Back to the coast

​Back to the coast - early August 2017

Colour and design are two of Mother Nature's cleverest tools - we have been witness to so many we are overawed! This is the flower of the Butterfly Bush discovered on a rough track into the dry bed of the Beasley River.  

Heading back to the coast, we stopped overnight and set up camp next to the Beasley River. It was a dry extremely wide riverbed but the size of the bridge spoke volumes. I also noticed along this road quite a few large groins leading up to many rivers/creeks which reinforced that these rivers are mighty when in flood.

Overnight camp in a delightful spot near the Beasley River.

This is the bed of the Beasley River. A stone quarry when it is dry!

heading back to the coast along the Nanutarra road. we were reluctant to leave the silence of the Pilbara.

But Onslow.... it was a quick in and out. Parks were full so we camped out on the oval! Another showerless night and not a lot to see. So next day we headed to Exmouth.

Onslow was a disappointment. The only interesting thing was this strange tree and its fruit. No idea what it is.

Zoom in and see how much of WA is desert. not too many good roads up through the inland parts of the state..

What a surprise! Again the place was near to bursting but we got a spot at the Yardie Homestead (the property dates back over 130 years) for a couple of nights - did washing and showered!! Hooray.
Travel is such an educational experience! I discovered that during WWII the North West Cape was a US sub base and the legacy today is an airstrip and defence base at Learmonth. While the Exmouth Gulf wasn't suitable for a longer term sub base, the Japanese thought it proved a threat and as a result there were aerial bombings of the area. There was however a highly successful mission into Singapore launched from this location - Operation Jaywick. The Cape was also an important international communications link and tracking station during and after the war.

The Ningaloo coast.

I am constantly reminded of how much I don't know - that doesn't worry me it just makes me curious to find out more!

The skipper on the glass bottom boat was a wealth of information. 

This is Todd giving us the safety talk  

The water is turquoise and just beautiful dotted with lots of white water craft.

Unfortunately things looked murky through the thick glass. It looked better through my mask!

But to less cerebral pursuits! I snorkelled on Ningaloo reef, the largest fringe reef in the world! It was amazing albeit a little overwhelming because the sea was little choppy and kept swamping my snorkel. Breathing, spitting water, clearing my mask and breathe tube while trying to keep afloat and hang onto my camera - a comical sight I'm sure. But I got back to the boat in one soggy piece quite happy that I had been swimming with coral dwelling fish. Through the glass bottom boat we were on we saw 1000 year old coral, bright boiled lolly fish and even a couple of turtles. It was a terrific day topped off by seeing lots of humpbacked whales off shore including a mum and bub playing in the shallows - absolutely intriguing and rather special.

Along all the roads we keep an eye open for flowers and interesting plants.  Most people focus of the flowers but dome of the leaves are amazingly beautiful.

My back is constantly sore from bending down looking at wee flowers. These little beauties are about 2-3 mm wide. Gorgeous!