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Published: December 7th 2023
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Thursday 7th December
I spoke with the Margaret River Tourist Board yesterday and was told that even though the caves are in a National Park we can take the dog provided he does not leave the car. Tippy is used to travelling and sleeping in his crate in the back of the UTE and as the weather today is a cool 22, we decided to visit the caves which are very close to our camp site, we reckon as this is one of the smaller caves we will only be leaving Tippy for an hour and we normally travel longer than that so he will be fine.
We headed off to be at Ngilgo Cave by 9am as we had been warned that a large school party was due at 10.30am so we wanted to be gone by then and it would be cooler for Tippy the earlier we went. The cave is well maintained and well laid out with lots of information boards about the site, this was the first cave that was found in this area and has been opened the longest, it is great that they have reduced the lighting and installed low power LED's in
order to minimize the impact on the caves. As we waited for them to open we chatted to a lady from Perth and her cousin from New York, interesting to share our stories' of our time in the US. She is very worried about the safety of New York and having been in the US since the early 90's she says it is nothing like the safe haven she encountered when she escaped persecution in Poland. The two ladies entered the cave first and came out rather fast as the had encountered a dugite on the first landing, the guides seemed a bit lost and not sure what to do, they had a look around and decide that it was safe to enter with caution and they warned people especially those with children to be careful, I guess this is Australia and they were here long before us and we are in the bush here. The cave is not large but still spectacular all the same and we spent an enjoyable 45mins walking up and down the 300 steps, had to stop half way back up to rest I am so unfit, look out pool when I get home.
Headed back to camp to walk Tippy and pick up morning tea before relaxing with our coffee, this camp site is such chill place it is easy to waste away the day, well not waste but do nothing which is good.
Headed out to Clancys Fish Restaurant for lunch, dogs welcome which was great. We sat out on the back decking overlooking the lake and enjoyed fish and chips as did Tippy, he is getting so good at just laying down and chilling when we go places, he was great, one small dog had a snarl at him as we let but he ignored it and walked on. Fish and chips were really good and I indulged in a midi of Guinness which was good, first alcohol in a long time.
Back to camp to chill out for the afternoon, Tippy showed how it is done laying flat out on his back, Staffies they have no shame or modesty, he is funny. As G and I headed into the van later as it got cool, he insisted on joining us and he is asleep , with one eye open, on the bed as I write, little monkey really
making himself at home.
Very relaxing day , moving on to Walpole tomorrow.
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Arlene
non-member comment
caves
I loved the caves down there so glad you went to see one, has caves road rehabilitated from the bad fire at Perup in 2021 when a fire was started at Perup 25/3/21. It has destroyed over 5000 habitat trees, and burned to the ground thousands more. It has likely killed the majority of Numbats that used to live here, as well as thousands of other rare animals that called this area home. DBCA have euthanized a number of badly burnt kangaroos sheltering on my property, others, less severely burnt are being monitored. I have came across dead kangaroos in the bush and suspect many more are lying dead or suffering in the bush. The wildlife in this fire would have had a better chance of survival in a wild fire than this "planned and managed" Prescribed Burn. It will take hundreds of years for this bush to recover from this conflagration.