Let the real journey begin

After Bullara Station stay, we stayed one night in Coral Bay at the Bayview caravan park. Coral Bay is a very small beach town, splitting at the seams with the Caravan community battling for a site. As I think that may off been part of the road rage incident. As caravans line up daily in the hope of a site, becoming available. So we where lucky to get a site, as I booked a week ago. So off we went straight down to Bills, beautiful beach, and a happy hour at the RAC bar overlooking the beach. Dinner tonight was at Bills Bar, which was really nice and straight opposite our caravan park. We stayed a night here, to stock up on groceries, water and to get the washing done, before our Station stay.

Sunday the 15th of August- Coral Bay to Warroora Station

Next stop Warraroo Station, not quite the same as Bullara, very rustic but a great position for so many Beautiful Ningaloo beaches to choose from.

We spent our days here exploring all the beaches along the coast. Peters latest obsession kicking in trying very hard, to catch fish 🎣

Catching up again with Michelle and Geoff, taking the four wheel drive track towards Gnarloo, to the Lagoon, Nicks Camp. In search of Farquhar beach, which we did not get to. The track got us, so bumpy full of rocks. Not great for the boys who had drunk a bottle of whiskey the night before. We did get a swim in at a beautiful spot, and chatted to a few lucky people who managed to get camp spots at these magnificent beach camps along the track.

We have spent more time up here, as we heard the weather below us isn’t that great. So we have stayed around the Ningaloo coast, as it’s just too nice to leave.

After fishing one afternoon, we spent a couple of hours with a French backpacker and his German girlfriend, on a cliff top for a entertaining happy hour. Peter was offered a bag of green stuff to share with me! Ahhh no thanks, not today! Really nice 😊 interesting couple, more fun with the people you have along the way.

We spent a night in a motel in Coral Bay, as Peters fishing trip started at 6:30am. While he went off fishing I had a nice morning catching up. Then a glass bottom boat trip around Coral bay, which I really enjoyed seeing lots of turtles and beautiful blue coloured coral. The coral looked like it had tiny LED lights on the tips of the coral. Peter got on late after his fishing trip, a little buggered, so I drove back that night to the station. On the road into the station, there was so many baby birds on the road with very protective mothers swooping the car.

The last few days Peter has spent hours, trying to get just one more dam fish! A lot of happy well fed fish 🐠 along the reef, thanks to bags of squid sucked of the hooks. We are now feeling like locals, we definitely know our way around the beaches along this coast.

One fun night we spent on the stations private beach, The Shack. Peter fished beside a nice guy, who hooked onto a shark of some sort. I was with the guys wife and daughter having an afternoon sip, when all the entertainment of reeling in of the shark 🦈 started. This was lots of fun, all of us running along the waters edge videoing the whole ordeal, just about to the waters edge when the shark freed its self. Very entertaining with a beautiful sunset at the same time. Nice people from the Margaret river area, with lots of tips for us about the area.

My favourite swimming beach has been Stevens beach. Peters favourite fishing spot is Maggie’s south end, which we have spent hours at! Plus the wild goats love it there too.

What I’ve liked about Warroora Station mostly is the serenity, it’s very rustic and not the most social place we’ve stayed at. Loved the outdoor shower the most, although it’s horrid bore water, not so great for your hair. Any longer here and my hair will go to dreadlocks!

26th of August Back to Coral Bay

So we’ve been lucky to score a caravan site for six nights back at Coral Bay. We arrived here to catch up once again with Helen and Kev, for breakfast and our final goodbye 👋 for the trip. They bought along their lovely new friends from Kangaroo Island too.

We got set up at out new site for the week, just for a change right beside the men’s toilet block. We are starting to think, if your from Victoria they set you up right beside the toilet block or a dump spot! Us bloody Eastern State rs!Oh well beggars can’t be choosers! It helps to be in such a beautiful little town, beside the most beautiful sea.

We had an afternoon at Five Fingers Reef, which you need a four wheel drive to get to. Unfortunately a tad windy, but Peter managed a snorkel 🤿. Happy hour tonight with the family across from us and a young couple all from Perth. We then all had dinner over the road at the Reef restaurant. We shared a seafood platter with the young couple Shan’ae and Jamison, byo alcohol!!!! Very 😊 nice.

29th of August 2021 Manta Ray Swim

This morning we met at the dive shop at 8:30 for a day out snorkelling on the reef. After the swim with the Whale Sharks, I’ve been a little disappointed in myself, so today I was determined to do better snorkelling. This experience was so much better. It helped the weather was better, less wind and we swam in the reef not outside it. Also they spotted a Manta-ray quite quickly. The first swim of the day was probably my favourite, as the fish where gorgeous colours and Peter and I had a private swim with a cute turtle. Next the Manta-ray swim was also fabulous, especially when it flipped on its side showing us its tummy. Another snorkel with a very big beautiful logger head turtle surrounded by little yellow fish. So I am happy to say I can snorkel 🤿 just not under pressure! It was a fantastic day! The Ningaloo reef is really something else!

30th of August 2021

We went for an early walk along the beach, towards Ningaloo Station as the tide was out. Followed by breakfast at Finns out favourite little cafe. Bought some more shells from the ol Stoner mate nearby. Next activity for the day a bike ride to the marina. Once again very windy this afternoon, so we hit the pub for happy hour. Which then turned into dinner again with Shan’ae and Jamison. Both pubs here give you raffle tickets. Tricking you into hanging around til 8pm, on the hope of winning $1000 bucks. Big trap for us as others leave they gave us their tickets. So out night ended in the bar playing pool with the kids!

