Day 2
Thursday
5 July 2018
Cliff Head - Northampton
Well the rain didn’t ease off at all during the night, in fact it was quiet substantial at times. I didn’t sleep well. I have to remember how to sleep in a little ball again and to turn my brain off to the noises that are heightened when sleeping inside a little box. Give it a few days and I will be right.
We were awake by 730am. Paul had decided that the car would need to come off, so that we could get out of the campground and hearing a neighbour leaving, motivated him to get up and started. I opened the blind to the morning and one of the sea-eagles enjoying a fish breakfast. Both were still perched on the gnarled branch of the tree, surveying the heaving hunting grounds beyond.
While Paul got busy with the car, I put breakfast together. We ate and tidied up. I took some more photos, as a double rainbow framed the van and then it was time to make a move. We drove the vehicles up the gravel hill and out to the limestone drive, remounted the car, swept out the van and continued on up the Indian Ocean drive before connecting with the Brand Highway, all by 8.45am.
Before we knew it, we were passing through the bustling city of Geraldton and then on to the North West Highway to continue our journey north, though not too further on. Northampton is the next major spot, with its town buildings straddling the highway.
We found a place for long vehicles to stop and wandered back to the info centre to book into the free camp at the golf course. As it turns out, you really didn’t have to tell them, but it was good to stop in and pick up all the tourist brochures.
We walked the length of the main street admiring the all of the stone buildings, many of a religious nature. The red rock makes a stark difference to the limestone used in Perth. It would have been quite a feat to create these structures in the 1800’s.
Once back at the van, we made our way down Steven Street for 1km, before finding the golf course driveway and making our way down to the camping parking area. It was a basic flat spot perfect for the overnight stay. Paul chose a spot to call home and we settled ourselves in.
It wasn’t long after that the golf clubs came out and we were off to play a round. The first challenge was to find the first hole. 7, 8, 12, hmm that one will do. Paul placed his ball on the elevated, synthetic turf, tee off box and we began.
The course wasn’t challenging in the sense of bunkers, thick bush and narrow avenues, but rather it was hard red earth, covered in tractor prints, where the weeds needed seeing to by a flock of sheep. The holes were wide and long and some were steep to climb and of course the sand greens threw in another element of challenge.
We made it around 12 to 18 before returning to the van and two new neighbours from NSW. I got busy making lunch, before we sat outside in the sun to eat. The sun came and went during the day. When it was out it warmed the bones, but when the wind blew the clouds in, it was cold and had me reaching for my beanie.
After an hour’s rest, Paul was wanting to get out and play the front 9. We had found 1stat the end of the 18th, so we knew where to head to begin round two. This was a far flatter paddock, but was criss crossed by a number of small creeks that had formed in the low lands. There was also plenty of wet, muddy ground to navigate.
In the end Paul played out the 9 holes and then fished holes 10 and 11 to complete the course. I was happy to have had my steps up, after a quiet day yesterday. With the clubs put to bed, it was time for a rest, snacks and a drink.
I read up on the Shark Bay info, our next stop, before laying on the bed to read my book, devouring 2/3 of it. Before too long it was dark and we needed to get dinner on and done. We played cards to finish off the night, a longer game was played than yesterday, but the same result ensued, I lost. With that it was time to get some zzz.
No comments:
Post a Comment