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Published: April 24th 2014
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The Pinnacles
A series of photographs following our journey around the 4km circuit around the Pinnacles Heading toward Cervantes we passed the entrance to the Pinnacles desert discovery centre which reminded us why we where here,this was to be a highlight of this region.This being Easter week leading up to the Easter long W/E we could only book in to the C/P for two days, long enough we hope to see all we wanted to see.The only caravan park in Cervantes is situated only metres from the beach with panoramic views across the Indian Ocean from the shoreline.A quirky cafe is adjacent to the C/P serving breakfast and lunch on the terrace overlooking the ocean.The owner Leslee has been collecting shells for over 40 years and displays them through the cafe , her collection is highly regarded by those who know about such things.
We acquaint our self's with this small town known as the gateway to the Pinnacles and named after the island off the coast, which itself was named after the wreck Cervantes.The town is indeed small but offers modest amenity's including a service station,supermarket,country club and motel along with numerous other types of accommodation.A thriving Crayfish industry also exists here and the local lobster factory known as the Lobster shack offers tours of
the factory which processes rock lobster for both local consumption and export.We availed our self's of both local lobster and prawns for the freezer.Fishing and coastal walking are also favorite pastimes here with access to many of the beaches along the shoreline.
Off to Nambung National Park and one of Australia's most unique landscapes,featuring thousands of limestone spires up to five meters tall.Formed thousands of years ago by ancient oceans rich in marine life which slowly gave way to nature and disappeared, leaving behind seabeds rich in limestone sand which were blown inland and eventually formed the pinnacles as we know them today.A complex chemistry and the force of nature over thousands of years was needed to accomplish this and remained hidden from view for thousands of years until discovered by Europeans in 1820.Not until 1960 were they available to the public at large when they were included in the Nambung National Park.Indigenous people have a more mythical explanation for this unique landscape and have a strong connecting with stories of the past.
As we enter the National Park we stop at an entrance booth operated during daylight hours where a fee is collected,fortunately we have a year
long pass.Here we gather information about the park and the visitor centre.Two options are available, take a 4km drive around a one way system or take a 1/2km walk from the visitor centre which is also an interpretive centre,we opt for the drive.As we leave the entrance we take a left turn to be confronted by an aweinspiring view of the pinnacles, thousands of them in all shapes and sizes non of which are identical.Driving through the well laid out one way circuit we are spellbound by the majesty and elegance of these formations,to be here among them is almost spiritual and certainly grounding.Pull off parking bays allow cars to pull off the sandy road and get out of the cars and wander through this mysterious landscape,every one has a camera.This place should be on everybody's bucket list.We took our fair share of photographs but they do not do the pinnacles justice,with all their shapes,sizes,the shadows they cast and their sheer presence you have to be here to experience it.
After finishing the drive and absolute fascinating views of the pinnacles we made our way to the visitor and interpretive centre.A modern well equipped interpretive centre it sets out
to try and explain the formation and history of the pinnacles as well as the surrounding desert.Time well spent.We still had time to spare so we headed for Lake Thetis only 2 km from Cervantes and only one of five sites in W/A that features Stomatolites, looking like flat rocks in water they are probably the oldest surviving organism on the planet.Nothing special to look at but nevertheless interesting to think that what looks like rock is actually a living creature.We round off our day by visiting the country club and treating our self's to a platter of local seafood and some vino reflecting on the days events and sights.
We have to vacate our site, the C/P is fully booked so is any other C/P within any reasonable distance so we head for a free camp near Dongara only 60kms away.This is truly a free camp with no facilities available but what a View.Right next to the beach surrounded by low bush and sand dunes with many options for camping offering peace and tranquility this is what free camping is all about.Our caravan is fully equipped to free camp for many days, carrying water,battery, free standing solar panel,built
in shower and toilet and a generator to keep the battery topped up.We haven't done much free camping but we will definitely do more following this experience.
We pulled into the free site with only one other caravan parked there, this site is also used as a day visitor site with access to the beach for swimming or fishing and a few cars were parked there also.Here for several days we settle in for the Easter W/E and as it unfolds we are joined by several other campers trying to escape the crowds.I unpack the fishing rods in anticipation of some good fishing which is suppose to be good around here.And then there is the wind blowing hard and gusty making fishing very difficult also blowing lots of weed onto the beach of which I caught a lot of but not much fish.
Not wanting to travel far over Easter we restrict our journey's to Dongara and Port Denison twin towns for provisions and liquid refreshment.The towns are small but full of history with strong ties to the fishing and lobster industries.Over the Easter W/E the town supports a craft market with arts and crafts on show from
local residents which was well supported by locals and tourists alike.
Mostly we did very little other than chill out with a little fishing and walking thrown in.Talking to fellow campers and day visitors proved to be an interesting distraction with many stories being told of adventures and journeys throughout this great land.There was a bit of a drama when a small sail boat and trailer became stuck in the sand when trying to retrieve, both the trailer and car became stuck in the sand with the tide coming in, so Bill to the rescue. My trusty Pajero pulled them both out.
Sunsets over the ocean were incredible and we had loads of opportunities for photographs please enjoy.
Time to move on next place Geraldton home to the HMAS Sydney 11 memorial.
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marian
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Looks amazing definitely on my bucket list now, great blogs Bill keef them coming