DAY 59 - 7TH JUNE 2013 KALBARI - DONGARA

Day 59– 7 June 2013  -  Kalbari - Dongara

Up at 5am as we had to drive towards Northampton to get back onto the route as per our itinerary. So Walter jumped on the bike 30 kms before Northampton and it was bitterly cold with biting winds. Walter is also suffering from a cold which makes having to battle these extreme weather conditions more difficult. We estimated that it was around 4 or 5 degrees that morning. This first section was extremely hilly with very steep climbs (around 20% many of them)

Walter began cycling at around 7am.

Cycling stats:  120kms

Cycling Average:  28.5 kms

We decided to make this trip a bit shorter as we have plenty of time to arrive in Perth by Monday 10^th June (afternoon) and this makes things a bit easier for Walter too given he has a cold.

Andrea & I arrived in Northampton – it’s a very English historical little town and we enjoyed a quick walk up the main street after buying fuel. As we are getting closer to Perth the fuel costs are getting a whole lot cheaper – now only $1.55 per litre instead of $1.70 - $1.80 we have been paying previous to this.

We couldn’t believe the sudden change in the landscape – so very green and lots of farms & this is a huge grain growing region so there was lots of winter crops so huge expanses of green fields & sheep to be seen along the way.

The road was undulating and we had pre-arranged to meet just outside the southern part of Geraldton (we needed to buy food supplies) and so stopped before the CBD as this is the biggest city we have been through. AAAhh traffic lights and many of them in a row – I haven’t seen any since Mt Isa and it is quite a shock to suddenly come back into a big bustling city.

Anyway some time later we finally stopped just outside Geraldton and on the main highway to Perth. We waited for Walter and waited and waited. We had estimated we should arrive around the same time. We started to worry after a time and as Walter’s phone had recently run out of credit he couldn’t phone us – he had decided to keep riding and so was around 50 kms up the highway by this time when he called us using someone else’s phone – I tried to ring his phone but he didn’t hear it as he was riding – he eventually answered and told us where he was so we were quickly in pursuit.

A lovely roadside lunch about 15 kms before Dongara and then into The Information Centre to find out where to from here. We made the decision to stay and so very glad we did. We had the whole afternoon and it was sunny and this little place with its sister town of Denison is so very picturesque. I opted once again for a huge walk and started off along the beach – the incoming tide and quite big waves was exhilarating and then we came across the beautiful Irwin Estuary located behind the dune bank which runs parallel to the beach. It is a natural bird sanctuary and we knew we were getting closer to Perth as there were quite a few black swans. We also saw cormorants, darts, egrets, ospreys and many other species in the large estuary. The local Council had done an excellent job as in some sections you could walk along the sandy edge and then join sections of timber boardwalk. Andrea turned back as she wanted to visit  the Dongara township but I had my runners on and was ready for a big walk so I crossed the sand bar on the beach which is the marker to cross the river to allow you to get to the sister town of Denison. Firstly over one of the boardwalks over & through the estuary & up the flights of timber steps to the look-out and then another couple of kms to Denison and a walk over the marina.  This was an unknown place to me but it is really is a wonderful place to visit.

Walter was happy to relax and rest back at our camping ground. When I arrived back and climbed into the van – what a lovely surprise Andrea had found a really lovely douna in a second hand shop for our bed. She knew I had been feeling the cold the last few days and so had bought us a little present. It made such a difference having that extra layer.  Thank you Andrea !!! Andrea had also made some purchases of some track suit pants, beanie, gloves and long sleeved T-Shirts as she had not been expecting these wintery conditions.

Dramatic change to farming landscape

Green green green after weeks of desert landscapes

The majestic W A Black Swan

A lovely spot to enjoy the afternoon

View over The Irwin Estuary and Bongara Beach

Many species of water birds

A birds eye view - they love the view from here too

Sweetest little music shop I have ever seen...

Andrea - All ready for another cold night in her new winter gear