Wave Rock

WAVE ROCK     21st/22nd February

Surfing The Wave

It was time for a change from the blue sea waves so we headed inland to Hyden to ride the Wave Rock! We just so happened to get a heat wave as well!!


We didn't arrive at the Wave Rock C.P. till close to 2pm, we opened the doors of the car and were hit by a heat wave, sorry about the pun!
It was close to 40 c and we had to set up the camper in this heat, what an effort. What made it worse was the flies, they didn't give in till it was night time.


Thankfully there was a pool at this C.P. because I don't think we would have stayed for the two nights otherwise. We spent both afternoons from 2-6pm at or in the pool.The nights were lucky to get just below 30 c if that. Our thermometer on the car fridge read 45 c on the second day,ouch! The lady in the office said it was unexpected weather.

One our second day we were up by 6am and out doing the walks by 7am. We did all the walks in the area and were back in the pool by 10am. Our walk took in the amazing rock formations; one which is called the Hippo's Yawn (see photo) and we walked past Lake Magic.



Hippo's Yawn



 We got a surprise when we walked on top of the wave rock and saw the man made dam full of water. The farmers of the area realised that the rock surface was a great water catchment area so they built a small rock wall around the top of the rock as a way to guide the water to a catchment area that they dammed up, clever thinking. This is now one of the towns main water reservoirs. When you are driving around the area you can see they have done this to other rock formations.



The man made dam on top of the rack




the stone wall to guide the water



After lunch we jumped in the car ( air conditioning) and had a little tour around Hyden and then went out to look at the Mulka Cave. A cave that had a few aboriginal hand drawings in it. On our way back to the C.P. we stopped by Lake Magic to have a swim in this awesome pool which had been and still is in the process of being built just beside the actual lake itself. Magic Lake/ Pool is water that has a very high percentage of salt in it, and with this you float exceptionally well. It is the funniest feeling not being able to stay vertical in water. The boys thought it was awesome.



 

pool at Lake Magic



Pete and boys floating in the salt pool



We didn't realise but this rock formation wasn't a really well known tourist destination till 1963 when a photographer entered a picture of it in a competition, which he won, then everyone wanted to know where it was.
It was a great place to see but boy it was hot!




Tom and Charlie on the wave




part of the rock in the morning sun



Stokes N.P

Stokes N.P 18th/ 20th February

We have had an interesting time at Stokes N.P. We camped at Fanny Cove where we had a 20 metre walk to the beach and rocks to have a fish, hard to take. The only bad thing about the beach is there is a fair
bit of seaweed on the beach and at times it can be very smelly.




Looking to the right of Fanny Cove
from the same spot on the rocks



Standing on the rocks at Fanny Cove
 looking back to the left and entry to
beach, Pete fishing.



We were told a saying by one of the local fishermen " step on the black and you're on your back", meaning stay off the black slippery bits of the rock or else!  Well Pete did exactly that, he got up early the first morning to have a fish off the rocks and the next thing he knew he was on his bum sitting in a puddle, he said it happened so quick he didn't know what he'd done. He grazed his arm and has hurt his wrist which was healing from a previous injury. That same day we set off to do some exploring. We had a look at Stokes Inlet and a walk around some ruins that once used to be an old homestead and thriving business. These ruins were built by the Moir brothers who had the lease from 1873 -1951, they built the buildings from everything around them. They opened up a road that ran from Fanny Cove up past their home and into the gold fields inland of them. With the road running past they opened up a local blacksmith shop and general store that serviced those back and forwards. One brother, John Moir lived here with his wife and 8 kids, but unfortunately he was killed in 1977 by natives. John's family stayed on and kept the property going.




The ruins of the blacksmith shop




The main home is on the left the other building was extra
living quarters for guests or workers. We don't know what sort
of tree it is in the middle, either a wild fig or frangapanie,
it wasn't here when the family lived here.




The main bore  which was about 500 meters
 from the home.



inside the well, all stone lined

While looking around at this interesting site Charlie managed to get himself stung by a bee, in his ear of all places. There were signs up about the bees and they were quite obvious but we walked into a room in the house that was full of them and poor Charlie copped it. Nothing some Nurofen and a cold can of beer didn't fix! Well at least we now know Charlie isn't allergic to bees!

After that we set off to look at the other side of Stokes Inlet. When we got there we had Tom in pain with cramps in is stomach. We were trying to work out what we had eaten or was he coming down with a bug of some sorts??? I gave him some Nurofen made us all something to eat and waited to see what would happen. Then Tom decided he needed to go to the toilet for a number 2 and that fixed everything! All this by 11 in the morning, that was our three things so we were right for the rest of the day.

After lunch we drove to a lovely spot only 7km's from camp called Shoal Cape. We did some snorkeling in the lagoon area and spotted a few different  fish. Then we went rock hoping on some very sharp rocks, you definitely needed your thongs on, one slip on those rocks and you have cut yourself quite badly.




Shoal Cape where we snorkeled




The stairs to get down to Shoal Cape and the rocks to the right
where we explored.





