Coral Bay and Carnarvon

Coral Bay was a bit of a disappointment for us. The Ningaloo Reef is touted as an amazing World Heritage site, but we were a little underwhelmed. Unfortunately the wind from previous days had not abated and the glass bottom boat trip was unpleasant. Some of the group snorkeled but not for long as the water was quite cold. Saw some good schools of north west snapper and a few small black fish and that was all really.  The coral was quite colourless,  largely a dull brownish hue with the occasional blue tips.  We have seen much much better. Maybe we have been spoiled.

Carnarvon promised a lot but also came up short. Touted has the food bowl of Western Australia and particularly Perth’s fresh food source. In reality the area was dry, very few plantations were producing, and road side stalls were almost non existent and the area had a really sad down trodden feel to it.  Banana plantations of Lady Fingers seemed to be the only produce available.  

The area has had a number of very poor seasons so we felt very sorry for the growers struggling on. At Christmas 2010 the area faced the worst flood on record with hundreds evacuated, thousands of cattle drowned or destroyed, and horticulture crops completely destroyed. Then the following year marked the beginning of a devasting drought reducing WAs food bowl to a dust bowl until 2015. Rejoicing at the first rainfall in years ended abruptly as Category 3 Cyclone Olwyn slammed into the area, ripping off roofs, uprooting trees, destroying every single banana plantation and decimating infrastructure. Then .......... drought again.  Good luck fellas!

Had a great evening at camp. This was another camp that puts on meals for campers.

Tonight it was baked potatoes with several fillings - Mexican, savoury mince, cheese, sour cream, chives,  etc, etc and then an ice cream for desert. An elderly rocker  entertained and the whole Kiwi continent sang and danced the night away (to the surprise, bewilderment, and astonishment of the grey nomad Aussies, sharing the camp with us!!

Next Denham on Shark Bay, and Monkey Mia, famous for friendly dolphins.