I left the Hollambys to themselves for a few days and took 4 day tour up the west coast to Monkey Mia. This time I was with a much bigger group, there were 18 of us and we were staying in hostels so not so luxurious but cheaper! The first thing the guide Jenny got us to do was talk to someone of a different nationality (not hard) and then introduce them to the group over the mike. Not likely! Me and this German girl just looked at each other in horror. Our first stop was the Pinnacles which were dramatic scenery wise but it was too hot to hang around for long. Right in the desert with no shade at all and the temperature was rising. We went to a beach for sandboarding which was kind of fun but a bit like going down a long slide. And the sand was roasting. You could have baked a potato in it. We stayed at a hostle that night with another large group and we all had to cook dinner. I was disappointed as the abseiling was off the next day so I bought myself a golden nugget necklace instead. The following day was hotter than i could ever have imagined. The thermometer hit 49 degrees. So we decided to go for a walk into an airless gorge. I thought I would faint. The heat was stinging my legs and the road surface melted onto the soles of my flip flops. I knew that at this time my back garden at home was buried under snow and all I wanted to do was strip off and roll about in it. I didn't bother to walk to "natures window" (or Window Rock). I gave my camera to someone else! We continued our journey along the coast and to some coastal rocks that turned a brilliant red in the sunset and also to a beack made entirely from shells. Passing shark bay we arrived at our night's accommodation at the Monkey Mia resort which is right on the beach.

We were up early to see the dolphins swim up for food. It was very busy down there and a bit like SeaWorld to be honest but apparently the dolphins have been coming in to be fed for years. They didn't seem that interested in the food either. I think they just wanted to be sociable and to show off! I spent a lovely relaxing morning on the beach with some of the group whilst others went out on a boat. To see more dolphins. Another lengthy bus ride through unattractive scrubland and we came to the ex sheep farm where we were staying for our final night We ate dinner in the old shearing barn which still had a number of smelly old fleeces hanging about. Nice.

On the final day we visited another country...

So on our way back to Perth we stopped at the Hutt River Province which is nothing more than a farm which the owner had registered as it's own country bback in the early seventies. On our arrival we were greeted by Prince Leornard who looked like an old man you might meet shopping in Tesco. And his wife Princess Shirley looked like she'd bought her top in Primart. They were keen to show us around the royal residence which was a selection of old buildings ripe for renovation but containing all sorts of paraphanalia given to them by various royal family members from around the globe, We even had our passport stamped by the prince himself! Actually that was the most interesting part. they even had their own post office and sets of stamps. And a chuch.

I got back to Perth and went back to Lorraines for a few more days then it was time to truly get out of their hair and carry on with my travels.