It has been quite a few days since I wrote anything, but we did have an extra day at Coral Bay (such a hard place to leave), and then spent five days in Carnarvon, where we finally got our fridge fixed in less than 1/2hr and for $25. Very happy campers !!!
We haven't been to Carnarvon since we were farming in WA, and when Stuart & Sarah-Jane were very young, about 2 and 1yrs respectively, I think. We did remember the main road lined with palm trees, and that's about all. Of course everything has changed. They have a nice little main street, and have developed the waterfront into a pleasant area. However, we especially enjoyed buying fresh fruit and vegetables from the growers market on Saturday morning.
Although there is no visible water in the Gascoyne River, apparently all the water is underground, and there is 16kms of plantations along the riverbank, where they obviously pump out the water to irrigate the fruit and veg. Beautiful tomatoes, corn, zucchinis, aubergine, beans & even grapefruit as well as Carnarvon bananas were amongst the produce on offer on Saturday morning, and at very reasonable prices. So we stocked up, and bumped into people we had met in Exmouth, as well as our Upper Hutt friends Rose & Murray, who were also doing their Saturday shopping.
Saturday evening we had a meal with Rose & Murray in our van, and Sunday afternoon we visited our new friends from Exmouth in another caravan park. Sunday morning we visited the very small, but very welcoming AOG fellowship, where the visitors largely outnumbered the regulars, but the pastor lady made everyone cappuccinos after the service, so it was a very friendly mob.
Monday was a holiday and we took the opportunity to drive out to the famous Blowholes, which were spectacular in the evidence of the awesome power of the sea. The sound as the waves hit the rocks, and the water subsequently is forced through the blowholes, is quite deafening, and the spray travels for many meters across the rocks, and the many tourists observing it all. There was a coffee cart parked in the car park, which was a welcome sight, and had to be patronised, of course. Then a very rough & dusty 4WD road up to Red Bluff, past a very desolate looking Quobba Station. This is a very remote area, and the camp at Red Bluff sported some eco-tents, and humpys constructed of sacking and palm fronds, with tarp roofs tied on to combat the strong winds. The beach there was sandy but wild and rough, and apparently is popular with surfers, and people wanting a real getaway. We were so glad we didn't decide to take the van in there, the road would have wrecked more than the fridge I am certain.
Yesterday Trevor even got to wash the car, so he is feeling much better now !! We are a bit sick of the red dust on everything. Unfortunately we weren't allowed to wash our caravan on our site, but hope to do that in Geraldton. However we stayed at the Outback Oasis Caravan Park in Carnarvon, and were treated to THE best ablution block you could imagine. Travertine tiles lined the walls of each shower stall, as well as around the hand basins AND when they were cleaning at 9.30am, rather than shutting everyone out, you were allowed to use one of the toilets & the whole process was done in less than 1/2hr. We left actually feeling as though it had been acknowledged that we were PAYING GUESTS. A bit different from a lot of parks!! We were given a couple of sweets in a stubby holder as a welcome gift too - Very impressed.
So now we are at Denham, a sleepy little seaside town. We will duck out to Monkey Mia in the morning and hope to see the dolphins being fed, then we will head down to Kalbarri. We did avail ourselves of some of the local cuisine this evening - namely fresh fish and seafood. It was a special treat for my birthday and saved me having to cook - way too much food of course, but ooh the fish was gorgeous !! Snapper & whiting straight out of Shark Bay. yum !!
More later - Ciao x
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