A poor man buys twice … I‘m liking that phrase more and more …

A brilliant sunrise, proving to be a top day.

The wind has gone after last night and we’re off to Coobowie (5km) to play tennis with the local tennis group.

A nice morning, only 8 players so 2 courts for 1½ hours.  A nice bunch followed by a coffee at the only shop in this small town.

John had a restless night … his cheap air mattress was flatened.  He was feeling rather ‘deflated’. In the meantime, a patch from the car tyre shop in Yorketown $10 (it didn’t work); a vinyl patch kit $10, needs 24 hours to use mattress … I wasn’t confident $10.  A wander passed our local service station who sells fishing/camping/hardware.  An air mattress $27.50 … sold!!!

A relaxing afternoon ride to Point Sultana along the Walk The Yorke Trail , we swim others fish.  What a great day, how things change when its not windy.

I’m on constant alert at the weather app as there was threatening rain during the whole of the Easter break. Day by day it’s looking less likely that our tennis tournament will be a washout. Fingers crossed.

The sun sets and the sky looks on fire as we bbq at the camp kitchen, chatting to other campers also cooking. The fish weren’t biting today we learn, how there is a few mullet being caught

From our tent I gaze over the sea, the moon will be full in 2 days, its reflection on the sea before me. Not a breath of wind, it’s 19°C no clouds eerily still. What a lovely evening.

‘Oh! I waved to them’, he said. ‘I thought they were real!’  Specsavers alert!!!

I feel at home … sunrise is around 6 30am … that is more like it in my language.  A quick 3min walk to the beach to see a vibrant red glow over the ocean and soon the sunrise. 

We are on the move to Edithburgh.  We pass through Yorketown, a lovely quaint hub at the crossroads to the east and west sides of the penninsula.  A feast for the photographer of the old stone buildings and houses.  They are not all original, some with a facelift but still they’re strutting their stuff and looking proud.

We are now at the start of the Water Tower Mural Trail and the Salt Lake Trail, reminders of a thriving community here in yesteryear.

Edithburgh has yet another jetty to add to the collection … more old stone buildings and houses. Both towns are squeaky clean as of all through the Penninsula.

A lovely coastal ride to Coobowie passing the Tidal Pool … maybe it deserves a swim tomorrow, not before continuing a coastal ride to Sultana Point.

When 6am means 6am … daylight saving has finished, yay!. Still trying to work out if its a 23 or 25hr day.

A cold wind here on the east this morning as the park empties from the weekenders.

Solution is to go west.  Back to the National Park to Royston Head Hike.  Lots of WOW moments here this morning.  For once I am quiet, I’m on the look out for some local animals … David Attenborough style.  Sign language as we see some emus trotting through the bush.  The track is so pretty through sandhills covered with low bushes of all shades of green.  It would be great when it is all in flower.  In the distance, the cliffs, bays and beaches setting off some wonderful scenery.  Two ears poking up followed by the little face of a kangaroo (I picture in my mind a donkey orchid) maybe we should rename it. There are 2 roos only a couple of metres away and not bothered by us as I take a pic. 

Over the sandhills and ‘voila!’; a sight to behold, this is Wow, stunning, amazing … all the positive adjectives you can imagine.  We are sooo lucky.  We scramble down the trail on the edges of the cliff.  It is stunning, the contrast in colours, the little island, coves and beach below … such an amazing walk.

We thought we had stayed 1 day too long, however today we have slowed down and sapped in the beauty of this National Park.

Back to West End Beach … now that is a beach!!! The stairs down are never ending.  The beach walk goes on and on.  Waves crashing before us as we trudge through the soft sand, we have the whole beach to ourselves, nobody dare, they just look from the top and take a pic, probably on a day park entry and seeing the sights quickly.  We bought a 2 month SA National Park Pass and we are getting our monies worth.

‘Did you bring your book?’ she says,  ‘No, I forgot, maybe I’ll just watch the dolphins’, he says … we both laugh …

Oh, the weather has started to turn, a little cooler and quite a strong wind this morning. I’m busy looking at google maps and willyweather, trying to fathom out the best wind protected place to go. Dolphin Beach came up trumps. Firstly the opposite direction to see the Kangaroo Island lookout, very rugged coast, clambering up rocks and cliffs, windy but we were rewarded with the scenery.

The plan was to take our book to Dolphin Beach and sit on the rocks. I suppose you want to walk to the end of the beach? Another rhetorical question, off we go, it’s remarkably different without the wind. Within minutes a pair of dorsel fins break the water. Look dolphins!!! We walked the length of the beach following the dolphins as they were hunting. John clapping his thongs together and whistled … I’m not sure what he was thinking, Flipper or calling a dog 🤔??

Back at the start of the beach 5 emus heading towards our bags, ‘I’m glad I zipped my bag up!’

For a day that could have been uneventful, it turned out well.

Up to see the sunrise over the water today … 1 other couple on the beach waiting for the right moment to get snapping.

We spent the day looking at coves, lighthouses, beaches and on walking trails in the Innes National Park.

The rugged coastline mixed with the sandy beaches and tranquil waters gave us the most stunningly breathtaking scenery today.

Reminders of the thriving community of Inneston in the early 1900’s when gypsum was mined and loaded onto ships.

