Tuesday March 15 – Day 7 – Camp le Grande to Camp Site at rim of Stirling Range

The wind subsided  a little over night and we awoke around 5:45 to blue skies and sunshine. You must be finding this part a little repetitive as I go on about the beautiful landscapes, oceans, and beaches, but it  just doesn’t stop.

We left the campsite around 7 a.m. this morning, stopped for provisions and coffee in Esperance, then headed to Twilight Bay for a swim. Twilight Bay was yet another serene and lovely cove protected by huge boulder islands. The ocean was filled with aquamarine, rippled waves as clear as glass, and the sand was white and silky like powder. We were soon swimming in the refreshing water and amazing at finding another paradise.

Our intention had been to stay there an hour, but when Annelies checked the weather report for the Stirling Ranges, it predicted heavy thunderstorm activity…so we voted to stay on the beach and forego the afternoon hike at the Ranges,

So, another swim, some lunch, and then on the road again.

Lake Warden is supposed to be pink, but it wasn’t, and neither was Pink Lake although it was pinker than Warden. A quick stop for photos, the way again.

We drove through Ravensthorpe, and made it to Ongerup when we started having problems with the bus after refueling. It seemed like water in the diesel which we had experienced in Africa. Annelies called Hassie and the mechanic and on their advice we kept going. All of a sudden she lost all power which meant no power brakes, no power steering, and no lights! She got a huge shock but kept her head and expertly steered the bus around the corner on the narrow road by following her GPS. We came to a stop. Fortunately, the other bus was following us, and between Sean and Annelies, they got the bus going again. We limped along the country roads sometimes at tortoise speed but we made it to Mt Trio camp site at the foot of the Stirling Range and just outside the National Park.

The skies helped to entertain us on the way. They put on a spectacular 360 degree light show illuminating the land around us and then sending bolts of brilliant gold straight into the ground.

Once at camp we raced the rain to erect the tents and then amazed by the dexterity of the skies, we listened to the sound show which filled the atmosphere with the beat of rain on the tin roof of the kitchen shelter we were all huddled into, and the rumble of drums in the back ground.

By the time we went to bed, the skies were exhausted and were ready to go to sleep with us.