Day 105. Monkey Mia to Carnarvon

Finally....

After a wet and windy night, we woke to a still and mostly clear morning. The clouds were scattered, but there was definitely patches of sunshine and blue skies. Fingers crossed the weather stays like this and doesn't return to yesterdays misery!

We started packing the van ready for our days journey north to Carnarvon. Bec took Scarlett down to the beach again in the hope of maybe getting picked to feed the dolphins, while Wendy and I continued packing the van.

The photo Bec got of the dolphin feeding

Just as I was finishing with the last checks on the van before leaving the Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort, Bec and Scarlett returned with huge smiles on their faces. It turns out that Bec and Scarlett found Jace, Jo, Maya, Grace and Jai down at the beach; also waiting for the chance to feed the dolphins.

The dolphins soon came into the beach, and Maya, Grace and Scarlett (with one other little girl) were chosen from the crowded throngs of tourists to feed the dolphins. All 4 x girls had to hold one single solitary little fish and feed a single dolphin. It wasn't exactly what I had hoped for for Scarlett, but it was definately better than nothing at all. Unfortunately Bec didn't get any decent photo's of Scarlett feeding the dolphin, as she was stuck in the crowd behind the 4 x girls as they fed them, but I'm sure their memories will last a lifetime.

Rumour has it  that Maya and Grace took some photo's of the feeding, so I'll try and get a copy or two of their photo's if I can.

Finally - Scarlett got to feed a wild dolphin, and she left it till the very last morning in Monkey Mia to do it!

We then piled into the Pajero and said farewell to Monkey Mia. If I had the chance to return here in the future, I think I would choose to stay in Denham next time. Obviously the location of the Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort, is second to none, as its literally located where the dolphins come in, but for what you pay I think the toilet blocks and laundry were a little run down. Maybe if they spent some money upgrading the basic amenities here it would be worth it. There was only basic bore water and desalinated water for drinking, so if you didn't bring your own, you were in for a sorry time. Lucky for us I turned up with full water tanks, and we did bring bottled water that we purchased back in Geraldton.

Hamelin Pool

Scarlett 'learning' about Stromatolites

Next was 'Hamelin Pool', where we found more Stromatolites. This is the only other place in the world that you can view these prehistoric lifeforms other than back in Cervantes - where we viewed them earlier on our trip. We also saw an old 'Seashell Brick Quarry' where they literally cut bricks straight out of the beach/earth. It was very interesting reading all the placards on the history of this place.

The 'girls' and the seashell stone quarry

It was then another two and half hours drive north to Carnarvon. Wendy jumped in the hot seat up front with me, while Scarlett and Bec jumped in the back and each watched their own movies on the car DVD players. 

It was another long day on the road, and Scarlett was over it by the time we made it into Carnarvon. Luckily the caravan park we are staying at; the 'Wintersun Caravan Park' - a Top Tourist Park, has a pool and Wendy took Scarlett over to the pool while Bec and I unpacked the van and prepared to set it up again. Scarlett and Wendy also painted sea shells that Scarlett has collected along the way on our travels; and I must say that I am very impressed with what they have done so far. Maybe tomorrow when they finish painting them, I'll take a photo and share their work with everyone.

Tonight, Bec found a small tree frog climbing on our caravan as she returned from the showers. Scarlett was out the door in a flash, and was soon spotlighting with 'Nana'. They found another frog or two before deciding enough was enough for one night, and then hit the sack for the night.

Good night!

Scarlett and a seashell butterfly

posted by Shane