OK. I have finally got the Wireless modem thingy working and we seem to be in business. Have updated photos on the Picasa web albums: http://picasaweb.google.com.au/sue.thomson
First day we headed out of Perth after picking up the camper and working out all the ins and outs, shopping for essentials (vegemite, coffee) and headed for Cervantes and the Pinnacles. Nearly had the first bit of road kill on the way when this little echidna decided that he would play chicken with me driving at 120kmh. Hmmmmmm.
Made it to the Pinnacles for dusk, saw some strange Irish harpist playing out in the middle of all the rocks, and saw a couple of little roos, as well as a very pretty sunset. Would have taken some nice shots after dark but someone forgot to give me the screw for the camera that fits it into the tripod... :)
Got to Cervates, set up the camper, dinner at the pub then crashed at about 8.30pm.... jetlag...
Next morning up early, freezing cold and off to my first day of using public showers .... nuff said... I endured. Headed off to Kalbarri. Stopped for 11ses in Dongara, with a main street lined with Moreton Bay figs. Found my favourite - the coffee tree :) and had coffee and a break. Stopped in Geraldton to go to the WA Maritime Museum which has lots of good things about shipwrecks and murderous Portugese (Google the story of the Batavia!). We also went to the HMAS Sydney memorial, which was very moving and a great monument.
Got into Kalbarri without incident, went to this weird but fun barbecue place for dinner and had heaps of fresh seafood.
Left a little late, as I had to wait until business hours to go through a tedious lengthy procedure to activate the wireless broadband thingy. Fantastic as the woman I spoke to was in the Phillipines.
Went out Island Rock and the Natural Bridge, outside of Kalbarri. Wonderful cliff views and we could see whales way out to sea.
Stopped at a wildflower park which was a bit of a waste of time, and then headed out to Kalbarri National Park, which was hot and spectacular. We did some walking then back into the car, because when I said it was only about 200km to Denham I forgot about the 140 from the Overalander Roadhouse to Denham! oops. Michael was very patient. So all in all it was a very long day, made longer because when we got into Denham we found that most of the accommodation was booked out. We ended up in a cabin for a couple of days, and are now looking at booking everything that we can now. So to all those who accused me of overplanning - I didn't plan enough. Not only do we need an exact itinerary but we need to book weeks in advance there are so may people travelling up here. Not happy Jan.
Tomorrow is Shark Bay - Monkey Mia first thing and then we'll see what happens. I want to go snorkelling and see Dugongs, but it's a half day boat trip in the morning.
I am happy that we have got so far north so quickly. Western Australia is so big - we are now about 850km from Perth. Today was the WA I love - the rich red earth, the spectacular rock formations and the fantastic plants and flowers. Given that, there is also kilometre after kilometre of straight boring road, with nothing to break it up. And it's not cheap. We stopped at a roadhouse and I got a 600ml bottle of coke, a chicken sandwich and a packet of cashews and it cost $16.50. I just paid and didn't ask WTF???
