DAY 6 ~ Friday
It was time to move on again. Sadly we missed the first ’round’ of dolphins but didn’t want to leave until we’d said ‘goodbye’. They eventually came about 10.30 and we said our farewells before we hit the road.
On the way back to the highway we stopped to see a fascinating lizard that Ian spotted on the road, a stumpy tailed skink – a blue-tongue lizard. It’s difficult to describe: about a foot long, and four inches wide, with thick chunky scales like roof tiles and a triangular head. It was in the middle of the road and we didn’t want it to get run-over, so we tried (not knowing if it was harmless or not) to ‘encourage’ it across. It just went around in circles, sticking out its blue
tongue and hissing at us! Fortunately, another van came along and stopped. One of the chaps said they were harmless creatures, picked it up and safely rescued it to the side of the road.
We stopped at Eagles Bluff, apparently a good location for spotting sealife far below, but there were no mantas or dugongs about, so we
contented ourselves with our wonderful lizard sighting.
Then we went on to the aforementioned Shell Beach which was exceptionally interesting. By the water it was all free flowing shells, like a treasure chest of money, showers of doubloons, but further away from the shore, they were more packed down and almost solid. It was amazing. The water was an azure blue and in contrast the shells so white, it was stunning and well worth the stop.
Back on the main road, we stopped at a roadhouse for the usual cheese and tomato toastie. Then drive drive, drive, drive, long and dull and getting dark, toward Coral Bay – 580km (350 miles). We cheered as we crossed the Tropic of Capricorn and enjoyed another impressive sunset!
It is pretty hairy driving at dusk in rural Australia, as that’s usually when the kangaroos decide to cross the road in front of you. I was on ‘roo alert’ as Ian pelted full speed toward our next camp stop at Coral Bay. We arrived without mishap, and got a spot at the Peoples Camping and Caravan site, the one nearest the beach. It was not a pleasant place, so many rules and restrictions, and very busy, but we didn’t have much choice at that point. Though Monkey Mia had been touristy it
felt somehow more exclusive. This felt like the hordes at some tacky seaside resort!
DAY 7 ~ Saturday
A week into the trip!
“Not much to write today”, I told my diary – relaxed on the beach for about 6 hours, alternating between sun bathing and snorkelling. The coral was a way out from shore and quite deep so I was a bit nervous, freaked by the tales about those tiger sharks the researcher had told, that they move to warmer climes at this time of year. We saw sting-rays and very colourful parrot fish. It was crystal clear water. There were shoals of silvery fish in the shallows that would encircle and surround you.
Completely sun-drenched, we headed back to the dreaded campsite to ‘enjoy’ the tunes of the Saturday night booze session of our neighbours – obviously long term tenants. It was a 50/60′s mix of among others, the Beach Boys and “Shout” by Lulu. I envied their relaxed lifestyle, it seemed many of them had pretty much set up home there. The beers were certainly flowing that night!
Jump to the days…
Fri-Sat
Week 2
