Tried the early start but ended up leaving the house about 9am. A lovely bright and sunny day and promised to be the hottest of the trip so far.
Today's route would see us setting off north to Cervantes, visiting the Pinnacles on route. These are a natural phenenom of limestone pillars set randomly in the desert a little way back from the coast. There is no clear explanation about how this feature has been formed but there are thousands of these pillars ranging from a few inches high to several metres. The whole site is under constant change especially with the shifting sand and the erosion of the pillars with wind and heat. A spectacular site and well worth the visit even though the flies when we visited were numerous and persistent!
Following lunch at Eileen and Phils house in Cervantes we went on a tour of the town and nearby Jurien Bay.
Much of the trip was spent discussing Crayfish fishing which Phil has been involved in for over 30 years. A particular highlight was the visit round his boat "Aussie Rules" currently being serviced ready for the coming season. What amazed us most was the size of the hold (6' x 2' x 3') in relation to the boat which could contain about 1/3 tonne of Crayfish in perfect condition for market. Phil gave us a comprehensive understanding of the challenges facing the industry.
On route back to Cervantes we called into Lake Thetis to look at the stromatolites. These are the first life forms and they developed in shallow lagoons of salty water. The WA coast is renowned for these sites, the most significant of which is Hamelin Pool.
Back to Phil & Eileen's house for a feast on the famous Crayfish. The first taste for both of us and definitely not the last. The evening finishing with further discussions on family history