Laura Bay to Tractor Bay
We moved on from Laura Bay leaving all the bugs behind us. We had intended to drive further than Tractor Bay. The sun is not setting here until after 8.30pm and they do not have daylight saving. The time difference has messed us around for a couple of days, as we had to change the clocks forward and our body clocks are out. Waking at 9am (7am) is crazy as is not seeing the sun set until 8.30pm!
We have not managed to score a great camp at the moment, everything has been a compromise. The wind is still gusting, that’s the trouble with camping you are exposed to the elements. The gentle breezes are taking the edge off the heat, but afternoons, SS Camper Trailer sets sail. Thank goodness it seems to stop after sunset.
We have camped at Tractor Beach which is on Corvisart Bay there are no mosquitoes trying to eat us here and the flies are annoying but not huge swarms.
We turned off to Streaky Bay to keep to the coastal area for views and a little heat relief.
Streaky Bay is a lovely heritage town and is very scenic.
We were very late leaving Laura Bay and decided since it was well after lunch that we would treat ourselves to a fish and chip lunch. We found a park under a shady tree with the view of the jetty above and spotted the pub across the road. We hadn’t seen any fish and chips shops throughout the town, so decided to see what the pub had on offer - good choice. We shared a very large hot and cold seafood platter for lunch and had a pint of Strongbow Cider which went down really well. We said to the blond bar maid that we would sit inside for lunch and she commented that her phone said today’s temp was 24C - yes that would be true as it was inside (air conditioning) with her – no that wasn’t the temperature – it was 38c outside. Ditzy obviously thought that the phone was reading the outside temperature.
This area even though it is on the coast, is very dry and hot.
We refuelled and decided to call in on Tractor Beach and if it was any good, we would camp for the night. We found a reasonable site, so pitched camp.
The tide is in, but it goes out a long way.
Wednesday – light wind morning, 36 kph this afternoon – oh goody – Everyone is a sailor on SS Camper Trailer (Glen’s quote)
Still having trouble getting out of bed. Glen had done a complete tour of the bay before I even thought about getting up. I will be setting the alarm for tomorrow so that we can get up early and on the road. We plan to strike out for Coffin Bay or Lincoln Bay which ever one has the least wind.
We did the Westall Scenic Drive around the Westall Point before lunch this morning. It was quite hot here this morning, but as we drove around the change came through and the wind increased and everything cooled down.
After seeing the first Bush Raisin plant in the collapsed cave, I am seeing the bushes everywhere. This was the most prolific one that I have seen. There were many at Laura Bay, but the fruit had been taken. This one was on Westall Point.
There were a few other cars doing the scenic drive, but being 2wd they were very limited to where they could go. They missed out on Westall Point, you could drive all the way out and even down to the water line.
I thought I was seeing things when we were driving down to the water and closer inspection revealed this very cute seal who was just enjoying the gentle rocking swell.
This is the life, just lazing around. We had the seal – photographed above and then a sea lion came in to investigate, but didn’t stay long enough to take a photograph. The quickest way to identify the difference is that seals have little ear flaps and sea lions don’t. The sea lion was beige with lots of speckles on it and appeared to be larger.
When we were on top of Westall Point, Glen took a photo of a parrot amongst the rocks. It could be a orange bellied parrot which is just outside it’s area and is critically endangered or it will be the more common Elegant Parrot.. We will send off because if it is a orange bellied parrot, the sighting should be recorded.
The wet rocks really had a lovely colour palette.
This rock has the pink and grey and white flecks that you actually see in polished granite bench tops. This is a first seeing a wild one.
Next was Smooth Pool – it is protected by a larger rock ledge further out.
We then headed down to Yanerbie Beach a fairly basic beach area. Further along the road, we came across the Yanerbie Dunes which are moving across the point. This is the largest tree that we have seen in the entire area and it is being swallowed by the sand. It is probably this big because the sand is filtering water down to it, but it is a catch 22 situation.
Although the sand looked very white from a distance it is actually a beige colour which makes sense as all of the granite is in brown tones.
We came back to camp for lunch and had to tighten down the hatches as the wind was really gusting. It has been quite strong all afternoon, but now at sunset, it has eased off.
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