Our last night at Stokes N.P wasn't the best. The wind had stopped blowing during the night and we woke up around 3am to the most disgusting smell of rotting seaweed all around us, YUK! We didn't really sleep after that and it was very hard to stomache breakfast in the morning. That smell didn't escape us till we had put the beach way behind us and moved on. Not the best way to end a lovely camping spot.





Cape Arid N.P.

Beach Camping In Beautiful Cape Arid  14th-16th February

After exploring Cape Le Grand and seeing how busy it was but how lovely the beaches were we decided to head further away and do our own beach camping. After some advice as to where to go from the local bait and tackle shop man, and where we acquired our tide chart, we set off 100km's East to Cape Arid to find a spot along the beach to camp. It is a very weird feeling at the best of times driving to an unknown destination but I do get a bit anxious when we go to a N.P and start driving up a beach towing the camper behind, not knowing the sand condition or if we will be able to get off the beach at the end by driving over the rocky points! But in saying that it is also very exhilarating when you do find such special and uninterrupted places like the beaches in this N.P.

driving along the beach to find a camp spot




our camp on the beach



 

 





looking back at the beach we camped at with
Mt Arid in the background



 We set up and had the beach to ourselves for two days.
 After we had set up and we were sitting having some lunch Tom said "I have never heard it so quiet", ha.
Over the next two days we went for a few drives to do some exploring around at other beach coves and found the most peaceful, crystal clear and calm beach. We stayed for a fish and swim. Pete caught his first fish here, not big, but it was a fish! Later that day around at another beach Tom caught a slightly bigger fish and we all decided that this would be our first fish to cook and eat, it was delishes, I just had to remember how to fillet them!

 





tyring their luck again at this wonderful spot



  

Tom and Charlie enjoying this beautiful beach



Pete's small first catch of whiting



The type of things Tom and Charlie got up to at camp.

One of the drives we stumbled on a little area tucked right into the East side of Cape Arid point where there were a couple of old caravans and a hut built of sheet iron. We drove in thinking it was a way over another point but it was a dead end. We were backing out when an eldery man came out of one of the vans and was in for a chat. He was the caretaker of this area and lived here all summer. He showed us inside the hut and to our surprise there was the greenest grass, a great bbq area all paved with granite stone found in the area and a rather large and very well kept vegie patch with an abundance of tomatoes and  capsicums fruiting at the moment; he very generously gave us some tomatoes and a capsicum. The people who own the vans and hut are fisherman one is a  cray fisherman and they just come down whenever they can, so the older gentleman just watches over their stuff and soaks up the solitude. In winter you cannot drive the main beach to get around to this area so he goes back to his farm in Gibson, just out of Esperance.





The dark sky as we left the beach

 The morning we left the beach we were witness to the most spectacular lightning show out over the water and in front across the land we were heading to. We just got off with plans to head inland and camp at Mt Ragged and do the walk but while we were airing up our tyres a parks ranger stopped and we had a chat regarding the weather. Apparently the whole area was on fire alert, he said we could go to Mt Ragged but if we saw smoke to get out or if it rained to get out cause you can apparently get bogged in there for days! Well our decision was made for us because as soon as we started driving off it absolutely poored with rain.

We went back to Esperance to stay in the C.P and the next morning we got up and drove out to Mt Ragged

with just the car.

What a climb, it took us 1 1/2 hours to walk to the top and only 30 minutes to walk down. An awesome view of the land around and of the road we drove to get in, we could also see the coast line.



view from the top of Mt Ragged




you can see how high we were up by the size of Vector




Mt Ragged, we climbed the highest peak on the left



    

ESPERANCE



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Looking over Esperance



Looking to the West of Esperance







The top photo Charlie is pointing at Charlie Island.







Esperance and the Cape Le Grand National Park

 





Esperance is known as the gateway to the West Coast and we have seen why. There are so many stunning bays with beaches that have crystal clear water. Out to sea the coast line is scattered with the Archipelago of the Recherche, which is 100's of islands.





Looking towards Twilight Beach on our bike ride



Swimming at Twilight Beach



One of the our favourite spots is Twilight Beach. It is home to the local  Surf  Life Saving club and you can see why when you see the beach. Twilight Beach itself is about 7km's west out of Esperance along a very pretty coast esplande that is host to other beautiful beaches; some better for surfing, fishing or just taking the dog for a run. We drove out to this glorious beach the first time and noticed a bike trail that wound its way through, up and over the dunes, the next day we rode it. It was no easy ride with very steep hills, up and down, but definately a wonderful experience Tom stacked going down the first hill but soldiered on to complete the ride safely.



The boys cooling down at Twilight beach on our ride


The Esperance peir, called Tanker Jetty is a must see if you dont mind a long walk and getting wind blown;it is quite unique with a curve in it. The waters around here are home to many sea lions , one in particular who hangs around the area where the fishermen clean their fish on the peir.



Sea Lion at Tanker Jetty





Tanker Jetty



 




We went for a day drive out to Cape Le Grand N.P and took Vector,( our car) for its first beach drive. The N.P has a few very popular places for people to come and camp, well I should say bring their caravans, motor homes and tents to stay in because it is only 50km's by road out of Esperance. The park ranger said that you have to be in by 9am to grab a site as people move out. There are some lovely bays to look at and have a swim, unfortunatley it wasn't warm enough for us to have a swim.

