Swimming with the Sea Lions

Heading north up the coast from Perth we decide to stay at Sandy Cape about 12 km from Jurien Bay. It is a "free camp" with minimum rates ($17 per night for us all), pit toilets (pretty grose) but a beautiful bay and back beach. We found a site just in front of the beach and started setting up when a small voice says "do you remember me?" it was Summer. We had become friends with Summer and her family, Pete and Jo and sister Ciara down at Cape Le Grand. It was great to catch up again, and share stories (meals and red wine) since we'd seen each other last.




We spent some lovely days at the beach. Nick and the boys paddled on the new kayak daily, Josh tried the surf board at the back beach, we laughed, splashed in the water, played in Jo & Petes inflatable boat and met some more great people, including Gary & Casey and their girls Sierra and Hannah.



Not far from Sandy Cape there is a small island with a sea lion colony on it. A local charter company will take you there...... For a price. One morning Gary offered to do a couple of trips out to the island in his boat to see the sea lions. Nick took along his snorkel set "just incase". When we got there we anchored about 10m from shore and within minutes a couple of playful sea lions came over and inquisitively checked us out darting and diving around us. With the big bulls sunning themselves on shore, and the relatively shallow water (presumably a lower risk of sharks) Nick jumped in, and the seals stayed, and even played around him. We all took turns in the water swimming with these wild but completely playful and gentle creatures one just about kissing my nose. The experience leaving us all feeling completely euphoric. Thanks Gary for such a fun morning and the generosity of taking us out on the boat and later for an entertaining night. (Perhaps we might leave that bit right there).

Each day we said we would go out to the Pinnacles at sunset, but each day we either watched the sunset from Sandy Cape or the kids convinced us to go "tommorrow night" so they could play with the many friends they had made. Finally on our last night we did go out to the Pinnacles.

The drive around through the Pinnacles is magnificent dodging our way around the huge tall limestone rocks protruding out over a dessert. As sunset was approaching we had fun making shadows in the sand and played hide and seek. Although the kids thought it to be a bit boring to begin they did enjoy the walk through them, and Zach was the first to mention that they looked like "big willies" causing all sorts of hysteria and comparisons between the rock sizes. Abbey on the other hand thinks a pinnacle is a great place to do "bush wees" in front of while Nick and I share a rare photo opportunity together - and Josh just wanted my phone to check the footy scores every 5 seconds - Kids!!!!

We've decided to just spend the day in Geraldton on our way further north to Kalbarri. In Geraldton we did some shopping for supplies, wandered the foreshore and saw a yellow submarine.

As we depart Geraldton and head off towards Kalbarri we suddenly hear a thud thud, thud thud, stop the car and discover the other caravan tyre has blown. So out with Uncle Jerry's trusty jack we put on the spare. Back on the road again we drive through some beautiful country side, pass a station called "Lynton Station" and view the pink lake at dusk.