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gemfyre24/3/2011
I had to write today’s diary by hand due to the laptop having barely any charge.
Another day where plans changed multiple times. I am currently hiding from flies in my car at Billabong. Unfortunately a bunch of the buggers have got in anyway. I really, really hope they go away when it gets dark.
Had to leave Coral Bay this morning. My neighbours went to bed about the same time I did so we all slept soundly. I was on the road by 8am. The trip to Carnarvon would only take 2.5 hours. I stopped in at Minilya briefly just to check it out.
Before getting to Carnarvon I wanted to check out Lake McLeod and the Point Quobba Blowholes. The road in had many roadworks – photos seen later at the visitor’s centre showed the flood damage. Lake McLeod is visible in a few spots. Lots of water and even fish, but the only birds were Zebra Finches and Budgies, no waders. At the end of the road there is no sign to the blowholes. I decided to go north first and checked out the wild looking coast and Quobba Station before learning I had to turn south for the blowholes.
The numbers of grasshoppers were ridiculous. You would occasionally drive through great clouds of them, like a locust plague. The rocks on the shoreline bristled with them and many had drowned in the waves below. The blowholes weren’t blowing, but the surf was still impressive. There is a small camping area and fishing village here – very cute.
On arrival at Carnarvon I discovered that my laptop charger had broken. It has only 10% charge left. Bugger – seeing as I’ll have net reception where I’m staying.
I’d briefly considered going on to Wooramel or Billabong so I’d have more time for Kalbarri stuff tomorrow, but a look into the visitor centre had me deciding to stay. I went down to the harbour café for lunch (I was told I could get crab – I couldn’t). I got a prawn roll instead. While eating a huge storm cloud appeared out of nowhere and rumbled threateningly. Then it rained. Boy did it rain! And flash, and rumble. Well this was no good for kicking around town. So I decided to refuel and take a look at the jetty (it was high tide anyway – but I would have liked to walk out there), and head off. I figured it probably wouldn’t be raining further south (it wasn’t), but if it was, I could probably get indoor accommodation cheaper.
I passed through Wooramel, Overlander, past the Shark Bay turnoff and onto Billabong, where I was delighted to find oldies music playing again (a lot of Beatles and Elvis). Not so impressive were the flies. The caravan park ground is hard so my swag is badly pegged but it’ll do. At least the ablution block is decent. I gave up on the idea of cooking something on the camp stove among the swarming flies and retreated to the roadhouse for dinner. Not too bad for the price, the plate was loaded! This fish was bland, dry and chewy and I left half of it. The rice and stir fry were very tasty though, I scoffed them.
I’ll have to leave soon. Will probably be in bed by 8:30 – hopefully the flies have eased up with the dark. I’ll head off for the much nicer surrounds of Kalbarri ASAP.
24/3/2011 (Coral Bay, Point Quobba, Carnarvon, Wooramel, Billabong Roadhouse)
Australian Pipit
Australian Ringneck
Black Kite
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
Black-faced Woodswallow
Brown Falcon
Brown Songlark
Budgerigar
Chiming Wedgebill (H)
Cockatiel
Crested Pigeon
Crested Tern
Diamond Dove
Galah
Great Egret
Little Buttonquail
Little Corella
Little Crow
Magpie Lark
Nankeen Kestrel
Peaceful Dove
Pied Butcherbird
Rainbow Bee-eater
Senegal Dove
Silver Gull
Singing Honeyeater
Torresian Crow
Tree Martin
UnIDed Duck
Wedge-tailed Eagle
Welcome Swallow
Whistling Kite
White-plumed Honeyeater (H)
White-winged Fairy-wren
Yellow-throated Miner
Zebra Finch
See all the photos from today here.
I had to write today’s diary by hand due to the laptop having barely any charge.
Another day where plans changed multiple times. I am currently hiding from flies in my car at Billabong. Unfortunately a bunch of the buggers have got in anyway. I really, really hope they go away when it gets dark.
