Back in Australia and spent the first day getting sorted out ready for the start north, tons of things to do and buy. Went to Centrelink to check back into Aus., restocked the van with easy to open and heat cans. No cooking for a while until I get back into the lifestyle. Drove to the coast to see the beautiful beaches above Perth and turned north and had the choice between the Brand Highway or the Indian Ocean Drive. Unless time was very important who would not want to take a drive up the Indian Ocean Drive overlooking the ocean, the very name conjures up exotic images. Also gives easy access to the Pinnacles. Had planned to go as far as Moore River Bridge Camps6 #363 but it was early and decided to go further to Sandy Cape Recreation Park Camps6 #426. The location is excellent just over the dunes to a beautiful unspoilt beach but the minimum price of $15 per night is a bit steep for a single traveller but does have flush toilets.
A couple more photos taken whilst on an exploratory walk up to a well constructed lookout at Sandy Cape.
Decided to move on and drove down the Indian Ocean Drive to Cliff Head North, was in the car turning area and looking for the next road when I got bogged. Cant believe I got bogged in a car park but was not paying enough attention to the now whilst looking for the next.
A very windy spot, I suppose the Freemantle Doctor blows here as well as at the W A C A from where I have heard many comments about the Freemantle Doctor blowing whilst the cricket was in progress. The beach is full of seaweed and not a nice place to sit on or swim in but there are some interesting walks both north and south so tomorrow I will go for a walkabout with camera in hand. There is no charge to camp here and the toilets are as good as the ones at Sandy Cove costing $15 per night.
But did you get out of the bog? Seaweed does not make a good beach, and it stinks. It looks magic along there. I did some of the coast, but didn't see the Pinnacles when I headed south in 07. Next time for sure. I really do miss the west. Have a jolly bonza time.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
Goodness John, that reminds me of when we were bogged in the same area. It was 40 degree heat. Took us 4 hours to get out, finally a good samariatan pulled us out, we were bogged to the 4 axles.
So pleased you are enjoying you travels and enjoying your blog.
Glenda
Went for a walk south and found another camp site, plenty of room for many rigs small and large, there is a jetty but no general access must be privately owned. There are fishermens hut there waiting for the season to begin. North the track led on for a couple of kms and passed the burnt out areas where I am camped and there were many really good green sites further down the track but not for me after getting bogged in the car park there was no way I would venture down into the loose sand.
Have decided to stay here until Tuesday morning so that I can get to Ellendale Pond for Tuesday afternoon allowing me 7 nights there over Easter, the WA North Free Camping Guide indicates that there is a $5 overnight fee there. Camps6 just has the $ sign so I hope that the $5 still stands, so what with no charges for Cliff Head and only $5 at Ellendale that brings the $15 at Sandy Cape back into line on average.
Have decided to stay here until Tuesday morning so that I can get to Ellendale Pool for Tuesday afternoon allowing me 7 nights there over Easter, the WA North free camping guide indicates that there is a $5 overnight fee there. Camps6 just has the $ sign so I hope that the $5 still stands, so what with no charges for Cliff Head and only $5 at Ellendale that brings the $15 at Sandy Cape down on average. Had an excellent night last night, two different vans supplied guitar players and one Tilly had a fine country voice, they played together as if they were partners and all in all a good night was had by all, one of the good sides to free camping is the social spirit with all having similar aims and lifestyle.
The last couple of days at Cliff Head were quiet, the only excitement occurred when a German backpacker in a VW transit van decided to go between north and south via the route I walked the other day and got bogged. The rear of the vehicle was resting on the sand with the rear wheels over half covered in sand. I found some corrugated roofing left over from a fishermans hut and we dug it under the front wheels whilst we dug the sand out from under the back wheels and body. All to no avail it only got worse so we enlisted the aid of a camper who had a 4WD and dug it all out again and reset the corrugated iron. It came out easily with the 4WD pulling and the driver of the van slowly accelerating. They continued along the track and took the other road exit and came round to where I was parked just as it was getting dark. This morning I was invited for breakfast with Benjamin and Anna as a reward for helping them escape the sand. Set off as planned towards Ellendale Pool after stopping in Dongara for supplies, petrol for the generator and a refill for the main gas bottle. Arriving mid afternoon and headed to the upper area expecting to find the best internet reception but no and there was no reception in the lower area either. My Easter plans are in tatters there is no way that I will stay 7 nights without internet access so the new plan is to go to Geraldton and post this onto the blog and proceed to another site past Geraldton. Ellendale Pool is an excellent camping spot, the pool is enormous plenty of room for canoeing and very picturesque I would stay a couple of nights without internet but not over easter.