The boys standing on seaweed at Rossiter Bay

At Rossiter Bay, we had lunch and did some exploring around the rocks looking at birds which we thought were penguins but were only Blak Faced Cormorants. As we travel we are learning what the birds are with our bird book, very interesting. We have also seen many Pacific Gulls and Pied Oystercatchers around this area. The seaweed is very interesting here, not only is it like shredded paper it is stacked up quite high in places and unfortunately stinks like rotten eggs! We drove up the beach for a look and in search of some sand dunes to have a play in. The sand is so fine and white, it is almost like walking on corn flour and at times it sqweaks underfoot, cool, really!



Charlie sand dune jumping





Sue's jump





Tom's high jump





At Lucky Bay we drove around the beach to a look out then did a short walk to some lovely memorial plaques about Captain Matthew Filnders and their landing here in 1802. On this beach we were very surprised to see a family of kangaroos eating a dead penguin, you would of thought it would be way to salty but they were having a good feed!

Lucky Bay

A quick look at Hellfire beach, which was my favourite, peaceful and pretty, then around to Cape Le Grand beach and camping  area. From here we went back to Esperance via the beach, it was only 23km's and a much nicer drive. 



Tom and Charlie at Hellfire Beach





Driving back to Esperance on Cape Le Grand Beach



















We Made it to Western Australia



The start of the Nullarbor in S.A



Wednesday 8th Feb; we started the long drive across the Nullarbor stopping for a look at The Great Australian Bite, AWESOME! We made it to the W.A. Border, stopping to hand over our honey, which the lady told us when we crossed into S.A. that as well as fruit/ vegies W.A don't like you to bring in honey and walnuts?  We pulled in for our photo of crossing the border then drove a few km's down the road to stay the night at Eucla thinking the day was getting on, again we forgot about the time difference, we had actually gained another 2 hours. Once set up we had our tea which by W.A. time was 4.30pm, it is going to take the body a bit of getting used to! W.A. doesn't have daylight saving either.



The Great Australian Bite





Yeh, we made it to the border!



Thursday 9th Feb; We were awake and up at 5.30am, because it is daylight then, we were packed and ready to go by 7am. Bbefore we left Eucla we took a little look around visiting the ruins of the Old Telegraph Station then we headed off to finish the drive across the Nullarbor. We had gone 130 km down the road before we stopped for a quick break when I then realised I had left my very comfortable thongs sitting on the sand back at the Telegraph Station, I was not impressed with myself ! We finished the drive across the Nullarbor, including the 'longest straight stretch of road in Australia', which is 146.6km long and stayed the night in Norseman.



The old telegragh station at Eucla.



Sunset at Eucla





Friday 10th Feb; Today we were very excited because for Pete and I it was the first time we were going to be driving south down to Esperance. After a visit to the Norseman Information centre, where Tom and Charlie received a certificate for crossing the Nullarbor, we had a bit of a look around the small township. Norseman still survives on its mining of Gold and other minerals and the town ship is surrounded by quite a few salt lakes and very arid land. Turning south out of town we headed on down to Esperance. Our first impression was it is a windy place right on the coast! This is not all true, the wind seems to pick up mid afternoon and does die down by night time. After we had set up we jumped on the bikes to explore this beautiful coastal spot. The wind didn't allow us to go far, for the ride along the esplanade even though lovely looking at the blue water, was ruined by the sand blasting we were getting off the beach, We were excited  for tomorrow to come so as we could go exploring and swim in these pristine waters, hopefully with less wind! 

We are on the way!

Well, we have finally started our trip, it did take us a while to make that move but we were waiting on parts for the car that we felt important to take.

Saturday 4th February; we said our last sad and excited good-byes to  mum,dad, Stella and Sam ( our dogs) and headed off mid afternoon up to Tony and Cate's to drop off Pete's van and say good-bye to them before we headed to our friends house in Ballarat for our first night. Yes we know it wasn't far for the first night but it was just perfect for us.



One of the dust storms on the way to Ouyen



Sunday 5th Feb; we said farewell to the Long family and we were off by ourselves for good to start our trip. We made it across the S.A border to Paringa, (just before Renmark)for our first night of many in our camper.  As per usual when we do this this drive we had a head wind but this time just to make it memorable we had dust storms as well.  



Our view from our seats at camp at Streaky Bay



Monday 6th Feb; Pushed on to one of our favorite spots, Streaky Bay on the Eyre Penninsula. We love this spot right on the beach and being that time is all ours we stayed 2 nights just to stop and gather our thoughts and make sure we were ready to push on across the Nullarbor. Tom and Charlie started their school work and you can see by the photo their classroom was hard to deal with!!! Tom also tried fishing for the first time with his own rod and actually caught a fish off the pier, not for eating, too small, but that wasn't the point for we are not fishermen at all so we are all in for a learning experience.



Tom and Charlie's classroom at Streaky Bay