Kalbarri

Can't believe that we will be waiting to board the Spirit in 5 weeks, the last 15 weeks have flown. We have travelled so far, seen and done so much that we sometime have to go back to our photo's and blog, just to refresh our poor old memories of where we have been, what a great time we have had.

Leaving Shark Bay we stopped to have a look at Shell Beach which is approx 50 kilometres from Denham the beach is made up entirely of billions of tiny cockle shells which are about 8 metres deep and stretching for over 120 kilometres. The shells were once used to build walls of buildings in the area some of these buildings we saw when we were in Denham.

We have spent this last week here at Kalbarri and what a lovely picturesque spot it is situated on the mouth of the Murchison River, we are leaving tomorrow and we would loved to have stayed longer. We have also been lucky to have had the company of Carlene & Rex also Maree and Brian but the happy hours and the walks via the Bakery and the occasional morning coffee along with long lunches at the other eateries around the town, have not been so good for our waist lines. Maree and Brian have since left us and are now down in Perth. We will leave Carlene and Rex tomorrow who will be staying on here at Kalbarri for a few more days.

On our walks along the foreshore we usually end up sitting at the lookout at Chinamans Rock where we are able to watch the whales as they come in close to the shoreline. A couple of days ago we hired a double kayak and paddled to the mouth of the Murchison River, it was very pleasant in the bay as it is protected by Oyster Reef, a very hazardous reef that as the boats leave the river mouth they head straight out towards the reef and then turn parallel to the beach for about 40 metres before heading out into the Indian Ocean, quiet a maneuver.

Yesterday we went out to the Kalbarri National Park where we were able to view the Murchison Gorge unfortunately the road to the Z Bend & Natures's Window was closed due to upgrading of the road, had heard it was in very poor condition so they are now sealing it and only allowing tour buses through until it is completed.  In the afternoon we went south of Kalbarri to view the coastal cliffs and beaches very stunning scenery along the cliffs, with plenty of access roads and paths giving you great vantage points.

Today we awoke to an overcast sky and a drop in the temperature, it was not long after that we heard the rumble of thunder and now we are experiencing our first rain since Coober Pedy back in May. It is a good thing that we have the Pajero booked in for new rear tyres at Geraldton as we expect the weather to deteriorate as we go further south. We did not expect to have to replace the tyres as we had new tyres fitted before we left home, but they are now illegal  have only done 15 thousand kilometers, hot roads and towing the van have taken a toll.

Shell Beach Shark Bay

Carlene,Rex, Maree and Brian enjoying a long lunch!

Mouth of the Murchison River

Kalbarri from the lookout

Kalbarri

Murchison Gorge

Rugged coastline (Pot Alley)