We headed out to the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse for a guided tour at 9.20. Its around 20 minutes through more heavily timbered country than I had expected. My expectations of what country will look like is almost always toatally wrong, and so it was this time. I had expected coastal scrub and rocky landscape. No, much more like the country described by Bill Gammage: "land that looked like a park. With extensive grassy patches and pathways, open woodlands and abundant wildlife, it evoked a country estate in England". Even down to the profusion of Arrum Lillies that are out of controll.
We climbed the lighthouse, however no whales in sight.
Back to Dunsborough for a coffee with cousin Greg and Jen, who helped us rejig our itinerary. We visited Djiljit Mia Community Garden and Gathering Place and had a photo taken of us standing in front of Greg's scuplture of an Wadandi elder and his son.
Jen told us where there were some orchids beside the road back out Cape Naturaliste. Photographed, we then headed for Castle Rock Beach. That didn't happen. The entrance to the road had holes deep enough to swallow the car and while we ventured on, found the gates to the dirt road closed. On to Point Piquet which we originally didn't have on our list. This is a must visit wth rocks coloured by orangy lichen and one covered with bird s*** which is the base of a huge Cape Petrel which I photographed with my Cannon. I'll post it later. Great views of Castle Rock. The wind was strong, however the sun shining.
On to Eagle Bay than across to Sugarloaf Rock whch we thought was about as good as it was going to get. It was brilliant however Canal Rocks takes first prize. This granite headland has been worn down by thousands of years of waves and as I walked around the path into the heart of the giant rocks, there are canals that have been cut through them. Waves from the southern ocean suge through and over the canal. A narrow wooden bridge takes you across one canal and onto piles of rocks extending toward the Indian Ocean. Kids were fishing from the rocks and tourists climbing everywhere.
Finally we visited Ngilgi Cave for the last entry of the day. With Ches's hip to care for, we took our time and were the last out after a good hour exploing the two main caverns.
Of course, my camera/phone battery died as we were about to enter the cave. I had a back up battery but no cable to connect to my phone. They had one in the gift shop, so it was with the battery tethered to the phome thaaaaaata llowed us to film and photograph throughout to cave.
Back home for a very light dinner and a long sleep.