Carnarvon

Monday 23^rd July.  Today we left Exmouth and headed to Coral Bay to see our friends Faye and Arthur.  On the way we passed Nick (LIFE) on his bike heading into Exmouth.  We stopped and had a chat for about 15 minutes and then let him get on his way as he was trying to get to town and get some supplies for Jimmy’s birthday in the morning.  We then went to the intersection with Burkett Road hoping that the rest of the boys wouldn’t be far away.  We stopped and had morning tea and stayed for about ½ hour.  We then decided to head down Burkett Road to find the lads.  They were only 2 km’s up the road sitting in the shade having a rest.  When they found out that it was only 2km to the intersection and then 80km to Exmouth they were saying that they would get there before dark.  That would mean a 160km ride for the day!!! Whew!

We headed down to Coral Bay and had a lovely lunch and catch up with Faye and Arthur

looking towards the Indian Ocean

 Arthur, Barb, Buster, Faye and Darryl

one of the locals.....

 and then we headed for a free stop near Lyndon River West.  A nice big open area and we spent the night with about 16 other campers.

Tuesday 24^th July.  Today we headed down the road to Carnarvon and Faye and Arthur came in to stay with us.  It is a lovely large park with newish amenities and lovely new concrete slabs.  We have all topped up the water tanks and did a little cleaning as well J.  The wind is very strong today and said to be blowing at 30km per hour with gusts up to 48km.  The temperature feels much lower than it actually is because of the chill factor.  Faye and I had a walk around the park this afternoon and they have a lawn bowls rink and a chap there was showing Faye and me how to play the game.  We had about 4 ends each before we decided that it was time for beer o’clock.

Wednesday 25^th July.  Darryl checked out the water tanks as the gauge was telling us that we only had half full tanks. L  We hadn’t used any since we filled up yesterday as we are currently on town water.  Not sure what is happening there.  We then headed into town and had breakfast J - at 9.30am it was 10 degrees and felt like 3 degrees because of the very strong winds and wind chill factor.   We then went for a walk around the main street of Carnarvon and it was a bit – disappointing L.  The council is in the middle of refurbishing the main street and there are barricades up and down the street, so you have to walk fully up one side and then down the other to get to different shops.  There are no little access points along the works.

We then went for a drive out to the 1 Mile Jetty – thinking that we would walk along it and then catch the little train back to the shore…… NO!  They wanted $4 per adult to walk the jetty and then $7 per adult to come back on the train….. $11 per person :C  

The jetty

the end of the jetty

the train

We then went for a look through the Light House Keepers Cottage and that was VERY interesting – and it was only a donation to go through!!!  They even have to top of the original lighthouse on display.  The original tower was 31 metres high and made of wood.  In the mid 1900’s this was changed to steel.

 The top of the old lighthouse next to the newer tower that is no longer used.

We headed back into Carnarvon town and got fish and chips for $8.  More than I could eat.   We then for a visit to the Carnarvon Space and Science centre at the OTC [Overseas Telecommunications Centre]. This was very interesting and worth the entry fee, giving all the information about Carnarvon’s involvement in the Apollo 11 mission.   

in the mock-up of the original cockpit

 the two satellite dishes - one on the left looks like a giant sugar scoop.

Then went for a drive out to Bambak’s – which is a fruit plantation and tried some of their jams and smoothies –hmm Banana…..  We got some grape jam and some farm fresh honey WITH honeycomb!!!!  Won’t need much for dinner tonight! Back to the van park and relaxing with a cold beer…..

Thursday 26^th July.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEN – 30 TODAY!!!!  Love you and hope that you have a great day in New York with Nina, Ricki and Audrey.

Today we went to the HMAS Sydney II Memorial drive and walked for about 3 km’s looking at all the plaques that are there to honour the 245 men who lost their lives when the Sydney was sunk in 1941 by the German ship Kormoran. 

 Starting the walk.  We only got up to the letter M and turned around and came back down the other side.  The memorial goesd for nearly 6 km's.

  From here we drove out to Quobba Station and visited the memorial to the HMAS Sydney that has been erected there. 

 On the drive out we passed some lovely wildflowers known as ‘Bird Flower’.  They were beautiful, green flowers that grow in clusters, on tall bushes.

We drove back to the blowholes at Quobba point and watched them for about ½ hour.  We then drove along the point and found somewhere to stop and have lunch.  We were now in a protected area (from the wind J) and able to boil the kettle for a coffee.  We had lunch whilst watching some chaps snorkelling in amongst the coral.

We then headed up to the Lighthouse and took some photos of the view from there and we even got a shot of the blowholes in action from this high point.  There were some spectacular Banksia’s in flower too. 

Back towards Carnarvon and stopping frequently to take photos of flowers that we saw along the way…….

Into town and get our supplies before we head toward Hamelin Pool and then onto Denham.