Friday 27th April 2018
Well we woke to a cool, windy, cloudy morning which was a shame as we were hoping to have an early morning swim. So instead we packed up reasonably early and headed to our next activity.
We travelled about 30km east to Mt Lesueur National Park for our first hike since Frenchman’s Peak in Le Grand National Park in Esperance. Another little mountain for us to climb. Only a 4km return trip with about 100m elevation, so not to tough for a start to our hiking. It is amazing how much you lose agility in the bush when you haven’t been hiking for a while but it comes back quickly thank goodness. Mt Lesueur is a mesa (flat topped hill) and it was very beautiful. One of the most important flora conservation reserves in Western Australia, Lesueur National Park erupts into colour in late winter and spring as the park’s diverse flora comes out in flower, making it a paradise for wildflower enthusiasts. Unfortunately the timing was wrong so we only saw a few flowering plants. After the walk we also drove the one-way 18.5-kilometre loop bitumen scenic drive which is a great way to enjoy the park’s many delights. Besides all the amazing scenery we also saw a couple of black emus.
After this we headed in the directions of Geraldton via Green Head and Arrowsmith via the coastal drive and finally arrived at our destination for the night at Port Denison-Dongara. Amazing for us we checked in at 3pm (almost grey nomad happy hour time). But you know us, never time to sit down and rest, we went for a bike ride along the river which was very beautiful and arrived back at camp at 5pm. It was very very windy so we have set up the gazebo so I had wind protection to cook and for a little warmth.
All in all we have had another great day. Didn’t quite make it to Geraldton but this is becoming a common theme. We are trying to accept this and just setup camp a little earlier than usual and in daylight hours. A pleasant change for us. It may mean we have to drive the last 2000 km in 2 days to get home in time for Benny’s arrival but that is OK.
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- Our breakfast location at Sandy Cape Recreation Park
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- Sand dunes were an amazing, they were so white and were extremely big
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- Grigson Lookout near Sandy Cape
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- View NW from Grigson Lookout
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- Lesueur National Park
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- Wedge-tailed Eagle
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- View on the drive in to Lesueur National Park
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- Some flowering plants in Lesueur National Park
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- Getting ready for our hike up Mt Lesueur
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- On our way. We are hiking to the top of the mesa in the distance. Mt Lesueur
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- Another type of grass plant
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- Flower of the previous plant
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- A little bit of colour along the way
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- An enjoyable walk, it started with sand which was a little tough…
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- ..then became a little rocky which has its own challenges. All in all a pleasant hike though.
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- This was all we could see for the last part of the hike. We thought as it was a mesa there may have been no view at the top.
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- ..But we were wrong. It was an amazing view of Cervantes, Jurien Bay and Sandy Cape..
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- ..you could also see the Sand Mine and sand dunes..
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- A great walk
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- A tiny lizard DB saw on the trail. One he has never seen before. We think it was a Western Heath Dragon. It was ony about 2 inches long. I don’t know how he manages to even see them
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- We had our lunch stop at Green Head. We were going to have a swim but the seaweed and wind stopped us. We are very soft.
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- On to the sandy beach at Green Head. Again I am saying “We need those maxtrax”, hopefully we will pick some up in Geraldton, along with a few other important supplies as this will be our last chance till Darwin.
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- Getting on to the bonnet is usually a lot easier..
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- ..than getting back in the door but usually worth the effort for the improved photo
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- Our exercise regime for the next couple of months. I run the stairs to the lookout and DB does 10 pushups. Lets see how long it lasts.
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- Our earliest arrival so far, 3pm. Woohoo us!!
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- Port Denison
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- The start of our 80min bike ride along the footpath of Port Denison…
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- .. it then followed a timber boardwalk..
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- ..and then wound beside the river on a dirt/sandy path…
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- ..I always find it a little tricky on the sand and am definitely lacking some cycling prowess.
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- A sign we passed along the way, lucky we aren’t allergic to bee stings
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- View from one of the lookouts along the bike ride
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- Almost back. Check out the positioning of the wind break on the shelter. Obviously the wind always comes from the one direction. They were the same at Green Head as well.
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- Sandy Cape to Grigson Lookout to Mt Lesueur National Park to Green Head to Port Denison then cycle to Dongara. Only 148km today.