June 20 ... Coral Bay

These oldies like to get up and get going early when it is time to move on. By sun up we were the only ones left who had to leave! Where are they going that they have to get away at first light?... we feel very tardy sleeping in till 7 ! Anyway, we also were on the road by 9am and went in to Canarvon to finalize our shopping and have a look at the historical jetty at the mouth of the Gasgoyne River. It is not anything particularly special  AND you have to pay to walk out it ... so we didn't. After buying a new radio, which we hope works better than the old one, we headed north.
It was only about 230 kms so it was a very easy drive. Along the way there was still a lot of water lying about and we saw more than a dozen wedge tail eagles gliding just above the road.
Coming into Coral Bay we drove into a large swarm of locusts and this swarm completely surrounds the settlement. There are millions of them and they are expected to stay here for some time yet. This is a bit funny because the last time we were here we were flooded in by a cyclone and the coral spawned. Because of the cyclone, the sea currents stayed onshore and the water became depleted of oxygen by the spawn, hence we had hundreds of dead, and very smelly, fish... everywhere. This is such a beautiful place but we seem to experience it on the rare occasions when something "nasty" is happening. In truth, the grasshoppers are not creating too big a problem ... just yet, anyway! Lucky I am an atheist or I would be starting to think along the lines of biblical plagues.

The brown haze above and around the hills are locusts!

A constant flight

The trees are thick with locusts

Fortunately we had booked some months ago at Coral Bay because the park is full. We have an excellent site, and it is huge. We are up the back a bit but the water is still only a short walk away. And it is hot ... absolutely beautiful. By the time we went for a walk and then set up, it was 4 pm but still Garry had to go for a swim, and he promised me it was warm. I will find out tomorrow.

Coral Bay Park

Coral Bay - the dark water is the reef.

First swim

 We are really looking forward to our week here. It will be the first time since we left home two months ago, where we truly have nothing much to do except indulge ourselves. There are no shops, no sights to see, and nothing much to do except go beaching! Sounds wonderful.