SANDY CAPE. Sunday, 21st JUNE.
Like so many others worldwide, we had our travel plans disrupted a few months ago by a nasty little virus, but due to lockdowns, self isolation and social distancing etc. we have remained safe and well so that now that all regions of our state are open to travellers, we have escaped the wintry weather and are heading north in search of warmer weather. As not all state borders are open, we can't travel yet to the east as was originally planned but are looking forward to spending time in the north of W.A.
Though we left home in bright sunshine this morning, the temperature was just 13 degrees owing to a cool breeze blowing but it had managed to reach 15 by the time we'd run out of freeway and turned onto the Indian Ocean Drive. We stopped in a rest area and boiled the billy for elevenses and back on the road shortly after, were forced to slow down as one of a group of about twenty motor cyclists had obviously been injured in an accident and was lying on the side of the road. We didn't stop as four or five of his friends were tending to him and two others were directing each way traffic....they didn't need us getting in their way.
On reaching Jurien Bay we stopped for fuel and just 12kms further on, we turned off onto the road to the Sandy Cape Recreation area. It was bitumen most of the way, just the last km being gravel. We chose our site, parked up and sat in the sunshine (now 25 degrees), went walking along the beach before watching the sun sink slowly over the horizon.
Although signs on the beach clearly state that vehicles are prohibited on the beach, some 4WDrivers apparently can't read!
LINGA LONGA FARM STAY, LYNTON STATION
Monday, 22nd June.
Pink clouds this morning promised another sunny day but unfortunately didn't deliver.
The sun made a brief appearance, then hid for most of the day.
Shortly after leaving the camp, we were back on the much maligned Indian Ocean Drive....a road we have travelled several times and found to be a good road, so can only conclude that accidents that have occurred were caused by people and were not due to any fault in the road.
We bypassed Green Head and Leeman as we've visited both a couple of times and nearing Dongara, were lured by signs advertising the Starfish Cafe on South Beach and decided to call in for coffee.
Alas, the cafe is only open from Thursday to Sunday so we took a photo of it, and the beach
and continued on, hoping to find another, which we did but it was close to town and nowhere to park with the caravan.
We continued on to Geraldton, did a drive through the town which has grown considerably since our last visit, stopped at Bunnings (our second home) to exchange our gas bottle and refuelled the car a little further on before heading towards Northampton, stopping at a rest area a few kms south for 'smoko' in the caravan.
Turning off the NW Coastal Highway at Northampton, we drove through picturesque farmlands
to the farm stay, which is on the Lynton Heritage Site just out of Gregory, and booked in for two nights.
Our new dunny, yet to be installed!
Not long after we arrived, the rain came bucketing down accompanied by strong wind which rocked the caravan....I was about to leave the old barn where I'd been exploring the vast collection of relics housed there and was forced to hang around till it eased enough for me to get back to the van without getting drenched.
It was too wet to barbecue as planned and too wild and windy to put the awning out so we microwaved a couple of home made dinners from the freezer. As we encountered strong headwinds on the drive today, we're having a day off tomorrow and will explore here and in Port Gregory, where we hope to find wifi.
LINGA LONGA
Tuesday, 23rd June.
Today was an easy day, sunny with a cool breeze early becoming warm in the afternoon. In the morning we drove the 5kms into Port Gregory for a look-see,
stopped at the Pink Lake and were glad it wasn't a busy day there, about a dozen vehicles in the car park and not much room for any more.
Back at Lynton Station, we explored the Convict Hiring Depot buildings which were built in the 1850s by the convicts and have been partly restored in recent years.
Lynton Homestead was also built in the 1850s and was positioned so that from the verandah, whales could be seen as they swam by the mouth of the Hutt River.
A limestone cottage, a mill and large stables also built by convicts, were nearby.
We lunched in the sunshine, had to move into the shade when it became too warm and spent a few pleasant hours reading until dinner time. A splendid day.
KALBARRI
Wednesday, 24th June.
It was overcast this morning and there was a light shower but by the time we set off for the 60 or so km drive to Kalbarri, the sun was shining brightly and we had changed out of long 'uns into shorts. We caught glimpses of the lake as we drove along and it seemed to be quite a lot pinker that it was yesterday but unfortunately we weren't able to pull over to have a closer look. After we'd booked into the caravan park in Kalbarri, we decided that as it was such a lovely day and who knows what the weather will be tomorrow, we should go out to the National Park to see the recently opened Skywalk and other attractions in the park. The ranger at the entrance of the park told Mike that on one morning last week, 400 cars had visited the park but luckily for us, there were nowhere near that many there today. We went to the Skywalk first, a magnificent world class structure jutting out over the gorge, affording stunning views of the Murchison River and gorge
then on to the 'Natures Window'
Nature's Window Walk
and lastly to the 'Z Bend'.
Another splendid day, a few aching muscles but well worth the effort.
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