Have we found the perfect beach?

Patrick enjoying his pre-perandial
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We have now been in paradise for the last 4 days – sadly out of internet contact, but miraculously all of Patrick’s (and Emily’s) patient research in Sydney paid off as the kindly Telstra man suggested we get an aerial for the campervan and we have been able at least to be in phone contact with the outside world. We’re looking forward to getting emails tomorrow.

We’re in Cape Range Park beside Ningaloo Reef. The park has nothing in it at all – at the gate you are asked whether you are self-sufficient for as long as you want to be here. You are allowed to camp in allotted sites which do have long drop dunnies but nothing else. Our camping skills are sadly wanting but we’re learning daily. Day 1 here we decided we didn’t have enough petrol – well we did but just wanted to be sure so we left the park to get some – oh and while we’re there we’ll get some more drinking water and milk – wise move! Day 3 we run out of water in the van– not to worry we still had plenty of drinking water but not enough to wash in. So today we did manage to find the one tap they provide so we were able to cook and wash up this evening –still unable to wash though as it is limited. Still the salt and sand in the hair do lend a style of its own!

What a sunset!
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There are a number of beautiful beaches and bays here and you just hop from one to the other, pulling up where you feel like, having a look at the beach and either staying or brewing a cup of tea in the van. I love getting into the van at the end of a stop anywhere and walking up and down the aisle, making sure the overhead lockers are all shut and the hand luggage is carefully stowed under the seat in front. I almost feel I should point out to Patrick each time where the emergency exits are and how to use his oxygen mask!

Ready for any eventuality!
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We’re a bit Germanic in our approach and tend to find the camping spot we’d like and setting up our tables and chairs bagsying the place and then setting off to find the perfect beach. We think we have found it. It’s called Turquoise Bay. Knowing the Australian tendency for unimaginative names for places (Great Sandy Desert, Snowy Mountains, 80 Mile Beach) we had some idea as to what to expect, but it is a truly glorious colour – it hardly looks real. Fortunately Patrick wasn’t wearing his latest favourite holiday shirt (turquoise and white), otherwise I think he might just have faded into the background.

The perfect beach? Note the colour!
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We’re also acquiring quite a lot of holiday paraphernalia. It started with the body boards at Broome – such a lovely beach for body boarding we decided on our first trip, but the second time we went there were no waves, and here there are no waves, so they are still in their cellophane packs. Can’t wait to use them though. Thanks to Dot and Cliff for leaving their towels with Sam and Emily and they’ve lent them to us – Patrick was a bit unsure as to whether he looked better with the flowery one or the pink striped one. He settled for the latter – very fetching. Which did you choose Cliff? Thanks, they’re great! Then came the sunshade and the mat – both perfect. After that we felt we needed swimming shoes so that we didn’t cut our feet on the coral or stand on a deadly stonefish – very stylish they are too. And today we succumbed to replacing the goggles and snorkels which Patrick lovingly brought all the way from home (remember the baggage allowance limit we had?!), having bought them in St Cyprien years ago for about 5 quid – well worth hawking them half way across the world! However we felt yesterday they were letting in a bit and hampered the very amateur snorkelers that we are. What a great investment – today we did some brilliant snorkelling – saw a turtle, manta ray, Nemo, swordfish, all different coloured, blue, yellow, orange, black, white fish – all within 10 yards of the beach. Absolutely fabulous! We’ve decided to stay a couple of extra days here – going into town tomorrow to stock up again, Patrick to check emails,send blog, go to launderette etc, then we’ll come here for another day or two snorkelling.

Great excitement – just before we left our spot this morning a fellow camper rushed up to our van (embarrassingly Patrick was just trying on his turquoise and white shirt!) to tell us a turtle was on the beach. We rushed down and saw this huge floundering turtle trying desperately hard to get back to the sea after presumably laying her eggs last night. It was wonderful to watch – albeit frustrating as she kept going in the wrong direction to the sea. Fortunately though the tide came in and helped her out. Amazing watching nature in action!

There’s so much to tell – we’re having a wonderful time but it’s difficult to know how to pace ourselves. We know we want to be in Perth on 16 November – hopefully to meet Heather and Chris – but we don’t know what is ahead of us and how long we’ll want to spend in each place. So we’re diverting a little from our plans to make the most of this idyllic place. So once again we’ll be out of internet contact for a day or two but we’re heading on to a place called Coral Bay on Saturday – wonder what we’ll find there?!!

Hope you had a great 18^th birthday Tom – card is in the post!