Cape Range National Park

28th April Saturday

7am 20degs, heard the crabs scrabbling across the groundsheet during the night. Watched the sun come up through the back window of the tent, stunning. Had banana pancakes for breakfast and eventually got our stuff together food, drink etc and walked over the rocks towards the other bay,

the sand is very soft and makes it hard going to walk on. First place we stopped water is a bit cold with a strong current so backtracked 50mtrs where water a lot warmer and calmer. Could see lots of small fish, and small bits of coral washed ashore from the reef.

we saw an oilrig being towed along the horizon.

After lunch of crisps and cake (very healthy) stolled back to camp. Colin spotted 2 turtles in the water- again too slow with camera. The rocks are very similar to those at Quobba

and have some small blowholes.

 Got talking to the young couple Gerrard and Jody with the Disco and Oztent, he is a real LRover enthusiast with a Defender and Range Rover in the back yard. They have travelled Oz in the Defender for 8mnths approx. This is just a few week trip with their young daughter Saskia 21mnths old. Finish the evening off with a final swim before dinner then bed.

29th April Sunday

Another sunny start to the day, very slow today. Gerrard came over to talk about LRovers with Colin, they are moving off today. Rose took saskia back to Jody who was clearing up the tent and had a nice chat, she is a very young looking 40. Gerrard has given Colin addresses of firms that might be able to supply the parts he needs after they had gone Ken came over for a chat, saying they had people comming in at 9.30pm having taken over an hour to drive 36k due to the amount of kangaroos on the road. It seems that a lot of people dont know about the online booking. Mainly just sorting clothes, food and just messing today. Spent happy hour next door with Vincent and Moira, they have a Disco 4 and a Kimberly Karavan,

whichis an off road van, the top half slides down for travelling.

30th April Monday

Windy morning, Colin took solar radio apart as not working, but it's all PC boards so it's still not working so threw it! (lighten the load and more space). Decided to stay another night as the boat trip we had planned for today to Yardie Creek does'nt run on Monday's. Colin gone fishing and got 2 Golden Trevally on the line, but they both snapped the line near the shore, still no fish to eat. we both went fishing later but to no avail, still we saw a turtle and a white fish jumping. after a swim we just sat on the rocks watching the sea. Very peaceful. After dinner we sat outside with the binoculars looking at the stars, the space station and the moon, you can see the craters on the moon

so clearly.

!st may Tuesday

Very windy night at times. Hot and sunny. Left site at 10am and drove to Yardie Creek, 10k south to go on cruise to the Yardie Gorge, 11am boat full so went for a swim to cool down then had an early lunch at the picnic area in the shade. Only 6 of us on the 12.30 cruise, the guide was born and brought up in the area so he knows the gorge well. It is made of limestone and the red colouring comes from the minerals washed through the rock.

The gorge is cut off from the sea unless there's a lot of rainfall or a large tide, the fish in the creek stay there until the sandbank is breached. The gorge is 1 of only 3 places in Oz to have the Black Footed Rock Wallaby's,

which is managing to breed successfully under the protection of World Heritage status. They are not very big and blend in very well with the rocks. we saw rock figs with their roots (ponytails) dangling over the rock face,

getting any moisture from the morning and evening air. There is an Osprey nest that was first recorded in 1890 by a guy named Carter it is still being used.

On the return we saw a family of Euro Kangaroos

(smaller than normal) in the rocks. it cost us $50 but was well worth it. Back at camp went for our last swim here, it's 4pm and still 34degs. After a disasterous dinner of pasta in a garlic sauce with chilli, we started to pack away some of the tent. Spentrest of evening going through photos.

2nd May Wednesday

Condensation on tent this morning. Didn't leave quite as early as hoped, had to say goodbyes especially to Ken and Margaret,as they have given us a lot of info on Karajini Nat Pk. Finally got on the move at 9am, alread 30degs. Went to Exmouth Visitor Centre and looked at caravan parks then decided to go to the Big 4 just 50mtrs away $33. Set up tent and went to library to catch up with blog then to shops to fill up with fresh food. Back to camp to find our neighbours we met in Victoria Rock camp, she was driving The Holland Rd Track with a friend. Also saw another couple from the National Pk. Put laundry in then went for a swim, fantastic to cool down, Then back to sit in the shade(please dont feel sorry for us) 5pm 36degs. Exmouth itself was founded in 1967 as a support town to the Harold E Holt Naval Communications Station, that employment is now supported by fishing and tourism. The Kalli fishery is situated south of the town and is farmed for it's prawns. Used camp kitchen for dinner and sat around chatting, Colin has a new friend, Madelaine (3 years old). Nice evening, 8pm 24degs.

3rd May Thursday

Heat cooled off a lot in the night, Sat having tea when got phone call from Dee, they are leaving Ningaloo today and coming up to Exmouth, so decided to stay one more night to meet up again. Bit of a breeze today, which is great. Drove into town and filled up with fuel and water (diesel $1.84) and treated ourselves to coffee and lamingtons. Back at camp sat and chatted before having a lovely swim in the pool then walking along to Al and Dee's, they said Ningaloo Homestead was fantastic but the road in was atrocious 30k took 5 hours. They are off whale shark watching tomorrow and snorkelling. Said yet another goodbye to them and Dee gave us another fruit cake (yummy). Back at camp sat and chatted with Chris, her son Shane his wife Simone and Madelaine.

4th May Friday

FRIDAY FACT;- EXMOUTH TOWN IS THE NEAREST TOWN TO THE CONTINENTAL SHELF.

7am 20degs, a light night with a near full moon. On the road today at 10am, heading south past the Kallis Fishery and the Big Prawn.

Turned off onto The Burkett Rd which links to the North West Coastal HWay. Lots of ant hills

 and nothing else. There is a bit of a breeze away from Exmouth which is good, 11,30 and only 32degs in the vehicle. Past Giralia Station the earth has changed to a rusty red colour

and landscape more barren than we have seen before. Very bleak.

Decided to stop just after 1pm at Barradale Rest Area for the night, there shade here from the trees and they have toilets. We are not the first to stop, already 2 caravans here and more came in later. Had curry and rice for dinner which was very tasty. Still windy so hopefully wont be too hot sleeping in the LRover tonight. Plenty of ants.