Overcast
and still, forecast for a top of 24 degrees – summer is over.
Worked
on my blog – lots of photos from my new warranty replaced camera. At least I
don’t have to shrink these to fit into the text etc so that should make it
quicker.
Baked
some Anzacs while the laptop recharged and then put lamb chops into the Ecopot
for dinner.
Downloaded
some movies and TV series for Greg onto his hard drive. Steve went for a walk
around the point to the other side and found a wretched boat. He brought back
some big abalone shells.
After
lunch we drove back up the road then turned west onto a good gravel road that
runs parallel with the main bitumen road. All forestry trees along here. Met
the bitumen road down to Duke of Orleans Bay. Left the forestry trees for big
open pastures for sheep and emus and kangaroos. Don’t think the emus liked me
taking photos as they took off and the kangaroos followed them.
Straight
ahead is Table Island sitting in the middle of the Duke of Orleans Bay.
Stopped
at the picnic area then walked to the west to the beach. Nice view over the
bay. Clouds still hanging around inland but the sun is shining on the coast.
Along
the beach to the island which at the moment is connected by this sandspit.
Looking
back to the point where we parked then around the bay to the east which is also
part of the Duke of Orleans Bay.
Spotted
two eagles, one on the nest high on the island.
Interesting
round hole in the side of the big rock that is this island.
Steve
found some interesting spongy hair-bally things.
Walked
up along the east side of the spit this time and found Dailey River.
Found
more of the spikey things ‘growing’ in the bush.
Climbed
over the dune to the other side – looking back as the river winds further away
from the sea.
Back
to where we first walked down. Zoomed in on the caravan park on the other side.
No other ‘camping’ is allowed around this area.
Drove
around to the van park area and down to the boat ramp. These maps are good for
finding out what’s what island wise.
Looking
across the bay to Table Island with High and John Islands near it. Steve found
a cooked half eaten lobster tail.
Continued
along the road to the west – Mt Belches (156m elevation), another big rock.
Turned
off and headed back to the east to Nares Island. From a high point – Nares and
across to Table Island.
Down
to the beach. 4WD tracks going up the hill (van park on the other side).
View
around the bay and over Nares Island.
Back to the main road and continued on to Little Wharton Beach - more no camping signs, showing tents, caravans, motorhomes and buses. I think they have it covered!! Stopped at the top of the rise for a fabulous view.
Drove
down onto the rocky platform. Steve reckons he could get the van down here!!
Back
to the other side past another big rock which a cave in it.
The
sun is shining creating a perfect view over Wharton Beach. We were told it was
the best beach – some say even better than Lucky Beach but of course you can’t
camp here.
Drove
onto the beach – very hard.
Parked
beside another 4WD which Steve wanted to check out. A Nissan with a 6.5L V8
diesel Chev motor. Steve chatted with the chap while I made a cuppa.
I
zoomed in across the bay to Cheyne Point and in the distance the distinct
triangle of Frenchman Peak.
While
they chatted I stood in the water up to my knees drinking my coffee and
enjoying the clear blue water. The other lady was having a swim – well they are
from Adelaide so used to cold water. She came out and we chatted. They are on a
12 month trip of WA and NT and are interesting in detecting.
Headed
back. Onto the dirt road again and we stopped to chat with a couple moving
their grain silos. They have sold their farm and are shifting these to the next
farm – still had 100km to go. Thought of Malcolm transporting his silos in
Tassie so will send him this photo.
A
kangaroo stopped for a photo as we headed back to camp.
Turned
off before camp and drove part way down the track to the other side to check
out the boat wreck on the other side of our point. Looking from the rocks where
the wreck is across Duke of Orleans Bay to Table Island.
There
are bit of smashed items along the beach with bigger pieces near the rocks.
Walked
up over the rocks to the wreckage of ‘Jolynne’.
The
hull and motor are stuck on the rocks with the anchor chain and battery in the
water.
I
found a shell where the top casing has been worn away exposing the lovely shiny
pearlish coating.
Looking
further along the rocky point then back over the dune point. Our camps are
around the next little point.
Back
to camp. Three 4WDs towing trailers came down and headed along the beach to
near the creek entrance to camp. A few more cars came down, looked and then
turned around and drove off.
Sarah
and Leigh, a young couple on the road full time (ex Victoria) are camped in the
shrubs. Greg got his ‘pig’ cooker going and we sat around it having drinks using
his and our trucks to break the wind from the east which has picked up a lot.
Greg fried up some abalone he collected today and we all enjoyed entrée. I had
three lamb chops in the Ecopot so shared them with Greg later around the fire.
It was nice to be outside around a fire again.
Closed
up the van on the sea side as the wind has gotten quite strong but it is still
a comfortable temperature and the sky is heavy with clouds.
Thunder
and lightning again about 9pm with a quick scud of rain which sounded very
heavy on our roof.
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