Coastal drive to Geraldton

Tuesday 27^th July.

We left Kalbarri and drove through the southern end of the national park to view the lovely coastal cliffs on our route to Geraldton.  Wild and rugged cliffs dot the drive down, we were lucky that the sun was shining, because we saw our first whales!

the whale's underbelly.

The first ones were way out to sea, we could just see the splash as they breached. Then John saw one in the water beneath the cliffs. Of course we didn’t get any good photos, only a fleeting glimpse of an underbelly, but better than nothing.The type of whale that migrate up the west coast are humpbacks I think. Some people at the lookout with us said they have seen southern right whales in Bremer Bay, at the southern end of WA.

A little echidna crossing the road.

Natural Bridge

The cliff lookouts are great, most just a short walk from the car park. We managed to dislodge a copper log after driving in to close to it in the parking bay, reversing back over it. They were short logs for design only.

Heading south from Kalbarri, we continued down to the highway, passing a pink lake on the way near Port Gregory. The unique algae in the lake, called dunaella salina, which is salt tolerant, gives it its appearance.

the Pink Lake.

We passed through some beautiful farming country, the green crops against the red dirt and blue sky was a beautiful palette that any artist could get excited about.

We arrived at the caravan park early afternoon to a very windy welcome. The park is situated right on the ocean. We went towards the beach, the waves were slamming into the shore, the sand whipping around and stinging our legs. We booked into the park and went for a short drive to the visitor centre. A storm came through just before dark and continued through the night.

Wednesday,28^thJuly.

Still windy, but sunny today. We went to the Sydney Memorial, an impressive domed sculpture, built in remembrance of the 645 Australians men who were on the ship Sydney off the Western Australian coast when it was sank by a German ship during a second world war battle in 1941. The German ship sank also and some German sailors survived.  There were no Australian survivors. The wrecks of both ships were only found in 2008. The names of the men are on a granite wall, the dome depicts 645 seagulls. Also there is a life like statue of a woman looking out to sea, the figure of a waiting woman, grieving for a lost loved one.

The bronze sculpture.

The WA Museum was next on the list. Some interesting displays , one on the Batavia mutiny and another on the sinking of the Sydney.

A coffee and a sandwich at the shops, then back to the park, after a look at the beautiful cathedral of St Francis Xavier.

St.Francis Xavier cathedral.