CARNARVON, WA

                                                  

Carnarvon and surrounds
12th to 16th July 2012

Down on the river we found lots of these unusual fences which turned out to be "unstable river barriers"

 

 We decided to walk along the 1 mile Jetty (which looked longer I must admit, but there was an option of catching the train if you wanted!)  so we thought if it was too hard a walk out, we'd get the train back.



So we walked back too!

  Cheeky little guy only picks you up if you've paid your $7.00 before you go out (hahaha) .....



At the end of the Jetty was this pergola (with a warning to fishermen about handling "Happy Moments")



Jennifer & Warwick - look what I found !

Thought Warwick and Lincoln might like this :)

Earlier in the morning we went to the growers' markets and bought some Jams and pickles along with some fresh fruit and veges.  A stall there had some wonderful copper wall art, but sadly a caravan doesn't have a lot of space to carry large items, making Greg happy again (just like the Pearl Farm!)



Netting for dust over crops

 We drove down to a picnic spot called Chinaman Pool, passing crops of fruit and veges all along the way to Point Quobba till we left the Gascoyne River system.



The Gasgoyne River (from which the irrigation is pump to the largest plantation crops in Western Australia!!!)





Banana and Mango plantation



Most crops have a row of corn in front to absorb dust (especially tomato, eggplant, spinach and cauliflower crops)

Before driving out to Point Quobba and the blowholes, we noticed our trip-o-meter was telling us we had done 10,860 kms to date.  Wow!

En-route to the Blowholes, we came across this lighthouse so took a drive up the washed-out track to have a look from the high spot:-



Just can't  help himself (even after he read the sign!)



A little further back after he got wet shoes & jeans



A MOST EXTRODINARY WILD COASTLINE!

and a true reason behind the signage as you come in.  There have been several deaths of fishermen all along this part of the coast.

Topping off this great day came this wonderful experience:  Greg and I had driven off from the area where the people were looking at the blowholes and had the whole spot to ourselves.

Thinking  the pair were leaving we gave them a wave and and big thank you for sharing their magic with us

We found this on the beach!!!

 The force of the waves here is formidable.

And we also noticed in several spots there were survival rings mounted for public use if needed.

 Not too sure if you can see, but the whales were back and had a pair of dolphins riding shotgun for them.  They were a little further out this time, but still quite close as you can see here.

After a truly magical experience, we drove back to camp and had a nice dinner, and a good nights sleep indeed.  (The magic of nature at its best - sun, sand, water & wildlife mmmmm it doesn't get much better than that!)

Monday, 16th July, 2012

Today we drove out to Rocky Pool to have a look at a fresh water oasis in the middle of the desert.

Part of the Gasgoyne River system, this hole has a solid rocky base and so never drains into the sand.  A very popular swimming and picnic spot as well as camping is allowed (but no power available).

 Having a little rest in the shade - quite warm
in the sunshine, fossicking, etc and no swimmers either (darn it)

 We did find a few small pieces of Chalcedony, and some really nice pieces of Petrified Wood.

Leaving the Rocky Pool and heading back to the van, we stopped to have a look at the OTC dish on the edge of town.  Overseas Telecommunications dish at Carnarvon dominates the sky in the area and is testament to the significant rold Carnarvon played in the space race of the 1960's and 1970's. 
Messages to the Apollo mission that landed on the moon were relayed through these installations when the orbit passed the southern hemisphere. 
It was also here that Australia received its first satellite television broadcast and was instrumental in the tracking of Haley's comet in 1986.

I climbed up to Greg to get a few nice scenic pics, but nearly had to sit down (oh boy is it high up there & how funny when I have jumped out of a plane too!)  Gave Greg the camera and slid my back against the wall to slowly crawl my way back down (to a chorus of chuckles behind me too, although I must say he did offer to hold my hand for me *lol*) - Oh golly gosh ..................

Well, tomorrow we are off to Exmouth (and Greg has woken just now at 1.23am to let me know that tomorrow is a travelling day .............. guess that means no sleep in *laughs sarcastically* 

Take care all and hopefully I will have some more great pics (still from the little Canon - gosh I'm proud of it: it's really got big shoes to fill and is doing it wonderfully  :D)