KALBARRI - CERVANTES

Ross Graham Lookout - Kalbarri National Park

Beautiful Bethany

Bold Bridget

Tremendous Tess

Brave Ben

The HMAS Sydney memorial in Geraldton

The Pinnacles at sunset, Cervantes

The gang at the Pinnacles - NB the jumpers!!

The Hansens at Hansen Bay - true story - at Cervantes

The lovers at the Pinnacles

DAY 82 – KALBARRI – CERVANTES                                  Thursday, 22^nd September

It was an absolute precision operation this morning!   Everyone had a job to do and we were on the road by 7:30am and off to our first two gorges of the day.  Hawk’s Bluff and Ross Graham lookout were not far off the road so we made a quick dash for it.  Again beautiful views of the Murchison River.   The second one was named after the first teacher and headmaster at Kalbarri School who died in the 60s aged only 30.  Kalbarri would have been such a small town in those days; it must have been such a shock for the community.

David really wanted to get to Hutt River Province which is owned by a man calling himself Prince Leonard.  Apparently he seceded from the state of Western Australia in 1970 because the state of Western Australian had never been claimed as British Territory.  He now runs his own principality with their own currency and defence force.  It originated because there was a quota on the amount of wheat he was able to sell in the 1960s which he did not like.  David was fascinated and would have loved to have met him and had a chat.  Sorry, but the lawyer in me just thought he was an absolute nut!  Anyway, unfortunately we did not leave ourselves enough time and just had to keep going to Geraldton for the tour of the HMAS Sydney memorial.

This is one of the most beautiful memorials I have ever seen.  The HMAS Sydney was lost with all 645 hands on 19^th November 1941 after a short battle with the German raider,  the Kormoran.  They had been searching for the wreck for years and it was only found in 2008.  In 1998, it was decided to organise a permanent memorial for Geraldton.  The Rotary Club held a Sunset Service on the 19^th November 1998, with just a flagpole and a rock, during which an entire flock of seagulls flew overhead and headed out to sea.  In 2002, the permanent memorial was unveiled – a Dome of Souls made up of 645 silver gulls, representing each of the men who lost their lives.  A bronze statue looking out to sea – The Waiting Woman – represents all those left behind.  She has a wedding ring on and a tiny anchor on her necklace.  All 645 names are engraved on the wall outside the memorial.  It was very impressive.

We had lunch in the park and then drove down the coast road to Cervantes where we set up the van and then went out to the Pinnacles for sunset.  Since David had been there in 1996 a huge amount of work had been done to increase tourism.  You can now drive the car right through the middle of the Pinnacles and stop along the way to take photos.  David was right.  At sunset, they are particularly beautiful limestone features as they cast long shadows over one another.  It stretches out like tombstones in a cemetery.

We visited Hansen Bay (yes, really!!) and Lake Thetis, where there are more stromatolites.  Yes!  They LIED to me at Hamelin Pool!!  But apparently these are the only TWO places (sure, I say!)  Daddy was excited, but the kids all looked like “Been there, done that!”