A refreshing swim at Dolphin Bay (minus the dolphins), but we did see some fauna … emus, kangaroos and a bobtail lizard.

We thank our lucky stars that the weather was sunny and it wasn’t windy, with the exception of brief 5 minute shower.

The rest is in my pics.

‘You’ll like that … you can go for your morning beach walk while I lay in bed’, he said, … ‘You bet I will!!! ‘

More wows today as we set up camp in Marion Bay and the beach of about 100m … the tide was out, exposing a lovely sandy beach.

I bbq’d my squid for lunch … I just have to refine the cooking process … that means more fishing.

What a great day … nothing stressful, beach walks a short ride, dinner at the tavern … for some strange reason the jetty is lacking fishers, I ‘threw a line’ earlier for about 30 mins … nothing happening.

The tavern lived up to reviews excellent meals. I was expecting a lot of wind today, however it’s 8.30pm and no wind at all … an early morning beach walk swim is on the cards for me tomorrow.

What a nice place!!

Gone fishin … no time for wordle, quordle, octordle …

A lovely sunrise … how could I not get up to see that golden glow as it lights the sky between the clouds.

A great morning bay hopping around the coast, a mix of long beaches, coves and rocky cliffs. This is such a wonderfully picturesque coastline … lots of ‘wow’ moments, adjectives like stunning, amazing, incredible and oodles of pics. We even stopped for a swim at a gorgeous tiny cove; clean white sand and the clearest of water. We pinch ourselves regularly.

Back to base with a purchase of a hand reel rigged for squid. The jetty only has a few fishers with their rods and tackle bags for their catch. I’m feeling a little insecure with only my hand reel and a plastic bag stuffed into my shorts back pocket. I sidle myself up near a young guy with a pre schooler with a rod .. he’s got more chance than me, I think.

John appears and we laugh about if I caught a squid … shortly after, I learn the perils of squid fishing … the jet propulsion of ink … yuck on my leg, my new hiking shoes ugh!!!! Haha … it was still rather fun when I hear ‘she’s caught it on a hand line!!!’ No other successes on the jetty when I leave … I’m still laughing. Im hoping to get a mate for a meal tomorrow night.

It’s better on the bike …

A short shower of rain after a bacon and egg breakfast … it’s John’s birthday today.

The new telescopic tent poles are working their magic already as we adjust them to get a run off with the rain. I got a new app on my phone .. compass and spirit level … so now I’m making sure the awning poles are 100° vertical … John just shakes his head … yes, I’m a bit anal … but I’m having fun!!!

The rain stops and we head off on the Walk the Yorke trail on our bikes … there is quite a bit of sharing with the dirt road as we hug the coast, lovely coastline, however the overcast skies don’t bring out the natural beauty of the colours of the sea today.

After a pub meal of squid schnitzel and mixed seafood: fillet and salt and pepper squid … we shared. We found a vantage point to see the sunset. Then off to the jetty to see the catch of the evening. 2 big stringrays and several small ones were seen. A small Port Jackson shark feeding on fish carcasses. Earlier a couple of playful dolphins were around.

Choose wisely I’m not sharing.

The rain came and it was a wet pack up of the tent this morning. A few hours later we were setting up camp in sunny Point Turton.

Be careful what you wish for; I was the looser today at the Minlaton Bakery; the Nutella Berlina wasn’t as good as John’s Kitchener Bun.

Nice drive through to Hardwicke Beach on the way.

Great park at Point Turton … not sure how we left the awning poles behind but lucky to get some at a hardware nearby. Quietly, I’ve been wanting to replace the old poles for telescopic since we got the tent. Ummm it wasn’t on purpose.

The jetty is lively this afternoon, squid is on the menu for a few people tonight. The fish cleaning station is swamped with pelicans waiting for scraps as fishers prep their catch; nearby the steps to the water has Sally the stingray getting a pat and feed. She is said to be 20 years old and a resident attraction to the campers.

The coastline is once again stunning, clear waters and houses only metres from the waters edge only separated by the Walk the Yorke trail.

It would have to be pretty damn good to beat this!!! …

… that was me a few weeks ago as I did my 2/3 days a week summer ritual of early morning walk/jog and swim at Leighton Beach, North Fremantle.

I’m walking as the first light appears from Moonta Bay to Port Hughes along the beach. The tide is on it’s way out; soon to expose great expanses of white sand and shallow pools. A young fisher point … warning me of his line out as I duck under the rod. A man with a newspaper under his arm, his dog just chased a few gulls in the shallows … that would have been a good picture. It’s overcast; rain is on the way tomorrow.

Port Hughes jetty is bustling with fishers, a few squid have been caught. I back track to return to Moonta Bay … this is certainly a great place, it ticks a lot of boxes … maybe I’m a bit parochial about Leighton Beach.

Moonta Jetty is buzzing with excitement as squid is being caught, a big flathead (I’m sure I saw it yesterday when I was snorkelling; camouflaged in the weed).

A ride into town and aboard the Historic Railway Tourist Train. Great way to learn about the copper mining industry.

After a swim, we venture onto the Jetty, water crystal clear as we watch squid and a crab being caught … where else in the world would I like to be.