5th Oct - Monkey Mia then Kalbarri

Up bright and early today. It is our turn to warm up a diesel at sparrow fart. We are off to Monkey Mia - to be there by 7:30. The dolphins come in at about 8...

Not sure of the status of the Monkey Mia Reserve. Think it is private but supervised by some Govt Dept...
There is a Resort with Caravan and Camping Park - which takes dogs... when they have a vacancy, which is not in school holidays!

waiting for the 'word'

It takes some minutes to get in, as in join the vehicle queue - which takes about 2 minutes a car... then pay the Senoirs rate of $6 per head, and find a park. Plenty of space for the bus+car. No dogs on the Dolphin Interaction Area, so Honey gets to snooze in the bus.


7:48 the 'Rangers" brief the crowd of several hundred... the dolphins used to swim up in the shallows waiting when they saw people in the water and their calves couldn't get a drink, becoming very agitated. So these days everybody stays off the beach til 8AM and the dolphins cruise around waiting... They only feed 5 particular females and only 500gm at a time. The males used to occasionally get a bit... boisterous and have mistaken fingers for fish (they have 140 sharp and dirty teeth - and a bite means serious antibiotics). They are smart and the males now stay away - unless one of the females is in season...



While we were waiting off the beach a mother and calf were cruising up and down having a fishing lesson... when the crowd moved to the waters edge they came in to check them out. Joined by another soon after.

We went out on the pier for a better photo op. After half an hour we were freezing in the breeze and gave it away. And we do have 400KM to go to Kalbarri. Bought some souvenirs... (Jodes).

Next stop Denham to re-fuel and off to Kalbarri. Lots more GAFA... Stopped at the Billabong Roadhouse (about halfway) for a stretch. Right turn off the North West Coast Highway and it is 80KM to Kalbarri. We are booked at the Murchison CP - for our Top Tourist discount; and they will take us with the dog, in the new back bit...

first good view of the Murchison River

Murchison River mouth 

Well, so far Kalbarri looks - and feels - beautiful. It is only a days drive from Perth, so a very popular holiday spot.

Since turning south, and along the coast we have noticed it getting cooler - especially in the breeze. We might have to get warmer clothes out again.

Singlets  don't quite do it for the morning toilet visit, or sitting out   for dinner!

Kalbarri beaches on the river.

We will stay another (3rd) night to explore, and get through Geraldton on a shopping day... No particular plan after that but we are only 570KM from Owen and Ali's new place. So we are ready and in striking distance of the pending new 'Bridges'!!!!