Coral Bay
Russ and I are just about to leave Coral Bay Thursday and head for Exmouth for a week. It’s still on the Ningaloo Reef, but I can’t imagine it being as beautiful a place. Any of you who’ve been here will know it’s really special. There have been a couple of attempts to build big resorts here and we were pleased to be told the latest failed on Friday which is great-a hotel the size they had planned would ruin it here.
We were really pressured to move on as bookings are increasing as the school holidays get closer. Over the actual holidays there isn’t a site left in the park. After a week in Exmouth we move to Onslow (and mud crabs off the jetty we’ve been told) for a week, Karratha for a week, Port Headland for 4 nights then we turn round and head back to Perth. That will be the end of the school holidays thank goodness. We are giving ourselves 8 nights to travel through the Pilbara and Mount Tom Price before arriving in Denham on August 1st for a week or so. I had a nice e-mail from Denise (formerly from Warrnambool) and she tells me the wild flowers are starting up North. Hopefully we’ll start and see some soon. It’s very dry though and that affects them. We’ve only had one night of rain in the last month.
On August 15th we are flying via Bangkok to the UK where we’ll catch up with my son Mick before heading on a 3 week tour of Europe. We’ll then have another 12 days in the UK before heading home via Bangkok again but this time we’ll stop over for 5 nights. We’re both looking forward to it a lot, but with the wonderful days we are having up here, we’re certainly not wishing the time away!
Yesterday Russ took our neighbour James out fishing. They seemed to have a great day out fishing and who wouldn't-it’s like fishing in an aquarium when the water is still, with more sizes, colours and species of fish than imaginable. One trigger fish we catch occasionally looks like a kid‘s been asked to paint it. They are beautiful, put up a great fight, and then go back. It's actually fun just to drop a tiny hook and bait out and watch the fish (sometimes maybe more than 50 of various types) follow it up. We've seen a few turtles go by as we fish too.
James and Beth came for tea last night as Russell cooked all the fish that was caught. I made a salad and Beth bought chips at the park’s restaurant, it was great and it’s how we plan to entertain when we get home. Everyone will bring their own knife, fork and plate, chair, glass and wine. It’s so easy.
Russell actually caught a 55cm Spangled Emperor yesterday from our little boat using one of our very light bream rods. I know it’s an amazing feat because I caught one 6cm smaller the day before and could hardly land it! James caught a cod and they threw back heaps of fish undersized stuff. I have made friends with a Japanese woman and her partner. They were out fishing near Russ and James and pulled along side them out on the water to share some sashimi they had prepared. Ayoko flies home to Japan from Perth next week and I think she’ll miss all this so much (even in Japan it would be hard to get sashimi so fresh).
We’ve had a couple of goes at snorkeling which is pretty amazing. We walk over to the beach (about 200 metres, then into the water and there is the Ningaloo Reef. It’s just there! No expensive cruise to take you out. Just walk in! I saw a blue spotted ray the other day being herded by a pink snapper bigger than anything we’ve ever caught. The snapper actually follow the boat out as we leave to go fishing and sometimes we have had up to 40 of them behind us. We have to leave the park before we can fish (that takes us about 15 minutes) so the fish seem as though they are teasing us.
James and Beth will be in Onslow at the same time as us, so Russ has agreed to take Beth out and teach her how to crab.
We were really pressured to move on as bookings are increasing as the school holidays get closer. Over the actual holidays there isn’t a site left in the park. After a week in Exmouth we move to Onslow (and mud crabs off the jetty we’ve been told) for a week, Karratha for a week, Port Headland for 4 nights then we turn round and head back to Perth. That will be the end of the school holidays thank goodness. We are giving ourselves 8 nights to travel through the Pilbara and Mount Tom Price before arriving in Denham on August 1st for a week or so. I had a nice e-mail from Denise (formerly from Warrnambool) and she tells me the wild flowers are starting up North. Hopefully we’ll start and see some soon. It’s very dry though and that affects them. We’ve only had one night of rain in the last month.
On August 15th we are flying via Bangkok to the UK where we’ll catch up with my son Mick before heading on a 3 week tour of Europe. We’ll then have another 12 days in the UK before heading home via Bangkok again but this time we’ll stop over for 5 nights. We’re both looking forward to it a lot, but with the wonderful days we are having up here, we’re certainly not wishing the time away!
Yesterday Russ took our neighbour James out fishing. They seemed to have a great day out fishing and who wouldn't-it’s like fishing in an aquarium when the water is still, with more sizes, colours and species of fish than imaginable. One trigger fish we catch occasionally looks like a kid‘s been asked to paint it. They are beautiful, put up a great fight, and then go back. It's actually fun just to drop a tiny hook and bait out and watch the fish (sometimes maybe more than 50 of various types) follow it up. We've seen a few turtles go by as we fish too.
James and Beth came for tea last night as Russell cooked all the fish that was caught. I made a salad and Beth bought chips at the park’s restaurant, it was great and it’s how we plan to entertain when we get home. Everyone will bring their own knife, fork and plate, chair, glass and wine. It’s so easy.
Russell actually caught a 55cm Spangled Emperor yesterday from our little boat using one of our very light bream rods. I know it’s an amazing feat because I caught one 6cm smaller the day before and could hardly land it! James caught a cod and they threw back heaps of fish undersized stuff. I have made friends with a Japanese woman and her partner. They were out fishing near Russ and James and pulled along side them out on the water to share some sashimi they had prepared. Ayoko flies home to Japan from Perth next week and I think she’ll miss all this so much (even in Japan it would be hard to get sashimi so fresh).
We’ve had a couple of goes at snorkeling which is pretty amazing. We walk over to the beach (about 200 metres, then into the water and there is the Ningaloo Reef. It’s just there! No expensive cruise to take you out. Just walk in! I saw a blue spotted ray the other day being herded by a pink snapper bigger than anything we’ve ever caught. The snapper actually follow the boat out as we leave to go fishing and sometimes we have had up to 40 of them behind us. We have to leave the park before we can fish (that takes us about 15 minutes) so the fish seem as though they are teasing us.
James and Beth will be in Onslow at the same time as us, so Russ has agreed to take Beth out and teach her how to crab.
posted by janandruss at
11:30 a.m.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home