19 Carnarvon to Shark Bay 30th August 2012

30th August 2012

Our final day in Carnarvon was very nice. We drove out to the two roads on either side of the Gascoyne River. These two roads run for about 4 or 5 kilometers each. They are all farms and we wanted to visit Bumbacks (get your bum back to Carnarvon) where there are beautiful jams, preserves, ice cream, soaps and beauty products made by a lovely young woman, who is trained as a school teacher. She must have the gift of creativity and also the nous to make the whole enterprise so successful. I wanted to try her banana jam, but as usual, ended up with mango jam, which is absolutely delicious.

Following that, we visited an old farmer who showed us around his mixed fruit and vegetable property. It is very labour intensive. We were given the most beautiful beans which grow up on tall sticks. We also sat down and had a good chat about the problems the farmers face. Two years ago there was a massive flood in Carnarvon which carried off a pub and a frig full of beer. At another time of the year the grasshoppers came in and ate every green thing they could find. This year, the Gascoyne River's underground aquifers are full of salty water, which is no good for the crops at all.

Later we took a ride on the local train which runs out for a mile on the local pier. The area is known as One Mile Jetty. It was built in 1897 and was Carnarvon's only link with the outside world. There was no road to Perth in those days. It has been partially burnt down three times and the repair work is not completed. We had a little "Coffee Pot" Engine. We travelled out over the most beautiful turquoise blue waters. Primarily the train was for the transport of persons and goods between Perth and Carnarvon via ship. Many of the old relics of past engines and trains are still there.

The van park in Carnarvon had a bright light just outside my bedroom window, which kept me awake each night. I eventually attacked the light with a thick bucket, which I placed over the top of the light. I noticed, however, that the full moon was up and it was like daylight outside the van, so Graeme suggested I put another bucket over the moon. I think it would just about have fitted into another bucket.

A further half day's driving brought us to World Heritage Area of Shark Bay and Monkey Mia. The ocean here, which surrounds yet another peninsula, is clear as crystal green and the deeper waters are blue.

Today we walked from the car to Eagle Bluff where the crystal clear waters revealed many sharks swimming there, and a little further out were the Sea Grass beds with Dugongs feeding or dolphins frolicking. We also visited the Ocean Park Acquarium where a marine biologist taught about the many interesting fish there. 

We are just about in the most westerly part of Australia, most westerly pub, caravan park, etc. Also we travelled across the 26th parallel driving down, but as we drove into the National Park, we once again crossed back over the 26th parallel. This parallel runs through South America, Africa and Australia and several oceans, and is said to be the longest straight line in the World. (check it out on the web, cool!).

The wild flowers commenced on the drive towards the Overlander Roadhouse and kept up right throughout the Shark Bay World Heritage Area. The World Heritage area is Mallee-type country with lots of red sand between the plants, many of which are about to burst into flower. Our van park is up high on the ocean and has a beautiful outlook. Safer not to get into any of the surrounding ocean, however. We can see Dirk Hartog Island just across the way, where he nailed his pewter dish in 1616 when he visited from Holland. 

 The feeding of the dolphins at Monkey Mia is on the agenda for 7.30 am tomorrow. This reminded me that I once swam holding on to the tail of a dolphin in Queensland, many years ago, and Darlene, who was about three years old, was pulled around in a small boat by the same dolphin. One is not likely to see these types of activities these days. This is probably a place so unique, it is truly worthy of a visit. It has an enormous number of animals, fish and plants to qualify it as a World Heritage Site.