Had to leave Coral Bay this morning. My neighbours went to bed about the same time I did so we all slept soundly. I was on the road by 8am. The trip to Carnarvon would only take 2.5 hours. I stopped in at Minilya briefly just to check it out.
Before getting to Carnarvon I wanted to check out Lake McLeod and the Point Quobba Blowholes. The road in had many roadworks – photos seen later at the visitor’s centre showed the flood damage. Lake McLeod is visible in a few spots. Lots of water and even fish, but the only birds were Zebra Finches and Budgies, no waders. At the end of the road there is no sign to the blowholes. I decided to go north first and checked out the wild looking coast and Quobba Station before learning I had to turn south for the blowholes.
 |
|
| Dire warning This is at the turnoff to Point Quobba blowholes. Multiple fishermen have lost thier lives on this bit of coastline, so the warning seems appropriate. |
The numbers of grasshoppers were ridiculous. You would occasionally drive through great clouds of them, like a locust plague. The rocks on the shoreline bristled with them and many had drowned in the waves below. The blowholes weren’t blowing, but the surf was still impressive. There is a small camping area and fishing village here – very cute.
| Quobba Blowholes When the tidal conditions are right the swell rushes underneath this rock platform and forces water through the blowholes - sometimes 20 metres into the air. |
 |
On arrival at Carnarvon I discovered that my laptop charger had broken. It has only 10% charge left. Bugger – seeing as I’ll have net reception where I’m staying.
I’d briefly considered going on to Wooramel or Billabong so I’d have more time for Kalbarri stuff tomorrow, but a look into the visitor centre had me deciding to stay. I went down to the harbour café for lunch (I was told I could get crab – I couldn’t). I got a prawn roll instead. While eating a huge storm cloud appeared out of nowhere and rumbled threateningly. Then it rained. Boy did it rain! And flash, and rumble. Well this was no good for kicking around town. So I decided to refuel and take a look at the jetty (it was high tide anyway – but I would have liked to walk out there), and head off. I figured it probably wouldn’t be raining further south (it wasn’t), but if it was, I could probably get indoor accommodation cheaper.
 |
Carnarvon - One Mile Jetty One of the longest jetties in the southern hemisphere. I wanted to take a walk along here (you can sometimes see mud-crabs below, and I wanted to get in some mangrove birding), but the heavy rain prevented that. |
I passed through Wooramel, Overlander, past the Shark Bay turnoff and onto Billabong, where I was delighted to find oldies music playing again (a lot of Beatles and Elvis). Not so impressive were the flies. The caravan park ground is hard so my swag is badly pegged but it’ll do. At least the ablution block is decent. I gave up on the idea of cooking something on the camp stove among the swarming flies and retreated to the roadhouse for dinner. Not too bad for the price, the plate was loaded! This fish was bland, dry and chewy and I left half of it. The rice and stir fry were very tasty though, I scoffed them.
I’ll have to leave soon. Will probably be in bed by 8:30 – hopefully the flies have eased up with the dark. I’ll head off for the much nicer surrounds of Kalbarri ASAP.
24/3/2011 (Coral Bay, Point Quobba, Carnarvon, Wooramel, Billabong Roadhouse)
Australian Pipit
Australian Ringneck
Black Kite
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
Black-faced Woodswallow
Brown Falcon
Brown Songlark
Budgerigar
Chiming Wedgebill (H)
Cockatiel
Crested Pigeon
Crested Tern
Diamond Dove
Galah
Great Egret
Little Buttonquail
Little Corella
Little Crow
Magpie Lark
Nankeen Kestrel
Peaceful Dove
Pied Butcherbird
Rainbow Bee-eater
Senegal Dove
Silver Gull
Singing Honeyeater
Torresian Crow
Tree Martin
UnIDed Duck
Wedge-tailed Eagle
Welcome Swallow
Whistling Kite
White-plumed Honeyeater (H)
White-winged Fairy-wren
Yellow-throated Miner
Zebra Finch
See all the photos from today here.
