LONG TIME NO BLOG

Well its been a while once again. You know how it is, all the rush of the festive season!

So we left windy Whyalla on the 25th Nov & cruised down the coast to Port Lincoln. Called in at all the little beaches & bays on the way - beautiful crystal blue waters, couple of nice little camp spots but still blowing a gail. Stayed in a caravan park at Port Lincoln for a couple of days. Big city, tuna farms everywhere. Was gonna do a swim with the tunas but weather not on our side. Headed out to Lincoln National Park. Camped at Surfleet Cove. Did a little fishing, bit of swimming, spent a night on the turps with the couple next to us. Good times.

Lincoln NP

Our camp

From Lincoln we headed towards Streaky Bay. Had a look at Coffin Bay NP & then camped behind the dunes at Sheringa Beach. Renowned for good fishing but once again couldn't escape the wind. From Sheringa headed to Streaky Bay via Elliston, Venus & Baird Bay & the Westall Way Loop. Went out to Cape Bauer & the whistling rocks & blow holes.

Streaky Bay sunrise

Fishing on back beach-no luck this day

Stayed at Streaky a few days before heading west. Called in at Ceduna (to pick up some oysters) & then drove on & decided to stop the night at Fowlers Bay caravan park.  Lesson - sometimes places are not as they appear in the brochures! Funny little, little park just full of blokes waiting for the wind to die down so they could go jew fishing. Swagged it & was out of there early.

Now everyone seems to have a different opinion about the Nullarbor. Craig had done it before & wasn't too keen. The Bunda cliffs are stunning - we were there fairly early in morning so pictures don't look too crash hot but when your standing there its magic. Didn't see the Nullarbor Nymph. Stopped at the town of Nullarbor for fuel - $2.09! Quarantine check at the border & crossed into WA. Food stop at Eucla then onwards to the longest straight stretch in Oz. Arrived at Norseman & made the bad decision to stay in a motel the night. The room was infested with fleas!

All was forgotten when we got to Esperance. They say it has some of the best beaches in the world & you can see why. Impressive! Craig lived here about 20yrs ago. Stayed here for a week. Craig reminiscing! Went out to Cape Le Grande NP. Beaches with the whitest sand you've ever seen. Windy & raining once again but managed to do a bit of fishing off Tanker Jetty. The Great Ocean Drive up around the beaches & Pink Lake is fab.

Esperance beaches

Cape Le Grand NP

Says it all......

Seal off Tanker Jetty

Magic

After Esperance headed west & stayed at Stokes NP. Were also going to stay at Fitzgerald River NP but it was closed so headed on down to Albany. Stayed at Middleton Beach for 5 days & it poured rain for 4 days. Pretty much confined to the tent apart from the occasional sojourn for a beverage! Blowing a gail also - something about the Southern Ocean. Suffice to say we didn't get many good pics at Albany. On the 1 fine day we had did a trip out to Torndirup NP. Again beautiful coastline.

Torndirup NP

Sea Shepherd at Albany-security everywhere

After Albany drove on to Denmark & ended up at Parry Beach. This place is a gem. Campground run by the Shire & volunteers. $7 a night, had toilets & showers (solar so mostly cold). It was packed, people set up for the long haul over Chrissy & new year. We were lucky to snag a little camp spot. You can have fires & its right on the beach. The weather was good, mid 20's & no howling winds. Did a lot of fishing mainly catching herring & skippys, lot of swimming too. Went out to Greens Pool which was unfortunately like Bondi Beach in summer. Visited Walpole & went to the Valley of the Giants for a look - home of the great Tingle trees.

Camp oven cooking......

Tree top walk

Mighty tingle trees

Christmas was quiet - much of the same, fishing, swimming, eating & drinking. Stayed at Parry's for 2 weeks & only left on Wednesday. In hindsight should of stayed on. We had major trouble finding somewhere to stay over new years. Pretty much spent the day driving from Parry's, through Pemberton, Augusta, Margaret River, Dunsborough, Busselton until we got to Bunbury. Stopped at nearly all of the parks on the way looking for a spot & nothing. Even a lot of the camps in NPs closed due to fires.  So here we are at Bunbury in a motel. Not exactly what we had in mind but can't complain. Leaving today for not sure where but have to be in Perth by the 15th for a job.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Until next time............