Finding Nemo

Hi everyone and hope you have not put on too much weight over Christmas. If not don’t worry you still have New Year to go!

We certainly haven’t as it has been so hot – peaked at 47 degrees in the shade! water and only a little food has been consumed over the last few days. We did manage however a nice T Bone steak for Christmas dinner on the BBQ. There was a very amusing moment however as there were about 15 people on a trip up the coast at the camp kitchen and they were being explained to what a Christmas cracker was and how to use it! (Yes you guess it the Americans were in and no madam it isn’t dangerous and wont explode in your face.)

This blog is more about what we have got up to over the last week and links into the main reason we came up here and every kilometre was definitely worth it (3,000 km to date). We have had an amazing time mainly in the waters around the coast here (hence title!) which are quite stunning with the reef literally a few metres away from the beach and very large fish swimming in less than knee deep crystal clear water.

Our Week

Dolphin Feeding Monkey Mia:

Paddling with sharks -  25 black tipped ones!

We have  paddled and swum with  sharks on a couple of occasions mostly knowingly! Its not called Shark Bay for nothing and as advised by one of the locals ‘never go swimming around here on your own it increases the odds!’

Fishing for the big ones:

They say owners begin to look like their pets!  The fish was excellent eating – along with a bream and sweetlips that David also caught.

Playing with Manta Rays

This was a great trip snorkelling near the outer reaches of the reef – 3 snorkels in total and found these Manta Rays playing, a number of sharks including a Tiger Shark (this one though we did not swim with!), turtles and hundreds of colourful fish.

We also had an amazing trip out by 4x4 vehicle into the Francois Peron National Park – amazing deserted beaches and great views over bays with sharks and Manta Rays (even some jumping).

Our (lazy and rather water orientated) Christmas Day:-

Woken up at 5.45 am by the locals screeching in the open window wanting breakfast!  Dawn got up to feed them – David refused to budge.

7.00 Breakfast with the above and a dozen or so of his friends – most of our Muesli was donated to the birds as it was Christmas (David was wondering about his Christmas!).

8.00 Went to the local beach for a swim temperature already in excess of 30C

10.00 Went to the pool for a swim

11.30 Had shower

12.00 Lunch - managed to eat a ham roll and an apple between us

12.30 Had another shower

1.30 Prepared for the 2.00 Skype broadcast to friends and family

1.45 David realised that 8.00am in England is actually 4.00pm here not 2.00!

3.00 Bothered by Emus! They are big when they appear from behind your vehicle and you are sat down having a quiet drink!

4.00 Dying of heat now 47C in the shade – made Skype broadcast

5.00 Back on beach for another Swim

6.30 Another shower

7.15 Christmas dinner - T Bone Steak on the BBQ

9.00 Another Skype broadcast to rest of the family

10.00 Bed - absolutely exhausted

Boxing Day – Went to Cape Range National Park

More snorkelling, more amazing beaches and hundreds of Kangaroos and Wallabies – even saw some Red ones apparently quite a rare sight in Australia now in the wild.

Is this the grandson of ‘Skippy’?

Koala Korner:

Koala fish – no not really just a cute fish from our snorkel!

We are now off South of Perth to Mandurah and face a 1300km drive over 4 days to start the next part of our trip. This will take us around the South West which mainly will contain trips to Wineries (apparently there are some breweries too!), National Parks and more Beaches. On New Years Eve we should be in Bunbury where we are off ‘Trotting’ (this is horse racing where the jockey sits on a trap behind the horse) followed by fireworks.

Have a great New Year.

Love

David and Dawn