DAY 30
FRIDAY
27 January 2017 –
Coffin Bay National Park
A lazy start to the day was welcomed by both of us. We read
quietly in bed before finally succumbing to the morning and venturing out. I
was off for a shower before breakfast and then it was chore time, washing the
clothes and cleaning the van.
I managed to get a progress report from home. Yogi is doing
fine, as we knew he would be, happy to go out on little walks and sit around
the yard. With that out of the way we drove out to the oyster sheds, finding
Odyssey for another 2 dozen oysters, these ones though were monsters compared
to what we have eaten lately. We then
checked out a local garage sale. There was nothing there of interest.
We returned briefly to the van to pack up lunch and then it
was off to Coffin Bay National Park. Once we paid the $10 entrance fee we were
free to roam the park, well the bits accessible by sealed roads. Most places
are 4wd only. We followed the road, which felt more like a rollercoaster track,
as it followed the contours of the dunes, darting this way and that, loosing
our stomach at each dip.
We stopped at a lookout, which afforded a good view of Avoid
Bay before continuing a little further along to Point Avoid. We stopped short
of the car park to take photos of a mother emu with her 4 youngsters, seeking
water from a large puddle. They were all more than happy for me to wander close
and take pics.
Point Avoid enabled us to look out over the rugged coastline.
We walked along the coastal cliffs admiring the views of the cliffs, the ocean
and the crashing waves below and then drove on to Golden Island Lookout. From
here you could really see the reef stretching from the main land to almost
reach the island.
The water reminded me
of Lucky Bay, so many shades of blue.
We decided to head down to the beach, as we had seen some
birds on the beach that we wanted to get a further look at. As we made our way
to the descending stairway, we were greeted by a group who were eagerly
watching a shark just beyond the breakers. We took up a vantage spot talking to
the swimmers who had evacuated the beach on hearing the crowd shout
“SHARK!”
With excitement quashed a little, we made our way onto the
white san and walked along the edge. Just little Lucky Bay, the water was
freezing, but keeping our feet in we soon became acclimatised.
We stalked the four birds on the beach, they turned out to be
a type of geese. We took in the natural beauty of the cliffs, reef, water and
island before returning to the car, setting up picnic chairs and having our
lunch. What a spot!
With no more sign of the shark, we packed up and drove back
to Avoid Bay, parking in the small car park and walking down to the beach,
where most people had driven their 4wd onto the sand. I spotted a big fish in
the shallows. It took off at the first thought we were getting too close.
We made the trek back to the t-junction but continued on to
Yangie Bay, a camping area, a bit like Lucky Bay. $12 a night and you can park
right next to the water. We walked to water’s edge and paddled, it was like a
bath compared to Avoid Bay. Another Emu mum and eight chicks appeared. They
were far more skittish than the first lot and took off quick as I approached.
We completed the Yangie Bay Trail to the lookout, passing a
large kangaroo along the way. The walk wound its way to the peak and provided a
great 360 view of the area.
Back in the car, we made our way out of the park.
We stopped on the road when we saw a wedge
tail eagle feasting on a recent road fatality, a young emu that came off second
best when crossing the road. The eagle didn’t stay put unfortunately, but I was
able to get a couple of shots as Paul removed the road kill from the middle of
the road.
At the top of the hill was another lookout, so we stopped
for a peruse and then we were heading back into town. A quick stop at the shop
for bacon and an oyster-shucking knife then back to the park to load up photos
while Paul tried not to mangle his hands as he shucked the oysters.
After he read for a bit , he decided to grab his fishing
gear and try his luck catching that “big one” again. I continued to work on the
photos while enjoying the quiet of the park.
I continued to hang out in the van, before getting things
ready for the oysters and thinking about joining Paul at the fishing spot, but
concerned he didn’t have van keys and we wouldn’t cross paths, I opted to stay
and just read instead.
Paul eventually made it back at 8pm, looking dishevelled and
exhausted. Turns out he had hooked three big ones, who all put up a hell of a
fight. He managed to get two to the shore, a black stingray and a brown with
blue spots, eagle ray, but they eventually won out, breaking the line and
swimming for their freedom. YAY! Paul
recounted his fishing tales, clambering over rocks, having his line run, the
zig zagging fight that all three put up. While he didn’t bring home the spoils,
he had enjoyed entertaining the crowds that built to watch his escapades.
With him back we enjoyed our oyster dinner once again,
before walking to the boat wharf and across the front of the yacht club. It was
now dark, being 9.30pm. There were a few patrons enjoying the evening at the
club and many fishermen trying their luck on the wharf jetty, while kids
splashed and jumped from its beams. The water at the far end was bubbling with
the fish life below.
We returned to van, watching the Kangaroos graze in people’s
yards. Once in we retired to bed, a short time spent reading, while the yahoos
were partying, then it was lights out.
PS – Akil Mitchell’s eye went back into its socket and he
can see, so likely the damage will be minimal and he will be back on the court
in a short time.
That was a long, sweaty night. Paul didn’t get much sleep at
all while I got far less than I am use to. We got ourselves sorted with
breakfast and then packed up our van and moved back in to town, where I could
take some photos of the van. We opted to walk the mangrove boardwalk and then
headed back up the main drag still admiring the old buildings then it was back
in the car and on the road to Whyalla, 110km north.
