Fri 17th Mar, 2017 Starvation Bay campground, east of Hopetoun, WA

Clear sky, 17 degrees, wind from the east now. Walked along the beach towards the east to find the No. 1 rabbit proof fence.

Along way round we spied a rock wall on top of rocks which is the southern end of the fence.

Went to the end of it – the rabbits would need floaties to get around this.

Look there is one now!!

Must have been a fence along the rocks too just in case they swam around the wall.

The fence then went across the beach and up into the scrub to where we saw it at the road then it travels all the north to just north of Port Hedland.

Scanning around the beach and bay.

Found a broken shell with all ‘mother-of-pearl’ gleam and a cute little abalone shell.

Walked back to our camp and neighbours were putting in their big boat off the beach but unfortunately went into the softer sand section and got it bogged. He had a Nissan so Steve joked he was giving Nissan’s a bad name but he laughed and said he had more coming to the rescue – his two sons had Nissans too so they didn’t need ours. Got it unbogged then backed in properly and off they went diving. It’s a bit choppy but it was a big boat.

Back to the van for a cuppa then Steve coloured my hair and then I did some baking.

Lovely warm day, 33 degrees in van at lunch time and the wind has dropped to just a light breeze.

Drove west to Masons Bay to check it out in case we want to move there. First we followed the track up the hill near us for a lovely view over a small lake.

Masons Bay’s campsites are set back in the bush too though there was a lower level closer to the beach where a couple of vans were set up. No wind here at all so the flies were out in force. Nice bay though the beach was covered in seagrass too. A school of herring were swimming around in circles in front of the couple fishing but they weren’t interested in their bait.

One map shows Masons Bay where the camp is but on another map it is beside Masons Point which is further west. We drove around to it for a look and down onto the point where we found a desalination plant for the nickel plant nearby (FMQ Aust Nickel).

Looking east to what the other map says is Masons Bay – the camp ground is around the big point in the distance.

Back up the road we followed another track around to the beach on the west side.

Back along the track to where the power lines go underground to another plant.

Back to the Southern Ocean Road again to where Lake Jerdacuttup has swollen and cut the road. Looks like it will be a long time before anyone uses this road again.

Home to the van for a cuppa then we rang Malcolm for a chat about his latest racing in Winton. He might be racing at Symmons Plains as a support for the V8s which will be exciting for him and he doesn’t have to travel far.

Chatted with our neighbours from Mandurah with the Nissans – the water was cloudy so they didn’t get too many fish or abalone today. They commented on the financial impact the floods have had as they came a week before Hopetoun’s annual summer festival so they all lost income and with the National Park access washed away that has stopped a lot of people going there too as there is still the 80km detour around the broken bridge at Ravensthorpe.

Walked around the campground then up the 4WD track to the top of the hill. Didn’t bring my camera!! Lovely view across the little lake as the sun was going down behind the hills.

Sat around our fire enjoying the warmer night. There is a heavy cloud band to the east. The mozzies arrived so headed inside.

Kev and Linda texted to say they were at their housesit (on a farm) and the chap was happy to have us stay here too. He is off on holidays and needed someone to mind the dog, sheep and the house. As the fishing isn’t exciting here we will head into them tomorrow.