were on the road by 8:00am and heading for home.
Bypassed Geraldton for fuel and put 60 litres in at the S-Bend. A couple of cpl dearer but easier access than most in Geraldton. Must remember to use the Peak on the north side of Gerladton.
The toasted sangers where real ones this time. 😁😁😁
Whoa, hold the phone. ☎️☎️☎️ Another JB Caravan, and a Dirt Roader as well. And look being towed by a 200 series. Not white though.
We met the owners and had a yarn for about 20 minutes as you do. It seems we have seen more JB Caravans this trip than we saw during the whole of the trip half way around Oz last year.
GPS: -30.392811499999997, 115.49984389999999
And Home We Are 🤪🤪🤪
Location: 17 Maple Pl, Maddington WA 6109, Australia
Here we are again at the point end of the trip. We begin with unloading all the stuff and so it begins. The Clean Up.
On another note. We counted 6 dead foxes on the side of the road since getting onto the coast road from the Paraburdo road. What gives, you are lucky to see even one normally. 🦊🦊🦊
I must do something about the snails that keep visiting our letterbox. They love eating the mail. 🐌🐌🐌🐌
Ah and so it is back to the routine of home life. 🤔🤔🤔
GPS: -32.0599859, 116.00502139999999
Denmark