Day 53 (12 Jun) – Kalbarri to Geraldton

Easy day today.  It’s a short 165km drive to Geraldton.

We checked in to the Big 4 Sunset Beach Caravan Park which is on the north side of town right on the beach.  We have half a day here so after we set up we went to the centre of Geraldton to find the Visitors’ Centre.  Not much but at least we got a better map then we already have.  We drove up to see the HMAS Sydney Memorial.  Very moving.  HMAS Sydney was sunk in WWII after a battle with the German raider HSK Kormoran in November 1941 off the Western Australian Coast.  Both ships were sunk but it wasn’t until 2008 that they found the wrecks and not until 2015 when they were able to get a remote submersible down to look at the wrecks in 2,500 metres of water.

This pool was added to the original memorial after they found the wreck and the dive point to the direction where it is located about 120 nautical miles off Shark Bay (Monkey Mia).

This is a sculpture of the “waiting woman” waiting for her husband to return

There is also an excellent view of Geraldton from the memorial.

We then drove to the St Francis Xavier Cathedral.  What a stunning place.  Inside was set up for a wedding.  But it’s interesting to see the multi colours inside.  And the creepy part is there is a crypt below the floor with a glass floor segment so you can see the coffin below.

We then went out to the Fisherman’s Wharf to see if we can buy some seafood from the boats.  No luck.  Everything closed.  It’s Saturday afternoon.  So off to see the old lighthouse.  Looked weird.

On the way back we saw an Osprey nest on top of a pole.  Funny how they make their nest on tall structures.

Back in town we came across the Old Train Station.  Not sure why it’s there but took a picture anyway.

Next, we dropped into the Geraldton Museum.  They have a theatre showing the submersible movie of the Sydney and Kormoran wrecks.  Because they are so far down and devoid of light, the wrecks are in excellent condition.

There is also a display of detailing other significant wrecks off the Western Australian coast.  The most notorious is the Batavia where the survivors began to murder each other.  No picture for this one.  The display they had is remnants of the wreckage and story boards of the shipwreck.

Tomorrow we drive to Perth to annoy my cousin for a couple of days before heading across the Nullarbor for home.

Helen’s Highlights / Minnie’s Musings

Geraldton reminds me a bit of Newcastle. The waterfront has been revamped with lots of parkland areas, restaurants, and areas to see the great views. The colours of the cathedral were really interesting and so unlike any I have seen before. I met a couple of teenagers in the church and enjoyed the chat we had.

Complaint of the day

Michael – “My flat white is too hot and weak.” (Such a 21^st century complaint)

Helen – “Where’s Wally………..Why isn’t he at the lighthouse, bummer!!”

 

Day 54 (13 Jun) – Geraldton to Perth

Weather has cleared a bit today but showers are forecast for our drive south.  We have discovered a West Australian delicacy called jam and cream donuts.  We first came across on in Wyndham a couple of weeks back and each time we stop at a café/bakery we look for these donuts.  Still haven’t found one to rival the quality and taste of the Wyndham donuts.  Probably shouldn’t be eating these but we have to support the local economies!!  This one was at a small place called Jurien Bay.

Further south there’s a National park where they have a natural phenomenon called The Pinnacles.  These are just weird.  They are in a sandy desert but are made of limestone so that the sand around them has eroded leaving these structures sticking out of the sand.  They are everywhere you look.

And Helen found Nigel No Friends amongst the pinnacles.

As we were walking out of The Pinnacles, we came across a defibrator on the wall.  Interesting.  Not because it’s in this place but because it’s locked firstly, second you have to call 000 to get the code to unlock it, then give them the 14 digit serial number, then I guess you have to break the glass (it doesn’t say this though), punch in the code, open the box, get the machine out, and by this time the patient has kicked the bucket because you took so long!!!!!!

Back on the road to Perth about 2 hours away.  It’s getting more like outer suburbia and then we hit the freeway.  Traffic!!  I hate it.  First lot of traffic we have come across since Brisbane (you can’t count Darwin).  We arrived at my cousin Stephen and his partner Debbie’s place in Maylands and set up camp!!!

No.  Not really.  We just parked it here.  We went out to a brewery/restaurant not far from their place for a “Sunday Roast”.  Yummy.  A real Australian style roast pork washed down with home brew.  Now to spend a couple of days shopping and looking around Perth.

Helen’s Highlights / Minnie’s Musings

Whilst I am really pleased to see that there are so many places having accessibility to defibrillators however we were surprised that here at the Pinnacles there is one but ‘How to get into it’

 Here is the scenario.

There is a person who has collapsed and in need of a defib. QUICK, we need to help but now we have to work out how to open the cabinet, then call the place and put in the 14-digit code. I think the person might not survive.

Also pleased that Nigel No Friends has found a great lot of friends.

 Complaint of the day

Michael – “so much traffic”

Helen -  I am forced to type quickly when doing this section of the blog – from guess who????