Cousins in Oz

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Kalbarri

We stayed in our first hostel, saw the coastal cliffs and did several short hikes, red bluff in the evening to look for roos, Eagle gorge, pods of dolphins. It was a fantastic town but learned we are not hostel people. It is nearing the end of wildflower season but there are still some brilliant colors and blooms available for viewing.

We escaped hostel early the next morning to explore the Murchison river gorge; the interior portion of Kalbarri National park. Two layers of sediments; the top layer from the Murchison river and the lower sediment 400 million years old. ..we felt young..then onto Shark Bay (which way is north, Hope?)...

First day driving up the Indian Ocean highway & Pinnacles

Picked up car at Hertz and got off going in wrong direction which was why we thought we might need a new map :)
Finally righted in the northerly direction we got to Pinnacles
We saw our first two kangaroos on the way up along the hwy..!!!!!!!
Driving on the left side was a bit of a jolt and we spent a lot of time reminding each other, "left, left!!!" And turning off the windshield wipers which are located where the directional signals are on American cars.
Tired and punchy we stopped at Julien Bay, bought a bottle of wine and hamburger and ready-made salad and rented a cottage with a kitchen. Waking up this morning, Tuesday, November 4, we will see more of this area and continue north toward Sharks Bay, probably a 2 day drive from here. So far it has been smooth sailing, delightful discoveries and people.

Pink Lake

While on our way to Kalbarri we saw this amazing pink lake, Hutt Lagoon.

Saturday, November 8...Heading south

Left Jurien Bay this morning heading for Margaret River wine country

Plan to stay in Bunbury overnight. We stopped a Yanchep National Park and saw koalas, roos and had a walk through the wetlands.

Took freeway around Perth and plan to arrive Bunbury around 3. Nice hwy for a change....

STROMATOLITES!

Hope's bucket list item fulfilled. Truly an amazing place.
Eagles bluff, so far Dianas favorite place, standing on a platform, looking over sting rays , loggerhead turtles, and sharks...the wind kept the flies off. We perched at Denham and Shark Bay hotel made out of shell blocks. 2 nights for the price of one. ..thank u, Diana. A phonecall on Hopes cell led to anxiety plus til she learned she'd won a Caribbean Cruise. .. she didn't wait to learn the rest.
THEN,OFF TO EXPLORE MONKEY MIA!