Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Up at 4.45am to run to the campsite showers before anybody caught us. We then devoured a healthy breakfast of biscuits and then went for a walk around 'Lake' Thetus, which actually looked more like a pond. Saw a fair few bull ants and an utterly ridiculous bees' nest which we sidestepped past thankfully without a sting.
Heading further north we stopped in Jurien Bay to get petrol, and after a relatively more substantial but no less healthy breakfast of a croissant filled with ham and cheese, we set off again. Feeling full and content I became rather lethargic so got into the passenger seat and promtly fell asleep.
We arrived in Geraldton (the second largest city in WA) which consisted of a few rows of shops/cafés etc and our first glimpse of the beautiful turquoise water with which we would soon become accustomed. After a nice coffee we set off again and just after Northampton we came across Hutt Lagoon - a pink lake and a very surreal sight. Somewhat confusing as there is a more reknowned pink lake in WA called Lake Hillier in Esperance... which we were clearly nowhere near. Having the internal navigational system of a plate I panicked thinking that we had seriously taken a wrong turning somewhere and ended up down south, but these delusions were quickly refuted by the welcome sight of a roadsign pointing in the right direction.
We made it to Kalbarri National Park, and encountered our first hike consisting of a dangerous clifftop and 10km path (if you can call it that). We realised quickly that the Aussies care not for safety... Further along the national park we came across a lookout called Eagle Gorge, but saw a sign saying beach access. So naturally we timidly clambered down this cliffside and onto a secluded and humanless beach. First thing I see? ROCKPOOLS! The child in me got me running over to the rockpools searching for signs of wildlife, and much to my approval the rockpools delivered. Loads of little fish were merrily swimming about and then I spotted a gap beneath the cliff face big enough to climb under, and I noticed that there were loads of crabs ambling about underneath. Feeling satisfied (and worried that the tide was coming in fast and going to drown me unless I removed myself from under the rock) we climbed back up the cliff and drove back into the town.
We found some public showers on the app which turned out to be nothing more than beachside showers. We hastily grabbed our stuff from the car and washed ourselves in our swimmers as best we could with ever-increasing cold water and shock, I'd left my towel in the car. So shivering and trying to run in swimmers and thongs (with wet feet) I made it to the car where I hastily dried and dressed just in time to watch the sunset on the beach.
Moving to a marginally less conspicuous car park (with public toilets) we managed to scrape the burnt egg and rice off the bottom of the pan, and I had a nutrition filled dinner of tinned spaghetti. Yum. Went to sleep feet and legs aching from the day's activities.
- comments