Hot night and very windy at times. The caretaker came round talking about payment, but as we had already picked up an envelope to put in the honesty box he didn't need us to pay him, as we explained we didn't know how long we were staying. Left sight at 9am to go to Geraldton for the day, said our goodbyes to the Brit couple Al and Leslie. Had a good shopping trip in dollar shops "Crazy Clarks" and "Red Dot", then Woolworths, because we spent over $50 got 8cents per litre off fuel, which was great. Treated ourselves to lunch out I had a chicken and pineapple burger whilst Colin had beef, bacon, cheese and onion burger, they were delicious and very filling. Drove to BCF and found a black stoarage box for $6.50 and it fits into the roof rack. Did find a good metal box in Bunings but just slightly too big. Arrived back at camp at 2.30pm, it has been a very hot day with no breeze. Now got to find storage for everything. Joined Al and DD for tea and chat, weather has got very sticky, great company, they gave Colin a bottle of beer from New Norcia Monastery to try, it was7% and even I liked it. Good sunset and watched moon come up.
8th April Sunday
Rose's birthday, No wind sun coming out nicely. Al popped round and asked us to dinner tonight. Had a lovely day sitting in the sunshine, walking on the beach, colin rang Peter who is at Bear Gully for Easter with the family. Had a swim in the warm ocean then showered before going to Al and DD's, we had corned beef, mashed spuds and veggies followed by bread and butter pudding, compliments to the chef. It was great end to the day.
9th April Monday
slow start to the day, Rose had trouble sleeping and turning over in bed hurt, she has a touch of sciatica. DD walked over and invited us to a BBQ that night, we'll take our pork chops we were due to eat Sunday. Finally had breakfast and Colin was typing up journal when a fellow camper stopped to chat, he had been at Port Parham at the time we were their (looks like we are starting to see more people again as we all head north for the winter) turns out he knows about LRovers as he used to work on them. Managed to walk to gazebo just to check Emails and waiting for a quote about shipping LRover home. We were going to do so much today, ah manyana. it seems hotter today, breeze not till afternoon. Colin checked underneath vehicle and all seems ok. After a swim and shower walked along to Al and DD's for BBQ, another good night, talked just flowed. DD gave us her card and a painting she had done of a colourful blue wren, it is lovely. Will miss them, but never know might meet on the road.
10th April Tuesday
Leaving site today, forecast 38degs. Left site 9.30 after saying our byes to Al and DD, sad to go. Onto Hway to Northampton,
went into visitor centre found lady behind counter to be from Ontario Canada, she let us fill up with water from behind the office. we then went to local Newsagent for internet to upload journal and photos, only charged $4 for nearly an hour. Did a bit of shopping before heading out to the Principality of Hutt River. http://www.hutt-river-province.com/
Once left Hway land became very desolate with brown wheatfields. Stopped at the border to take photos,
arrived at the principality to be greeted by his Royal Highness Prince Leonard, he gave us a leaflet about how the Principality came about and stamped our passports for $2 each. Paid for 1 nights camping. Sat in camp kitchen with 2 French guys camping in a van. Had a walk up to the museum/souvenier shop,
and got shown around by Princess Shirley. It was fascinating, they ran rings round the Austalian government at the time of cessation. Well worth a visit. On this site we have met up with a couple for the third time(Parham, Coronation now hear) Bob and Sarah. Spent couple of hours sat chatting with them before cooking dinner in the dark then bed. Slept in LRover.
11th April Wednesday
Up early, lovely start sunny with bits of a breeze. Sold our 20ltrs of petrol to the French lads for $20, glad it's gone. Left site just after 9am to Kalbari. Back on dirt road but reasonably good surface for 30kms then onto the bitumen. Already 30degs in car at 10am when we stopped at Eagle Gorge, fabulous scenery and saw a boat going really fast through the surf.
drove onto Red Bluff where you can see back along the coast
and the amazing cliffs and toward Kalbari
where we stopped for lunch. had a paddle in the sea,
lovely to cool down as reached 38degs today, walked to the war memorial and decided too hot to look at anything else so drove from kalbari back to Hway. Very desolate landscape. Stopped at free camp at Galina Bridge for the night, lovely site by Murchinsan River.
Very slight breeze. Sat having cup of tea when 2 caravans pulled in who had been at Coronation Beach. Will sleep in LRover again as it's too hot to keep putting tent up and down. Then a camper trailer came in with a young couple and they had seen us at Coronation as well. Talking with fellow campers and everone is having troubles with their batteries and paying horrendous prices for new ones. After dark we noticed fridge not running all the time. Is it the solar panel, battery or fridge? Heard today Melbourne has snow.
12th April Thursday
Up early, looks like solar panel is charging ok, might be problem with battery. Finally battery started working ok so will just watch it for now. Got a name of a reasonable battery supplier from a fellow camper. left site after 9am heading to Hamelin. It is a bit cooler today, a few Road Trains about, Colin got a "cheers cobber" for pulling over to let one through. stopped at Billabong Roadhouse for tea and sausage roll, nice treat, as were finishing Bob and Sarah came in, they were filling up with fuel and were telling us they visited the gorges at Kalbari and temp hit 50degs. We told them about Galina Bridge and how nice it was and we were going onto Hamelin Homestead for a couple of nights. They followed us in, we were shown round before booking in, the facilities are the best yet with a professional kitchen. Paid $20 p.n. instead of $24 as i'd seen it on internet for $20. Put tent up then tea on patio before sorting out rest of camp. Colin found an ants nest in LRover so took everthing out and cleaned it all. Had happy hour in patio area before cooking dinner, along with all the other campers, a group of young Americans, and various Ozzies. Very good evening, late to bed for us, after 9.30pm.
13th April Friday
FRIDAY FACT;- STROMATALITES ARE AMONG THE OLDEST LIVING ORGANISMS ON THE PLANET
Fantastic nights sleep, much cooler this morning, heard the Americans this morning at 6am slamming doors. Very leisurely start to the day, finally drove out of camp approx 11am to visit the Stromatalites,
they are colonies of living organisms that resemble the oldest and simplest life forms. The ones we visited are relatively new colonies being approximately 3,000 yrs old, they grow at Hamelin Pool due to the high salinity of the water, they grow at the rate of 1cm every 10yrs. Driving on the road to Shell Beach we are in Shark Bay Wolrd Heritage Site. Shell Beach is made up of millions of small white Coquina Shells,
in some spots theshells are 10mtrs deep. It was very crunchy walking to the sea and we waded about 300mtrs out and only go up to our thighs, as it is so salty we had a lovely time just floating in the sea, it is quite fascinating. On the road back we stopped at a sign for Useless Loop
(it is a road that goes nowhere). Back at camp joined everyone on the veranda, we have a few new campers, Bob and Sarah have spent the day chilling and have invited us to eat with them tonight. Did all the washing. We had roast lamb for dinner and we provided to dessert of fruit and custard(from a tin) lovely meal with good company. Magaret and Owen (managers) went to bed early and left last campers to turn off lights. Bed about 9.30pm.
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