ACROSS THE NULLARBOR BAITING CANE TOAD - A Most Intoxicating Journey

Day 29

Saturday 26 May 2018

Cliff Head to Northampton

Up betimes having endured another, less inclement night although a generous dinner of bacon and baked beans the night before did nothing to ease the turbulence in and around the Cane Toad!

We were the last of five free campers to depart Cliff Head but the Cane Toad's A-Frame seems to be holding up.

Made our way to Dongara (say Dong-a-ruh) and stumbled on what may be the best equipped Dump-Ezy this side of Port Augusta.  This splendid appliance not only features a snug-fitting and easily lifted lid and fully adjustable water hose, it also has a dedicated hand-basin, night light and a roof.  It is also enclosed on three sides making it both private and weatherproof!  This "Dongara DeLuxe Dump-Ezy" sets the standard to which all municipal dump points should now aspire. 4 1/2 Stars.

THE DONGARA DELUXE DUMP-EZY - SETTING THE STANDARD

But Dongara is not just a leader in the chemical toilet hygiene stakes, it also boasts "the Big Lobster" or, as the Prop prefers to call it,  "the Crayfish in a Boat" a startling piece of post-modernist abstract sculpture/installation.

However, being as fair as one possibly can, the lobster component - although considerably larger than life-size - is not especially "big".  And the "boat" component is no larger than a sabot dinghy.  All in all, "the Big Lobster" of Dongara pales by comparison with "The Big Crayfish" at Kingston S.E. in South Australia.

"THE BIG CRAYFISH" AT DONGARA - NOT VERY BIG AT  ALL!

THE BIG LOBSTER AT KINGSTON SE (SA) - SETTING THE STANDARD FOR "BIG" CRUSTECEANS

In the Prop's humble opinion, the burghers of Dongara would be better off spruiking the considerable attractions of their magnificent DeLuxe Dump-Ezy rather than wasting any more precious PR dollars on the (purported) "Big Crayfish".

Left Dongara with mixed feelings but an empty chemical toilet and headed for Geraldton.

Parked in the newly-provided caravan parking/camping area in the centre of town and, knowing no better, we decided to take the self-guided "West End Walk" which turned out to be immensely uninteresting but mercifully short.

I suppose that if you have an interest in grain silo construction or fish markets, you may find one or two sites which grab your attention.  In saying this, the Prop does not overlook the newly-reconstructed grandstand at the Geraldton Oval (home of the Mighty Blues - the Geraldton Railway Football Club) named in memory of Colin "Scruffy" Burgess.

On the other hand, it too could be easily overlooked without regret.

THE COLIN BURGESS "SCRUFFY" GRANDSTAND.  BUILT OF STEEL AND CONCRETE BUT MADE TO LOOK LIKE THE TIMBER ORIGINAL

THE RON MORGAN PAVILION

SPIRITUAL HOME OF "THE MIGHTY BLUES" - THE GERALDTON RAILWAY AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL CLUB

Left Geraldton heading nowhere in particular and eventually stopped just north of Northampton at "Northbrook Home Stay" - a form of caravan park in a paddock on a farm, the second most notable feature of which is its complete lack of any level ground.  Not for the fist time, the Prop spent the night wondering whether the Cane Toad might not fall off the edge of the planet (See Day 12).

The most notable feature of Northbrook Home Stay was that it appears to be the current home of Dr Who and that Dr Who can't spell "Tardis".

Alternatively, the occupant of the "Tardus" is an imposter.

Alternatively "Tardus" is some sort of pun that continues to be far too cryptic for the Prop to decode.

               

 

Day 30

Sunday 27 May 2018

Northampton to Kalbarri

Up betimes and got away before Dr Who (Who had in fact left in his Land Rover leaving his "Tardus" and trailer behind.  It seems that he may be residing at Northbrook Home Stay.  If that is correct then the Prop thinks that this was a technical win at the very least since we left before he had "completely"left).

Made a last minute decision to make a detour to Kalbarri and were very glad we did. There is simply no comparison to be made between the delights of the Kalbarri National Park and Geraldton's West End Walk (See Day 29)

NATURE'S WINDOW, KALBARRI NATIONAL PARK  

AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF A BIG ROCK WITH A HOLE IN IT.

THE HAWK'S HEAD, KALBARRI NATIONAL PARK

AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF A ROCK WITHOUT A HOLE IN IT.

KALBARRI GORGE, KALBARRI NATIONAL PARK

AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF A ROCK WITH A RIVER RUNNING THROUGH IT.

The A- Frame on the Cane Toad is holding up pretty well.

Day 31
Monday 28 May 2018
Kalbarri to Denham

Up betimes and headed in the direction of Monkey Mia.

Having discovered that the only caravan park at Monkey Mia is closed for redevelopment we navigated to Denham (about 25 klms from Monkey Mia) and arrived at the "Blue Dolphin Caravan Park."

Had a ceremonial beer at the most westerly pub in Australia.

SHARK BAY HOTEL 

NO MORE BEER UNTIL MADAGASGAR FOR THOSE HEADING WEST!

Day 32Tuesday 29 May 2018Denham to Monkey Mia to Denham

Up betimes to travel 25 kilometres to Monkey Mia hopeful of being able to participate in one of the two or three "dolphin interactions"which usually take place each day. (The A-Frame on the Cane Toad is still making funny noises bu is otherwise OK.)

Controversy rages about how Monkey Mia got its name. See here. 

On arrival the Prop was not surprised to find that, just like nearly everybody else, dolphins get up and going much earlier than the Prop does.  It was barely 9.30 and a big board announced that already two "interactions" had occurred today.  However, all was not lost.  Based on events of previous days it appeared that if there was to be a third interaction today then it would happen by 11.00 am at the latest.

Then, at 9.55 am, just as the Prop and Mrs P sat down to a nice freshly-made cappuccino coffee, dolphins began appearing in the water about 15 metres away.  First one, then two more then three until there were at least six or seven interactive dolphins who swam around aimlessly but close by for about 20 minutes while a human-dolphin interactor told the assembled crowd of about 60 onlookers how to interact with dolphins properly. No approaching, swimming with, feeding or even touching the dolphins - not even with a fully informed consent (#MeToo\Dolphins).

TWO DOLPHINS AND A SKILLED DOLPHIN INTERACTOR AT MONKEY MIA

A VERY ATTRACTIVE FEMALE DOLPHIN SEEKING TO INTERACT WITH THE PROP!  LOOK BUT DO NOT TOUCH!

At the end of the interaction lecture each of the dolphins lined up in the water next to a volunteer who was holding a bucket with that particular dolphin's name on it (Can they read?) and selected visitors were invited to interact with them by hand feeding them a small fish.  Two or three fish later, all the dolphins were gone - just as quickly as they had appeared.

So that's what a dolphin interaction is!

Meanwhile, the pelicans, who were obviously crying out for a bit of interaction -  were largely ignored!

    PELICANS, DESPERATE FOR MORE INTERACTION AT MONKEY MIA