Week Commencing 08.11.10

Week Commencing 08.11.10
Monday - 08.11.10 Today up early and heading down to Cerventes, we are going to see the Pinnacles. Setup camp and went for a walk around town and along the beach. A couple of jetties and lots of crayfish boats. Lots of seaweed around these shores.
Tuesday - 09.11.10 Today we visited the following fantastic places:
Lake Thetis – Near Cervantes is Lake Thetis which is one of only four known locations where Stromatolites (the world’s oldest living fossils) can be found.
Stromatolites at Lake Thetis
Pinnacles – In this area of varying coloured sand there are thousands of limestone pinnacles, which range in size up to 5 metres tall and 2 metres thick at the base. They were formed thousands of years ago when ancient plant roots formed a weak cementation of calcite within the dunes and have been exposed by wind and shifting sands. The park is also known for its annual wildflower displays. Much of the park is rich in limestone caves and native plants, scattered banksias, stunted gums, low tuart woodland and small wildflowers. Over 90 spicies of birds, common to the Swan Coastal Plain are found here. Most mammals are nocturnal but during the day you may see western grey kangaroos, bobtail skinks and other lizards and snakes are common. We were lucky to see a father Emu with his chicks. A bit of trivia if a father and his chicks cross another group walking if the chicks change groups they just continue as if they are part of the group. We took the 3km walk through the Pinnacles and then drove around them twice. It really was an amazing place.
Nambung National Park – The Pinnacles
Hangover Bay – We enjoy lunch here overlooking the beautiful blue bay. Very pretty, still some wildflowers in bloom.
Hangover Bay
Hansen Bay Lookout – Climbed the 74 steps to check out the view and was not disappointed.
Hanson Bay
Lake Thetis Skink at Lake Thetis
Wednesday - 10.11.10 – Today we visited the following places:
Stockman Gully Cave - We drove up the highway for about 40kms and then inland and hit the dirt roads once again. Driving through beautiful country, land covered in wheat and cattle and sheep. As we got closer to the cave the road became very sandy and into 4WD- no problems. We then walking the river bed for awhile (lucky we had our fly hats) flies everywhere and very hot. There were also big beehives full of feral bees. Once we reached the cave, it was amazing, it was cool and dark, lucky Bernie bought a torch with him. The cave went for about 250mtrs and then as you turned the corner you saw daylight. The sand was very clean and cool and the cave was very wide, no animals, bats were seen. The story goes the pioneers used this cave as a holding pen for their cattle. When you are these you can see why it is the perfect place. We came across two german women travelling together and they asked if they could follow us out as they were worried their car may breakdown on the lonely road.
Stockyard Gully Cave
Feral Bee Hives
Green Head – Peaceful and unspoilt by rapid development. Cray fishing and tourism are the towns main sources of income. We enjoyed a great lunch at the foreshore park and then walked to the two main lookouts.
Pebble Beach - Greenhead Dynabite Bay – Greenhead
Grigson Lookout – Here we had views towards the East and West. To the east you could see the Grigson Cattle Station and also the salt flats. To the west you could see the sand dunes which are constantly moving and over the beautiful Indian Ocean.
Salt plains
Wildflowers
Drifting Sands
Juien Bay – Was named by Commodore Nicholas Baudin in 1801, honouring Charles Juien of the French Naval Administration who later received the title of Baron Vicomte. In the latter part of the last century wheat, wool, coarse grains,bat manure, manna gum, kangaroo, cattle and horse hides were shipped from the jetty , built in 1885. Juien Bay could aptly be named “Jewel of the Central West Coast’ it is the centre of a newly formed Marine Park.
Views from Jurien Bay to one of the Islands
Thursday - 11.11.10 – Today we head to Perth. Rememberance Day. We stopped at Lancelin for lunch and attended the Rememberance Day Ceremory. The old diggers were just wonderful and welcomed us. Once we hit the Mitchell Highway we hit traffic, haven’t see this for quite awhile. We arrived at the caravan park and it is just beautiful. Everything about it is great, the people are so friendly.
Friday - 12.11.10 – Friday and we all went off to the 4WD and Caravan show. Yes we spent some money, but it was a great day.
Saturday - 13.11.10 – John played golf today at Joodulup Golf Club, said it was very impressive. He has wanted to play this course for years. We have meet a couple Di and Jeff and Jeff happens to be a golfer, this is fantastic. In the afternoon we went for a drive and enjoyed lunch at Hillary’s Harbour.
Sunday 14.11.10 – We went for a drive to Woodman’s Point to check out a caravan park. Fremantle was very busy so we didn’t have a good look around. Plan on doing that next week.
There we go another week over. The days seem to go so fast. Still having a great time and love this being retired.