Coral Bay - Exmouth

                                                                  AMAZING!!!

                                                      The Spinifex Termite Mounds

                                                                What a camp spot!

                                                                   Goanna Tracks

                                                                Sturts Desert Pea

I spent a pleasant day in Coral Bay snorkeling on the aquarium-like Ningaloo Reef. There were fish of every colour, squid, reef sharks and more. Although I must admit the water was a little too cold for me. I had tried looking for a job in person, and had made many unsuccessful calls to no avail, so it was time to move on.

After a very slow start to my 80km ride the next day, I finally launched myself into the strong headwinds. It was only 150 odd km's to Exmouth but the winds were really blowing and I decided to split it into two days. Luckily my friends Mark and Terry had left water bottles hiding in the bushes for me to find. They had attached small signs attached to the street signs informing me of the hidden location of the water. It was a small gesture but it really meant alot to me and brightened my day. A big thank you to Mark and Terry, you guys sure kept me laughing.

The scenery along this road was very simple, consisting of spinifex with the occasional bush dotted here and there. Giant termite mounds composed of vibrant red soils stood towering over the plains adding an attractive element to the landscape. 

The down-side to the spinifex plains was that the razor sharp blades made camping impossible and I found it very difficult to find a suitable camp-spot. Eventually I slipped through the fence onto a station property to sleep within a stock-pile site of crushed rock. I tried everywhere to find soft ground in which I could drive a peg in, but the ground  was like cement. After a few bent pegs I decided that my only option was to flatten the top of a rock-pile and camp on this lumpy vantage point. Indeed it was a strange place to sleep. 

The next morning I was up before the sun, and away in good time. With only 71 km's into Exmouth I was there before lunch.

I checked into a caravan park that night which was particularly close to the road. I was stressed that my gear might be pinched or damaged... and sadly my fears were later justified. I was already asleep that night tucked away in my tent when a young, drunk male jumped on me and my tent, resulting in some very bent poles and small tears in the material. Luckily this pole was already snapped and I had a new one arriving in the mail. None-the-less it gave me the fright of a life-time and I was quite ill-tempered. 

But there I was in Exmouth, and I was very motivated to find some work to make some much needed money.