11th October

On the Way down to Geraldton we passed by the Pink lake. This is a salt lake with the Water evaporating leaving the Pink colour. Its part of a Salt production facility.

Once we arrived in Geraldton and found our friends (Paul's) place we set up in the front yard.
What I have failed to mention lately are the flies.Well not in the last couple of posts anyway.
They are just as bad in Geraldton and we have to keep the screen door across in the van to keep them out. I think they would drive you mad if you lived here.

The House is on 8 Acres and is elevated, so you can see the Coast and Sea from out the front and the Sunsets were pretty special as well.

We had a few visitors during the day as Paul and Lynn feed the Gallahs and they arrived every afternoon for a feed.

                                                                    A very noisy lot.

 I had a wander around the Property and photographed a few of the local Wildflowers.

These are the Geraldton Wax bushes that are native to the area and come in different colours. Paul had the Pink and White.

Not sure what this one was but it was quite common and very pretty.

While we were at Paul's I did a couple of jobs on the Caravan, as Paul has a good workshop that I could use. I moved the position of the Jockey wheel so I could get the Bikes back on the front of the Caravan, as we were not using them when they were on the roof rack of the car, they were too hard to get down.
The Pajero was due for its 90,000km service so I got that done in town and just about had to rob a bank to pay for it. $1300.00!!! If it wasn't for the warranty I would have done it myself.
So far we have covered over 20,000km so keeping it in top condition is a given,so I suppose I cant complain. It was a complete service, all oils, Coolant, Brake Fluid,the lot.They also flushed the Transmission so at least I know it will get us home.
While at Geraldton we visited the HMAS Sydney Memorial.

You will probably have to click on the pictures to be able to read them. Worth a read though.

 The Dome was constructed of Stainless Steel pieces shaped like Seagulls and fashioned into the Dome. The number of them corresponding to the number of lives lost in the action.

 Helen overlooking the pool of remembrance,with a Seagull shape floating over the top.

This Statue represents the Wives and Mothers of the lost sailors looking out to Sea in the general direction of where the Ship went down.

 Looking over the Port area and some of the Town from the top of the hill by the Memorial.

Paul took us for a look around the surrounding area and we stopped at Greenough Historical Village for a Coffee.

                    If you look hard you can see an Alpaca sitting under the Tree by the Church.

                      There was a lot of Alpacas in the paddock,all shapes sizes and colours.
On the way back to Paul's we came across a sign that the wind on the West Coast blows for most of the year and not as a gentle breeze either.

While we were at Paul's a certain person of interest had a Birthday. No I'm not going to tell what one, just that I was a year older than last time!

While we were in Geraldton we drove 30km North to have a look at Coronation Beach to see if it was a good spot for a couple of nights. It looked OK so when we left Paul's we back tracked the 30km and set up camp for a couple of days. Tony and Chris had gone up a couple of days before so they saved us a spot.

That's about enough for this installment. Next on to Cervantes and the Pinnacles.

See Ya next time.
Dave and Helen