31st of August 2021

Kirsties birthday, another year we are not together, so a little sad. Today we spent the day at the Coral Bay front beach. Peter blew up the stand up paddle boards and we had a lovely time in the bay on them.

1st of September 2021

Peter unfortunately had that terrible call early this morning, from his brother Michael, letting us know Peters Mum Ethel had passed away at 97 of age. Peter took the call while I was sleeping, so he walked down the beautiful Coral Bay beach to reflect on his own.

Today we left Coral Bay after a lovely few days here, back to Exmouth then onto Yardie Creek for five days. Stocked up on groceries and other essentials in Exmouth, lunch at our favourite little cafe in town.

Setting up at Yardie Creek, Peter was very quick to meet the neighbours, behind and beside. So this evening ended up very social, sitting with our new neighbours for all the Goss! Bill and Kath, Pablo and Laureen all from Perth.

2nd of September 2021

This morning we started off with a coffee at the cafe, then off to Mandu Mandu gorge walk. We had a bit of a laugh here, sending a video to Jo Byrnes, as there was so many ffffff Rocks. This is a joke going back to our Bay of Fires walk, lots of rocks there! A lot of up and down the rim of the gorge, without any handrails and quite steep in parts. Lots of wind and one snake along the way, but we enjoyed it, how could you not!

Tonight the footy final was on, so Peter watched the game with new bf Bill, Kath and I went over to the Cafe area to watch the live music, poor guy didn’t have much of a chance as the power kept going off. Fun anyway more people we met along the way again.

3rd of September 2021

Today we went for a drive up the coast as it was a little windy. (Again) First stop was Hunters beach, opposite the light house. It’s a popular surf beach, so we watched the surfers for a while. Popped over to the cute Tropicalia Van for a yummy healthy ice cream.

Next stop at Dunes Beach for an hour or two, more watching the surfers. Then a walk along Shipwreck beach in the wind!

4th of September 2021

Today we called into the information centre to hire wetsuits. Then onto the most beautiful beach, Turquoise Bay to snorkel the stunning reef. Loved loved today, such a ridiculously crazy good beach!!!!!! My favourite here. Lots and lots of fish to see, and it’s a drift snorkel here with a very strong current.

5th of September 2021 Father’s Day

Peters favourite day! Morning snorkel at Oyster Stacks, which was absolutely amazing! One very big tropical fish tank! We both loved the snorkel here.

Activity 2! Yardie Creek Stand up paddle board, which again was so good. A few cute Little Rock wallabies along the way. After carrying these boards all this way, we are finally glad we did!

6th of September 2021

I stuffed up today! Left a day early for Exmouth. Didn’t check my calendar, so when we went to check into the Rac caravan park, we where a day to early. So with no vacancy there, we where lucky to score a site over the road for a night. Caught up with the washing and grocery shopping, and walked down the street to Froth for dinner.

7th of September 2021

Packed up again and moved over the road for the night, to the RAC caravan park. Went and lined up at the prawn trawler for some fresh prawns.

8th of September 2021

Left Exmouth for Carnarvon early this morning. Stopped along the way to cook our lunch at a roadhouse.

9th of September 2021

Our appointment for the second Astra Z vaccine at 9am. Then off to the Long Pier Museum, to learn about the HMAS Sydney battle.

We had a good morning at the Museum and the light house by the long jetty. Educated ourselves a little more on the history of HMAS Sydney, battle with the sneaky German ship. The Kormoran was disguised as a Dutch merchant vessel that was seemingly incompetent at returning the Sydney’s signals, unaware, the Sydney approached the unknown vessel. Once within range where her superior armament could not advantageously defend her, the Komoran used the advantage of surprise and brought all its armament to bear on the Sydney.Very sad as all the soldiers on board, 645 of them died at sea.

After learning about the HMAS Sydney 11, I have since found out about my grandfather, who was in the navy in world war 1, on the original HMAS Sydney, sinking another German Ship the Emden in 1914.

10th of September-Friday

This morning we walked to the Carnarvon Space Museum, lots to learn here. We spent a few hours here, learning how important this station was once upon a time! Celebrating the role Carnarvon played in the NASA manned space program of the 1960’s – 1970’s and the role of OTC Carnarvon satellite earth station.

11th of September- Saturday Carnarvon Cup Day

This morning we where up early to the Carnarvon market, here I bought some earrings and gifts for Leah. We had a coffee and walk up the street. Another memorial to the 645 soldiers, who died on the HMAS Sydney. More old buildings around town to photograph.

Carnarvon Race’s, we where picked up by bus in front of the caravan park at 11am. We had an entertaining day, first meeting one of our brother in-law, John’s friend Glenn. Glenn happen to be in charge of the organising of the race day, and also a Bookie. He was a really fun guy to meet, and place our bets with him through out the day! We ended up in the bar area as it was so windy outside. We met a nice couple from North Hampton, near Geraldton, related to the footballer Cripps. Had lots of laughs with them throughout the day. Later the bus back to the caravan park, with one very unhappy girl who didn’t win the fashion on the field, after the 13th try! Hilarious after a few drinks to drown her loss!!!! Love a country race meet!

Carnarvon- Four nights was enough here to see everything. Not our favourite place, but still interesting to visit once!

Western Australia, WA – Windy always! You may notice or note to self, we hardly left our awning out, every single day on this coast. Windy!!!!!!! Hardly ever have a fire, much to Peters disappointment. It’s just too dam windy!