Bev and Trev Head West

  The second biggest prawn????          If it's Thursday we must be leaving Exmouth.  We had a quiet day yesterday, a bit of shopping, wandered around central Exmouth (which to be honest didn't take long)   The weather turned a bit gloomy and windy, so it was an afternoon in for us.               As I said (wrote) it was a little gloomy              weatherwise, well overnight it got a little                gloomier, and wetter, to the tune of 42mm of rain      between 1 am and 7 am.....     So it was a wet pack      up for us and then we hit the road.        After the obligitory fuel stop we saw this.......         Then as we got out the road a bit.....  we saw this........ ..it got a bit splashy.....        ...

           For todayd adventure we decided to venture down the west coast of the North West Cape, the Ningaloo region.      Our first stop was the Vlamingh Head lighthouse, built in 1912 after the SS Mildura ran aground, at the tip of the Cape in 1903.    The remains of the S.S. Mildurs     The lighthouse operated from 1912 until 1967, when its function was discontinued.  The lighthouse was replaced by a radio beacon from the nearby U.S./Commonwealth base.   The Naval Base, the Harold E Holt Comminication Station. The central antenna is 387 metres tall     The joint establishment utilises an enormous radio array, operating in very low frequencies (VLF), is used to communicated with submarines throughout the world.   This base is the reason Exmouth exists, prior to 1962 the only settlement in the area was at the lighthouse.  It is said to be the most powerful radio transmitter in the ...

      Well out ime in Denham is over, and we have moved further up the coast.     We dont know how the people of Denham found out we were leaving, but they put on a beautiful fireworks display to send us off.          Some say it was the end of their fishing competition week.....but we know the real reason....     After departing Denham we made out way north towarda Canarvon.  We arrived in Canarvon and had a BBQ lunch at Pelican Point, nice view of the ocean, not a pelican in sight (false advertising...)     After lunch we visited the Canarvon Space and Technology Museum.   What an amazing place, Canarvon was an important link in the Apollo space missions.   Whilst Parkes gets all the glory (and the movie) Canarvon was key in the Apollo 11 mission, being the station to confirm the "Go-No Go" confirmation for the spacecraft to leave earth orbit and head for the moon.     The is a ple...

    Friday, as we've just had a couple of days free camping, this morning was catch up with the housework and washing day......     As per usual Bev had that done in no time, and soon we set off on the 25 minute drive across to Monkey Mia.     In days gone by visitors we able to enter the water and interact with the dolphins that frequent the shoreline.   These days of course, OH&S and the like, have put the kibosh on that.     So, like many others we lined up on the beach, for a close up look at a number of dolphins as they patrolled up and down the shore.  Rangers are on hand to ensure we don't encroach, as well as giving an informative talk.      Happy little dolphin.... Mum and baby joined in....      Each day volunteers enter the water and hand feed  small amounts of fresh fish.         After feeding the dolphins, we ventured out on the nearby small jetty...  ...

      Oh yes. that's right....on holidays in W.A.           There is always aonther tourist willing to take a snap for you          We left Coronation Beach Thursday morning,  and headed further up the coast, towards Kalbarri.             Every now and then we treat ourselves to one of the many lookout spots along the coast, they never disappoint.     As you can tell the weather has been fantastic, cloudless skies, 26 degrees, light breeze......      We had a leisurely wander and lunch in Kalbarri, a beautiful spot (we've marked it as a sport for next time).   We then headed out of town for the two major highlights of the area.   The first was the Kalbarri Skywalk.  Twin counterlevered lookouts over the gorge carved out by the Murchison River.     The views speak for themselves....          The Skywa...

       After a nights rest at Leeman Caravan Park, we ventured forth northward, visiting Port Denison, where we encountered this bloke...     W e arrived at Geraldton just before lunch.   Our first port of call was the HMAS Sydney11 memorial.     The Sydney11 was famously involved in a sea batthe with the German raider Kormoran.       The Sydney was returning from an escort mission to the  Sunda Straits, whe she encountered the HSK Kormoran.  The Kormoran was disguised as a Dutch merchant vessel, and the Sydney went  to investigate, the Kormoran opened fire on the Sydney, the Sydney returned fire, resulting in the loss of both ships and their entire crews.     The location of the wreck of the Sydney and Kormoran went unknown for 66 years, only being discovered in 2008.    The memorial was erected in memory of the 645 members of the Sydney.          After...

    Today we bade farewell to the West Australian Capital, and made our way northward up the coast.     About 2 1/2 hours up the road, is an area, I can remember as a young lad, that the Leyland Brothers told us about.     The pinnacles are a collection of limestone formations.  There is some debate about how they formed, some say acient reefs whilst others say formed by limestone replacing the voids left by rotted trees.           However they formed, they are bloody spectacular....    There's alway a vandal .... Some are HUGE!           Amazing formations...      After we left the Pinnacles we headed further north, passed through Cervantes, a town famous for lobster fishing.      A typical fishing town, but judging by the size of some of the houses dotted throughout the town, lobster fishing pays pretty well......     Tonight we find our...

      Another beautiful morning here in the northern suburbs of Perth.  We have decided to zip down to Fremantle, and see what there is to see....     Firstly we took in 2 (yes two) weekend markets, whilst is was an excuse for a wander, I was not disappointed....yes they had 'Dream Catchers"!     After spending some time at the markets, and a bite of lunch we visited the W.A. Maritime Museum.         The America's Cup (replica) The famous Winged Keel....      There were displays too numerous to count, but a highlight of the museum was a guided tour of the HMAS Ovens, an Oberon class submarine.      Our guide Jeff, served on the Ovens and was very informative.          Bev did very well negotiating the ladders to board the submarine, it was a fascinating glimpse into the lifestyle nd workings of the sub     ...makes you want to yell   "Dive..Div...