Sunday 25^th March 2012

The alarm clock did not yet get of as early as today. It should ring on 5:45, but I realized it only on 6 o'clock. We hoped to see the sun through the Nature's Window. Unfortunately this did not happen until 8 am, so we went to the Z Bend viewpoint. On our morning drive through the national park we saw an emu and kangaroos. At the Z Bend we enjoyed the view over the gorge of the Murchison River, the biggest river of the region. To move a bit we walked and climbed down to the river. The way is 2.6 km long and very step and demanding. But it was worth it. The only thing disturbing are the flies. Next we drove to the Nature's Window. We realized that the sun is already too high. I looked at the path leading to the ridge. It looked difficult and we decided not to hike here. Then we left the park and returned into it a few kilometer in the north. We stopped at the viewpoint at Hawk's Head, but it was only a not so spectacular view to the river. Thus we drove further to the Ross Graham Lookout. Here we saw the river and the width of the park. We hiked down to the river and enjoyed the different colors of the rocks. To recover from the heat we went back to Kalbarri. On the way we made a short stop at the Meanarra Hill Lookout and joyed the endless vastness of Australia. On one side we could only see the national park, on the other we saw Murchison River flowing into the sea.

The afternoon we slept and recovered from the last days. As the temperature got a bit more bearable we walked along the river shore to Chinamans Rock. From here we could see the river hitting the sea. It happens that waves from both sides met each other. We looked at the sunset, but it was Unfortunately behind the clouds. As it was Sunday, we enjoyed the dinner with wine.

Saturday 24^th March, 2012

In the morning we got up early and thus we also started early. In Meekatharra I had a problem with the key of the camping as I lost it somehow after the last toilet visit. So I had to leave back the key deposit, but fortunately it was not very high. As we started driving the sky was covered by black clouds and it was not very warm. After a short time we stopped and changed to long trousers. Thinking about hot chocolate we drove to Cue and were looking for it in the sleepy village. Thanks to a hint we drove to the road house. Here we could prepare the chocolate by ourselves, but it was only one with water. In the rain we drove to Lake Austin. Here I wanted to take a picture and Sandra parked the car a the side of the road. As the car stood inclined and I opened the window, the water flowed into the car like a waterfall. With wet trousers we drive to Yalgoo to refuel. Unfortunately the machine did not accept my credit card. But we saw a church built by Monsignor John Hawes, the architect of the cathedral of Geraldton. This one we just watched from the outside and continued over the granary of Western Australia. In the interior we saw may harvested grain fields. We arrived at uur destination Kalbarri a bit after 4pm and found soon a camping. This time we got to Kalbarri without breakdown. As there was still some time left, we went to Nature's Window. Here the nature etched a window into a rock. We had to hurry as it was already late afternoon and it starts to get dark already after 6pm. On the way we met two kangaroos which left the road only after we took sufficient pictures. More picture stops followed and we reached the main road as it was already quite dark, but the the many stops were worth it.

Monday 19^th March, 2012

Shortly after we had to show the park pass there were any parrots sitting on the street. The flew away just to land again a few meters ahead in front of our camper. They made that game twice and then Sandra told me to go on. We wanted to drive until the end of the park for a short walk. On the way I saw a kangaroo sitting in the bush. As soon as we left the car it jumped away. We saw a few more on the mountain side. We enjoyed from far the jumping animals and continued. During the drive we also saw a few emus walking through the bush. After a few picture stops we arrived at Yardie Creek Gorge. There a river is crossing the park. We hiked for an hour around the river to get an impression of the landscape at the river. But we did not want to hike longer as it was already hot. We drove back to the Mandu Mandu Gorge. Here there is another 3 km hike, but we did not do it as it got warmer and warmer. So we drove to Turquoise Bay and walked along the turquoise water. Our last destination on the western side of the National Park was Mangrove Bay. Not even the hint of Sandra made me think that it could have something to do with mangrove trees. We had to go back to Exmouth to get to the southern side of the National Park. After another 20 km we took the way to the Shothole Canyon under wheels. The gravel road in the canyon goes up and up. For the last hundred meters we even needed the 4WD. On the way in and out we saw we saw many beautiful rocks shimmering in different colours. The Shothole Canyon amazed us with its diversity of colours. Back on the road we went to the Charles Knife Road. First a normal road, then a gravel road which leads up higher and higher. Up there was a beautiful view over the canyons, the sea and the endless width of Australia.

Saturday 17^th March, 2012

Shortly before sunrise we awoke as I wanted to take pictures of the sunrise. But according to Sandra I was not allowed to get back inside of the camper. Already inside I heard the flies buzzing and when I went outside I was surrounded by some of them. Now I understood Sandra's warning. Soon we continued driving and enjoyed the morning atmosphere around us. Far ahead a kangaroo crossed the road. Our first destination was Carnavon, a seemingly nice town. Unfortunately the road was under construction in the center. We enjoyed a breakfast and went shopping and filling up fuel. Then we drove to the blowholes where a nice coast awaited us. The blowholes produce only small fountains as the tide was not yet in. We thus decided to drive to Lake Macleod, a salt lake. After we came back again to the blowholes, but now the fountains were gone. After the next fuel stop we drove to Coral Bay. While driving I saw some strange rocks and asked Sandra, if they might be termite mounds. With some distance, we did not know if these animals attack, we made a few pictures of them. Later we saw a emu crossing the road, good luck we did not need to slam on the brakes. In Coral Bay we were looking for a camping. Unfortunately we could not rent snorkel equipment for today anymore, thus we have to wait until tomorrow. Shortly before sunset we took a refreshing bath in the sea. For the sunset I was back at the shore, but Sandra stayed in the water. During dinner we go a show as a silly German remove this clothes and run from the kitchen. I did not really see it as it was behind my back, but Sandra had a VIP place.

Wednesday 14^th March, 2012

We got up already at 6am as a long day was waiting for us. First I called my travel agency in Sydney to tell them about our problem with Apollo. Allegedly we were unfortunate. They look now how Apollo may compensate us for the lost time. We just passed Kalbarri as we had already booked the camping in Monkey Mia. We will come back later. We drove a never-ending road through the outback to the Hamelin Pool and visited the stromatoliths. At the rocks there was an emu accompanying us. As we watched the shore we observed tourists walking on these living rocks which is forbidden. I think they also do not like to be kicked in the face! On the way back to the camper I saw a kangaroo jumping away, but not without shortly stopping for a picture. It was 40° C in the shadow and the heat made us tired. So we decided to drive without stop to Monkey Mia. There arrived we made first a break and drunk litres of water. In the resort emus were walking around. Towards the later afternoon we drove to the Francois Peron National Park. Only 4WDs are allowed on this road and the it got more and more sandy. We got a bad feeling and turned. As soon as we had turned the car we became stuck in the sand. Luckily there are saving angels. Two kind Australians explained us, that we should have let off air from the tires. Somehow we did not consider a sign at the entrance. They helped us and then they followed us until the park entrance. Somehow we cannot do it without adventures.