I picked my wheel track to avoid stepping on the flowers - heading for "Peaceful Bay".
Not a tree in sight on these vegetated sand dunes.
Back again to a single track through the spring wildflowers.
I have an early morning "Roo" for company. Most of them hopped away as soon as they heard or smelt me. Quite understandable! as I would have done too!
There is nothing like an early morning scratch, but with those claws I would not want to be on the receiving end!
Just another "Roo" with a coat that's in good condition. Like rabbits these Roo's cause a lot of dune damage.
These flowers smell good, but my ears are picking up the sound of a hiker on the Track.
Another camera shy "Roo" surround by spring wildflowers.
I heard you, but now I can see you coming my way too. Time to take a jump out of here.
A raised boardwalk is always appreciated to keep out of the mud and water. This one went for hundreds of metres. I kept looking over the edge to see what reptiles were below. Without Track maintenance this would be overgrown within a year. Thank you to all the "Volunteers" that do the maintenance work.
Why take pictures of sand dunes you might say? What got me was the vivid colour of the flowering plants scattered around the area.
Decided these were "Roo" tracks rather than other hikers.
This "Bibbulmun" sign tells me to walk out across the ocean! Suddenly realised that I am on the Old Coast Track route, having read that it had been closed for some time, as it was too dangerous with rough seas. Resigned myself to some serious sand dune bashing, creating my own track! Not lost, just mislaid or off-route!
My short walk into "Peaceful Bay" suddenly becomes a long hot one, as I skirt around the coastline, crossing beach after beach. I kept telling myself that I was not lost, just mis-placed!
Did not take the boots off for the beach walking, as there were so many rocks between the bays to climb over.
After one hour I spot what looks like a "Bibbulmun Track" marker at the end of the bay. My telephoto digital lens picture (once blown-up) confirms that I am about to head back on the right track again.
It is really good to see the markers again! Thank you "Volunteers" for keeping them maintained in stormy conditions. In the distance you can see the sand dunes where the previous old signs ran out.
A 4 wheeel drive must have got bogged here in the mud.
These rocks and pebbles glistened in the morning sun.
I know it is in there, and it knows I am out here - a "Tiger" snake goes bush as I chase it with my zoom lense. I should not complain that they were so difficult to photograph, as my camera was never easily available.
Yes you can just see the "Tiger" snakes tail on the bottom left side, behing the big green leaf. If you double click on the pic you might see it more clearly, then double click again. My only question was how close to get, before it gets upset and comes back out!
Probably only I can see the "Tiger" snake's pointed tail on the left side in the sunlight, near where two grass stems cross and to right of the little green bush. It is still hurrying to get away from me which was good.
Beach rocks and more beach rocks, to climb over or walk around.
Now it is just a matter of jumping from one rock to another. The backpack weight makes this an interesting manoeuvre!
This middle rock is hollow with shellsw inside, yet has an interesting shape - like a head looking down. The wonders of nature and eroded rocks.
It was a long slow walk up this rocky hill, while still heading for "Peaceful Bay". Notice the pile of rocks in the distance as a marker, just to the right of the yellow Waugal sign.
The crash of the surf is heard below.
The blue sea below turns white.
I decided to get close to the edge and look over. Not recommended in the "Guide Book", but carefully calculated!
The surf spray comes up the cliff.
Zoomed in on this solitary "Sooty Oyster Catcher" as it was the first I had seen. I took a bird book "A Field Guide to The Birds of Western Australia". Just copied the coloured plates and the details of the birds on the back of each sheet of paper. The whole book would have been too heavy, yet I had every bird in clear coloured pictures.
The "Sooty Oyster Catcher" was the only bird I could see on this beach. It is in the middle - without zoom.
On walking around the corner, I found heaps of "Gulls" and "Oyster Catchers" turning over the seaweed looking for food. It was good to see these "Gulls" eating natural food, rather than human rubbish.
I scored a very old caravan to myself at the "Peaceful Bay Caravan Park". The benefit was cooking on a gas stove, with running water and a comfortable bed for the night. No insects either. Shot taken early morning on 16th October. I felt refreshed and ready to tackle more sand dune walking. Friendly owners and they made a good burger for a late lunch.
