Monkey Mia, Shell Beach, Hamelins Pool, Geraldton

Saturday 20^th September

Today was going to be a big drive towards Monkey Mia at just over 700km. So, with iPods and tablets charged, we headed out, after getting some fuel, after putting some more air in the tyres, after getting some bread and bread rolls and after getting some coffee and smoothies. No matter how early we get away from the campsite, it always seems to take a while to get away from the town. National Park campgrounds are much easier, there are no shops to pick up those little items we may have run out of. I guess the other reason we struggle is we are trying to fit so much into each day we run out of time the day prior to leaving and most of the towns we've been in lately are small country towns and often things close at 5pm or don’t even open on the weekends. Reminds us of the 70’s and 80’s before there was Sunday trading etc. Small digression.

Anyway, we liked Exmouth, it has a really nice feel to it and there is of course that reef and the beaches just around the corner to snorkel on etc, plus, there are no crocodiles!

We have been thinking about the fact we’re heading south. Richard’s sister sent a text through as she’d just visited Perth and it had been mid 30s there so we thought that should be ok, we’ll continue south.

Not much to report on the drive, filled CJ up a few times, rolled into Monkey Mia campground at around 7pm, went to the bar for food and then we all crashed thinking about feeding the dolphins in the morning.

Sunday 21^st September

Well, that’s how it was supposed to go. At sometime in the middle of the night, it turned very windy. Trish and Richard had to get up a couple of times to tie the awning down as it was flapping. No one got a good nights sleep and the wind was still howling in the morning when we got up at about 7. (reminded us of a camping trip to Lake Macquarie with the Thompsons and the Gaskins!) You need to get down to the beach area at about 7.45 so we, with the other hordes, got down to the beach ready for the talk and viewing the dolphins. Up until the late 90’s people were just feeding the dolphins so much that they were not feeding in the oceans or looking after their young. Around 1996, the marine wildlife folk introduced a scheme where they would only feed the dolphins a small amount of their required food intake so they would have to fend for themselves and also take care of their young.

The sea was very choppy with all the wind and the dolphins seemed a bit reluctant to come in but they did eventually and Keira was even chosen to feed one which made it worth the trip. We then packed up in the wind and just in time really as it started to rain lightly. The first stop was at Shell Beach. This beach is entirely made up of small shells. Sounds better than it is though as the majority of the shells have been broken up into small sand like particles. Having said that, there are unusual holes where there are only shells. This area is unusual as it is extremely  high in salt because of the way there is no fresh water running in and the temperature is so high the evaporation rate is very high. The only shellfish able to survive here is the fragum cockle which makes up the majority of the shell beach.

By this time it had started raining (the wind was still howling) but we headed off to see the Stromatolites at Hamelins Pool. Thankfully, we had a small break in the weather so got out and had a quick look around. Stomatolites can only be found in four areas in the world and are the first creatures from the primordial soup to form communities and exhale air. We weren’t there at low tide so couldn't really see everything, not that there’s much to see as they sort of just look like unusual rocks in the water.

We then jumped back in the car and headed back towards the North West Coastal Road, the main road from Perth North. Today’s drive wasn't so big but there was still around 400km to cover. We had planned to camp at the Waminda Wildlife Sanctuary (where you can interact with the (not so) wildlife and rather than pay a camping fee you can make a donation as payment so the sanctuary can continue) however as it was still pouring and blowing a gale we rang and said we weren't going to make it.

We then booked a cabin at the Big 4 in Geraldton rather than set the tent up in the rain and wind.

We worked out we’d been in either the tent or camper trailer every day since the 1^st of July or 82 days in total. Both Trish and Richard were a bit sad about the fact that we’re not in the tent before the holidays end, however the kids loved it, so much so Emily and Keira decided to cook dinner for us. As we sit and write this (with the heater and TV on),  it is still pouring and blowing a gale so everyone is warm and dry.