Jonnymoon SW Day4 PM - You Gotta Be Echidding Me!

After finding sunshine, we had a great Saturday afternoon, mostly spent in Yallingup at the beach.

This was the beach we went down to. There was major surf, and was packed.... then the winds moved in, and all the smart people took off. We fought long and hard, even went for a swim, but the wind was just too strong (you couldn't lay down on the beach as the sand stung)
View from above, this was when it was really windy. You can imagine how much nicer and clearer it is when it is calm!

We then headed to Canal Rocks before going for Pizza in Dunsborough. The is looking back at the coast from Canal Rocks.
A cool lizard that we saw.... DON"T TOUCH.... it's poisonous ... probably
Canal Rocks from Above
We then set off to watch for whales at an official Whale Observation Post. This is literally what this is...... literally!
After some issues, we found Meelup beach. Not too shabby.

On the walk through Cape Naturaliste, it was probably the most frightened I've been about the possibility of snakes. The sun was just going down and it was heavy bush. Anyway, I warned JP and Laura about the danger, then 30 seconds we were a rustle right next to us. "Freeeeeze, Don't move". They were a bit behind and didn't know what it was. Turns out it was an Echidna (pronounce eeee-kidna). These are sorta porcupine/hedgehog/platypus creatures.
Echidnas are monotremes, and along with platypus are the only mammals that lay eggs. The echidnas have a four-headed penis, but only two of the heads are used during mating. The other two heads "shut down" and do not grow in size. The heads used are swapped each time the mammal has sex. Bet you found that as Interesting as me. Knuckles from Sonic the Hedgehog video games was an echidna. They also have a funny side to side walk.
After the excitement of the echidna, I wasn't paying attention and smashed my toe against this rock..... OUCH. Toenail is still hanging on!
A view of the bush at Cape Naturaliste
Driving to Cape Naturaliste, JP and I spotted a kangaroo running in this field. Laura was driving and was very jealous. Anyway, driving back, it's now sunset, and I tell them to watch out for 'roos and make sure you don't run them over. Then. eeeerrrrrrrrrr, JP slams on the brakes. Jumps out of the car, and runs 50 metres back. He has spotted some kangaroos. I have very good eyesight, but I got to admit, the kangaroos he saw were about 500 metres away and underneath a tree. Back into the car, 200 metres, we spot these guys. Stop the car again. Fortunately that was the last stop, as we saw another 30 kangaroos on the drive home. We never would have got to our tents.

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Tomorrow: The final Update from Busselton!

Jonnymoon SW - Day 2 PM - The Gap

After the most beautiful beach in the world, we trekked back to Albany to have lunch, and then off to The Gap. The Gap is just a big gap in the rock cliffs. Because of the big storm the night before, the seas were very rough and the waves were absolutely pounding inside the gap. I got drenched just walking to the site. Salt + camera lens = Bad. One thing that is great (scary) about Western Australia is that there are no real safety precautions anywhere. There is a nice little recommended lookout for the Gap, but it is very easy to head for a new vantage point and find yourself walking off the cliff. We said that anyone going in The Gap would be going for their last swim. Also there was Natural Bridge.... It was alright.

Laura and JP at the Gap
Water flying up over the cliffs
Natural Bridge

Waves pounding on the rocks
The windshield when we got back to the car ... can you say salt?

After The Gap, we headed to the blowholes. The blowholes blew, literally. In 2 ways: First, a light whistling sound could be heard every minute or so, and secondly, it just wasn't very spectacular. Especially compared to The Gap. It didn't help that it was a kilometre walk to that site. The Gap wins this round.We then headed off to our next destination: Walpole.

Laura took over the driving. Before this trip, I thought Laura had never driven a manual car... She asked me not to comment on her driving.... :) I'm happy to be alive.

JP and I stopped at Matilda's Garden in Denmark to get a bottle of wine. Mmmmmm free wine sampling! Then we found a campground in Walpole.

Matilda's Vineyard

Camping Attitude

JP spots a rare woodchip and has to get a photo

A few visits from neat australian wildlife: Kookaburra's (more to come), blue wrens, bandicoots. One of the old ladies there got JP excited by telling us about a kangaroo that comes up ever morning with it's joey in the pouch to have brekkie. Let's just say, JP went to bed thinking it was Christmas Eve. Would he get to see this amazing moment......

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