Sharks, more sharks, and some Eagles



Sunset at Cape Range with Lintons

Cape Range National Park is on the edge of the Ningaloo Reef. It's from here that we went whale sharking. We stayed in the park, and I managed to get the van in pretty nicely with guidance from Nick Linton after Sara had spat the dummy and decided she was happy with the van on a 45 degree angle. The problem with that is, she doesn't care about the other campers opinions, and reverse parking is a skill all the Greyies comments on as they sit around at night drinking rum and ginger ale. Apparently as I made my eigth attempt, the park ranger was heard to say that I was fish food if I knocked down his fence. Nice little fence it was too, but safe thanks to Nick. Sara enjoyed a cup of tea with Rosie.



Flock of budgies

In the WA parks, volunteer camp hosts stay in the campsites. They are zealous about the bacterial health of the drop dunnies, and make sure that backpackers in Wicked vans pay up. The camp hosts are good people to speak to because they know so much about the area. Patrick and Barbara were our hosts, and they sorted the kids out quickly with the drop dunny talk. They are originally from Zimbabwe, and their accents, plus Patrick's elite commando type bearing immediately made the kids shut up and listen intently.

I liked Patrick. He incorrectly diagnosed me as someone with an acute sense of adventure. Despite his mistake, I was encouraged and made every attempt to live up to his mark. We got up early to hike and see black footed wallabies, and explore remote caves. I paddled out 800 metres off shore to get to a lagoon in between the reefs. I was about to snorkel there when a shark swam underneath the kayak. Adventurous maybe, stupid, no.

Black footed rock wallaby

The snorkelling has been great here. We have all seen lots of sharks, turtles, a plethora of fish, massive sting rays, and coral of every shape and colour. Every bit as good as Coral Bay without the crowds. My sense of adventure kicked in again yesterday and I managed a couple of surfs over a reef I could stand on. All the kids have become adept at snorkelling and duck diving. The Lintons have been camped next to us, which has been fun. Dinners together, the boys in tents a couple of nights under the stars, fishing without significant success, and someone who doesn't get grumpy when two letter words score 37 points for Sara to play scrabble with. Last night we ate a shark that a friend of their's had caught the night before. The best fish Oli and Matt have ever had apparently.

Hunting a touch

We left Cape Range National Park yesterday. Our initial plans had been to head straight for Karajini National Park however the evil fingers of Mr Andrew Demetriou and his plan of worldwide domination via Auskick ensnared us. Last Friday, Ned and Ivy did Auskick, and Oli got to play a game. Ivy never did Auskick in Camberwell, but figured she could mix it with the local lads and she torched them. Well, her kicking needs work, but her ability to listen to the coaches instructions is at an elite level. Ned and Zach were in the same age group, with Zach handing off to Ned who neatly snaffled a goal. They both won the encouragement awards of a sausage and a fruit box drink so it was smiles all round.

The Exmouth Eagles; Oli in back row 4h from left...duh

Oli's game however, was something else. To see that boy in the middle of the pack after the coaches address scream "Go Eagles" was special. He chose Will Schofield's number which was a nice touch, Will having been so good to him in Perth. Oli wore the Exmouth Eagles jumper almost too proudly, and did okay on the back line, landing several heavy tackles. Matt Linton got him a beauty though, absolutely smashing him into the ground. Oli still swears he got the handpass off, although it did look like a throw from where I stood.

They all play again tonight, and then we're off. I got a couple of waves today so I'm happy. We'll put in a big day tomorrow there not being much between here and Karajini. Homework is up to date. Oli is getting a haircut, and there are rumours I might be next. I've got a lot to do though, not sure I'll have time... Written about May 19th.

H