Day 22 - Wednesday 25 July - 80 Mile Beach

Day 22

Wednesday

25 July

80 Mile Beach

This beach life is hard to take! Paul was up just after 7 and keen to get down to the beach and try for some fish. I lazed for a little while and then got up, had breakfast, booked in for the day and then returned to the van to collect my camera and bag. 

I wandered out on to the beach and as a stark comparison to yesterday, the beach was packed with fishermen. I found Paul, who was just pulling in a fish as I reached him and on his next cast brought in a small shark. I left him to it, eager to walk the beach and look for interesting shells. 

It was a slow meander, with my head down most of the time fixated on colours, shapes and textures. Every now and then I would look up in time to dodge a fishing line. I watched one bloke real in a 1m shark, but kept on moving not wanting to see its fate. I stopped and talked to different people along the way. Everyone seems very friendly and happy to chat.

I walked until 9.30am and then turned around, happy to pick up the pace on the return leg. I met Thelma along the way, who had been out beach combing since 6.15am. We returned to the main beach, she eager to pass on some of her shells. We met John at the beach entrance and as we rounded the sand dune, we saw Paul emerging from the showers. He had caught a decent sized fish and the fillets were good for a meal. 

I got busy, cleaning out the freezer, removing the snow dome that had formed. Paul put on the washing and then I cleaned up my shells, before we joined John and Thelma at the shop for a Devonshire Tea. Oh my goodness it was so good. We chatted for a while to them and to others enjoying the park, having a good laugh about other camp sites. 

We returned to the van, happy for a quiet hour or two to read and go through the photos. It was quite warm in the van, with the forecast to hit 27C, unlike blustery old Perth. We didn’t bother with lunch, still full from morning tea. 

At 2pm a market stall was set up on the lawned area, tinny music was blaring from a couple of casio keyboards heralding the beginning. We made our way over to inspect what was on sale. Most of it was of no interest and it appeared that people staying at the park were offering up things they had made or potted up. Maybe I could have flogged some photos. We completed a quick lap and returned to the van to read up on the sea snake and shore bird guide. 

At 3pm, we decided to hit the beach, this time walking the opposite end. We scoured the sand for a shell, a wendel, or whimple or some darn thing. Do you think we could find it? We found all manner of other shells, but this one was too elusive for us. Despite our failure, we enjoyed the walk with the many others out beach combing as well. 

By now the water had run away, we estimated it was 500m from when Paul had been fishing this morning. It left the sandy shore glistening and was quite magical. How could you not be out and enjoying it?

Back at the van, I added the photos while Paul read his book. At 5.20pm, we ventured outside and down to the beach once again to watch the sun go down. There were only a handful of people out today, compared to yesterday, this was because it was hamburger night. 

We took our photos as the sun made its exit and then we were off to join the crowd in the line for a burger. What a great money spinner. I think most people camped up were enjoying the burger and chips and it was delicious. 

Night was upon us by the time we finished and we returned to the van to wash our plates and then play cards. John and Thelma popped in briefly to say goodbye. They were happily hanging around here for a while longer. 

Once they were gone, we finished our card game and then made our way to bed to read for a while, before the lights went off.