The Long Drive Exmouth Cape Range National Park

Oct 31

Stephane popped round to invite me to have a cooked breakfast with them Stephane used to be a chef. I then drove them in to town to get some transmission oil for their automatic gear box a Toyota motorhome and some filler for my little dent as well as food shopping and more to the point the internet.  

By now everyone in the N.P knew that I was a mechanic.

Nov 1

 Osprey Stacks beach

Stephane & Devika took me snorkelling at Osprey Stacks beach the reef is very much closer and you can only go at high tide. I thought the coral was too close to the surface for safety when swimming,  you can literally touch the coral with your hands and feet, I knocked my big toe on some coral which is a little sore. Although in some ways it was good for me as I was never out of my depth. The fish and coral are amazing. 

 Osprey Stacks beach

Back home to our camp 5.30 Happy Hour then I had a little dinner party with Helen, Stephane, Devika a good time to open my bottle of red that Stephane and Devika gave me very good it was too. Stephane cooked an excellent dish with lentils as Devika is a vegetarian and I had chicken on the menu.

My little dinner party

Stephane and me

Nov 2

Another job on a car was waiting to be done, brakes this time grabbing on one front wheel. I had the wheels off and Disc or Rotors as some might call them. I had just finished and a call came in from another camp can’t start my car fortunately he did manage to get it started but called in for some advice another bottle of beer to add to my collection.

I then went and topped up my shower tanks from just across the road after which I moved my pitch in the same camp, to a more secluded spot quieter in the early mornings; from the lovely children in the two tents next door.

The children from next door 

  

I had a warm welcome to my new site

Happy Hour our two hosts and The Duke at the far end

Nov 3

A day on the computer a swim in the sea and of course happy hour. 

Nov 4

Last night I had a very bad sleep as my tooth was really painful; the camp host gave me some pain killers this morning.  Every one is so friendly and helpful to each other Graham and Lynn our host’ are going in to town and filling up every ones drinking water containers. I am resting hoping my pain in my tooth will go away. We had a good number at happy hour tonight people keep coming and going.

Happy Hour

Nov 5

I had another job on a car today, the electric Arial would not work, not an agreeable job to do, rather fiddly still I managed it. 

Time for another batch of pills I must see if I can get a dentist appointment on Monday and break camp, that will give me a chance to clock in to see how my daughter is getting along and catch up with some news from my Morgan friends. 

Nov 6

Day off today what fun.

Helen arrived at 6.30am we had arranged to take a walk along the ridge at Yardie Creek

Helen walking

 We had a very enjoyable walk for around 2 hours then we went snorkelling at Turquoise bay the tide was out so I did not have far to swim to the coral and see the beautiful fish quite amazing little fish and big fish all colors of the rainbow.  I saw a shoal of fish of all different species and sizes swimming peacefully together. It is a pity us humans can't live as peacefully.  Although everyone in this N.P is amazingly happy and friendly no stress of work I should imagine. I still haven't mastered my mask yet, the water is running up my nose and down into my mouth still practice makes perfect.

Yardie Gorge Trail  

Yardie Gorge Trail

Yardie Gorge Trail

Back at camp and my little friend was having a rest. Happy Hour was upon us we had 23 people all sitting around the table French, German, Irish, English, and others not forgetting the Australians.

Having a little rest in my camp

Nov 7

Up early went to the dentist at the Hospital in Exmouth arrived at 8am.  It was number 3 tooth x-rayed and what a lovely young Dentist she was to, so gentle and efficient the best tooth extract I had ever had not a scrap of pain the tooth was out like a flash and I was out by 9.20.   Now I shall spend the day shopping.

Arrived back at camp 6pm after shopping for Diesel petrol water food a noodle that is for swimming to keep me from drowning, a plastic tap for Plod and some static sunshade for Plod, hacksaw blade in case and an antenna for the internet.  A long day, I meet Helen on the road as well, people were starting to wander if I was all right. I gave happy hour a miss although Lucille from Hove England came in to say Hi.  A very lovely young woman and has grandparents that live on Dartmoor

Helen we passed in the night 

Lucille

Nov 8

Stayed on site cooked a good veggie stew. Rose and Len in the next door tent although lives in Exmouth are camping for a change at Neds Camp, Len loves his fishing saves a 100 km journey every day.  Gave me a little hand washing machine which came in very useful easer than washing completely by hand you just have to sit down and turn a handle.

 More people left and more people arrived the whole N.P site has been full almost every night. 

Happy Hour

Silke and Me

Nov 9

Helen took me to Lake Side camp to inspect the snorkelling we did not find as many fish still we had a good swim. Back to camp and I did a little job for Silke. Gosh is that the time and I haven’t even washed my hair.

Helen's van  at Lake side camp

Lake side camp  

Nov 13

Not much to report generally taken it easy went in to town on remembrance day 11-11-11-11 we must never forget the men and woman that gave there lives for us!

Treated myself to a relaxer deck chair and a good ground sheet more useful than a micro flight or a $300 flight over the Bungle Bungle.  I moved camp again to the best camp site in the camp as The Duke had to leave, his 28 day’s were up. Helen is on the move tomorrow  Monday, I am staying another week really I am just starting to relax. New people come and go so the Happy Hour conversation never gets bored. I am having a glass of red at present from an appreciative couple for fixing their car arial.

Nov 14

Drove up to the Light House to download this, and cook some lovely fresh fish straight from the sea.

Went for a swim and saw many turtles unfortunately I got bitten with some sand fly’s next time I will take a ground sheet.

Two Turtles having fun

 I had another little friend to welcome me in to my new site still at Neds camp.

Nov 15

Happy Hour was a scream as we have Brendan, born in Liverpool U.K, all I can say is that Tommy Cooper or Spike Milligan is not a patch on our Brendan a real laugh a second. 

Brendan and Mary

One for Tinmog

Nov 16

Len and Carl went out fishing today they had a fantastic time and came back with beams of smiles from ear to ear. They then shared out their catch with all the campers. I had fish for dinner and wasn't it scrumptious. 

Michael Carl and Len

Lyn and Graham our host's

Nov 20

Did a few jobs on Plod like change the position of my reserve diesel can to the front and that meant removing my spot lamps, I have now one in the front and one at the rear for either reversing or picnicing when dark. Finished my little repair to the rear fender then gave Plod a wash making him look respectable for my departure from Neds camp tomorrow. 

I know it needs another coat of paint. The wind took the spray away.

Turtle coming in to lay their eggs

Turtle coming in to lay their eggs