Tuesday 27^th March, 2012

In the morning at 8am Sandra wanted to exchange a book at the camping reception, but it was still closed. We thought they maybe have changed to winter time here in Western Australia without us knowing it. We knew from former Australia visits that the time changes can be different in each federal state. I asked at a petrol station and learnt that Western Australia does not change the time. Relieved we drove to Beekeepers Nature Reserve to see the salt lake. The salt shimmers in the light like snow. Left and right of the road is a huge area of salt. Then we drove with a few stops to Yanchep National Park. On the way we saw a grass tree with eight seed sticks. That we have not seen so far. At Yanchep National Park we first booked a guided tour to the flowstone cave. On the way to the cave I observed two Kookaburras in the tree. After watching them for a while we went into the flowstone cave. I was interesting to hear how they develop. We could touch a broken down peace of the rock. It looks like ice, gleams in the light, but feels like stone. After the tour we went to the Koala colony. We saw a few of them sleeping. In the same trees there were many, many black and white cockatoos. They made a huge noise and were flying around all the time. As it was already after 3pm we wanted also to see the kangaroos. Here in the park there should live some Western Grey Kangaroos. As we did not met any on our walk I wanted to go back to the Koalas. This was a good decision then one of them walked down the tree to get to the fodder. We watch it very long and had then do decide what we want to do now as we still did not see any kangaroos. I called the camping of Midland and reserved a place as we wanted to drive there today anyway. Immediately after the kangaroos passed jumping. We were fascinated by these animals which did not let themselves disturb by humans. Then we drove to Midland to pass our last night in the camper. In the camping we did not find immediately our place as we did not see any numbers. A kind man explained that they stand on the side of the road and we realized that his car is standing at our place. We put our camper so that his car fitted beside it. In the evening we started to put our stuff together.

Monday 26^th March, 2012

Punctually at 8:45am we sat at a pelican feeding. Unfortunately only one pelican came. First all children could throw a fish to the animal. Then the ranger asked who else would also like to do it. I wanted and thus held out a fish. It is interesting how fast they can snap. After we drove to the Rainbow Jungle Bird Park. Here we could see many different parrots and cockatoos. There were many beautiful ones. From the bird park we changed to the cliffs of the Kalbarri National Park. First we drove to Red Bluff and got an impression of the cliffs. After we drove to Mushroom Rock, here we hiked down to the sea. The cliffs look here like mushrooms. Further we went to the Island Rock, a rock standing in the sea. Then we continued driving to the Natural Bride which was eroded into the rocks by the sea. With this view we left the National Park and continued southwards. We followed partially the same road as at the beginning our our trip. We left out the minute's silence at the place of the breakdown. In Northhamption we wanted to get some cash, but the ATMs did not want to. The first one did not know about Swiss cards and second one was out of order. So we continued and could withdraw some cash a bit outside of Geraldton. With a few stops to photographically capture the landscape we drove to Eneabba. Our map told that there should be a camping, but that was not true. So we switched on the navi and were looking for the next one. There should be one in Leeman which is 31 km away. As it was already 5:30pm we had to rush as they usually close reception at 6pm. We passed Lake Loque National Park and the Beekeepers Nature Reserve. Here a huge salt lake was sparkling in the evening sun. As we did not have time to stop we will return tomorrow. A bit after 6pm we reached Leeman and found a place to stay. We parked the camper and went to the sea to watch the sunset. In the evening we walked again to the sea and enjoyed an enchanting sky full of stars.

Thursday 22^nd March, 2012

After getting up we heard again a few parrot chicks. Sandra also saw ibises and thus we went to look for the birds to take pictures. After we went to the Visitor Center of the Karijini National Park. There we informed us about the road situation. The gravel roads are open again since some quite a time. In this National Park you first see red rocks which are partially covered with green. In the Park we found a few yellow and violet flowers, but for the wild flowers we are too early. To sea the real beauty of the park we drove to the the Joffre Falls. We enjoyed the view to the falls from above and then started the hike downwards. On the half way I left my hiking sticks at a rock as we now had to climb. During the hike we saw from time to time lizards, red and blue dragonflies, a milliped, many birds, frogs and ants. A lizard and a bird made me stop as I thought it could be a snake. Down at the river bed we had to go a few meters through water reaching the thighs. Our pants got wet and Sandra had to care that her mobile phone did not start to swim. But here you could see the real hight of the falls. The way back made us transpire. Back at the camper we drove to Knox Lookout. Here we had an extreme wide view over the National Park and its deep gorges. At the Junction Pool and at Oxer Lookout we could maze over very deep gorges. Our last lookout for today was (Mount Bruce). Here we could see the two highest points of Western Australia. Then we drove to the Dales Camping to spend a night in the wild nature. We failed in starting the grill of camping and the grill of the camper. So we only had salad and cold chicken. But we could enjoy the sunset and stayed outside until it got dark.

Wednesday 21^st March, 2012

Already very early in the morning I got waken by the parrots. They started to make big noise shortly after 3am. In between I could sleep again, but it was not very recreative. At 5:45am the alarm rung as there is a long day awaiting us. We enjoyed a bit the morning atmosphere and started just before sunrise. Our first stop was a termite mound to which a sign pointed. Here we watched it from close. Then we continued driving and had to care that we did not hit any sheep as they were grazing at the side of the road. Our journey was accompanied also by emus and a few cows. We also made a few picture stops in the outback. I realized that Australia is not really flat as we were passing a wonderful hill landscape. The area got greener and greener and yellow and red shades made it very interesting. A cyclone had passed last week and there has been a lot of rain. The last 70 km to Tom Price are gravel road. After we passed the 50 km the sound of our vehicle changed immediately. We immediately found our problem: in the back the left tire was completely broken. We were looking for the spare tire and prepared for a long waiting as we did not have mobile phone reception. But very soon two friendly Australians passed and stopped. They helped us to change the tire and we were very thankful. They told us that they are checking the road for damage made by the cyclone. With the spare tire we drove to Tom Price and looked there for a mechanic. He explained that a new one will be 300 dollars. Or he could look if he has an used one. We called Apollo and they wanted a new one which we should have to pay. Sandra explained that we also did not have new tires on the camper. The answer as always: the car was checked for damage. We know this saying already too good. As the mechanic talked to Apollo, he demanded them to pay. Let's see how this resolves, but first we enjoy our vacation. During dinner preparation we talked to an Australian who told us that all gravel roads in the Karijini National Park are closed. The main road is tarred and can be used. We should go to the visitor center and inform us about the road situation. We will do that and hope to see something from the National Park. She told us also that the parrots are so noisy because they feed their chicks and this all around the clock. I just hope they do this not anymore beside our camper.

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.