Day 104 Kalbarri, WA

Many people that we have spoken to on our journey have told us not to bypass Kalbarri. Everyone spoke highly about the place.  Now I understand why.  You only have to go for a walk around Kalbarri to understand that it is a much loved town.  We have not seen a lot of love at some of the places we visit, I can tell you.  It's the simple things that you notice like footpaths and roads without potholes and well tended gardens. They are just a couple of the things that make a big difference to a town.  It also helps if the town  is situated in a uniquely beautiful spot.  Kalbarri has all of this and more.  

It was a bleak day so we didn't venture too far as rain was predicted from midday onwards and the BOM was actually correct!  We walked to the Information Centre that is always a good starting point and picked up some maps showing the various walking trails.  The trails are well laid out and you can walk up to twenty kilometres if you wish.   Today we decided on the six kilometre return trail that took us part way along the Melaleuca Trail.  

The trail follows the coastal drive that takes you south towards Port Gregory where we will be heading after Kalbarri.  We passed by Chinamans Rock and on to the Zuytdorp Memorial that commemorates the anniversary of the Zuytdorp that was shipwrecked 60km off the Kalbarri coast in 1712.  The path was dotted with many wildflowers that are just so lovely and I just can't stop photographing them! 

It was just after the memorial that we turned around and headed back to town and continued along the path towards the mouth of the Murchinson River.  We watched a couple of boats leave the still waters of the river and head out to sea.  It is a dangerous journey as the boats have to navigate their way through the very large waves.  Our last stop along the trail was the Cenotaph that was a lovely memorial to those that had fallen. 

Walking was invigorating and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  We called in at IGA to pick up milk and then found the post office where we have mail waiting (thanks Kate!).  We will collect that tomorrow when it opens.  Lunch was a joint effort today as Philip cooked up Char Sui marinated Pork Ribs on the bbq while I made a Chinese Red Cabbage Fried Rice to go with the ribs.  It was a great dish for a rather cool day.