Day 129 Cervantes, (Lesueur NP), WA

Sometimes you wake up in the morning and the plans that you had in your mind...... change.  That's what happened today.  It all started with a post on Instagram that showed me some beautiful wildflowers in the Lesueur National Park that is just a stones throw from where we are at Cervantes.  When I delved a little deeper I found out that there is some pretty amazing bush walks through the National Park that are also right up our alley and just what we need.

The turnoff to Lesueur National Park is around twenty kilometres from Jurien Bay, to the north of us.  Once you reach the turnoff and make your way through the pay station at the National Park entrance there is an 18.5 kilometres Loop drive that takes you through the park.  There are many stops along the way for you to leave the car and walk the numerous trails.  After doing our research we decided on the 4km Mount Lesueur trail that meanders through the park and culminates in a hike to the summit of Mount Lesueur.  We actually took a wrong turn and ended up adding another 1.5km onto our walk but it was easy going so no hardship.  The walk is everything and more.  There weren't perhaps as many wildflowers as I would have liked to see but then again my eye is not trained to pick out a lot of them.  I was talking to another couple while I was waiting for Philip and they showed me a photo of the Star of Jerusalem flower that is ever so beautiful.  I walked by without seeing it!  Nonetheless, I photographed such a lovely array of flowers, mostly natives, so I was a very happy Chappy.

When we reached the base of Mount Lesueur and I looked at the steep path leading up to the summit I reneged. I injured my back in Port Gregory and it still niggles, so no hill climbing for me. Philip on the other hand, mountain goat that he is, was chaffing at the bit.  So we went our separate ways.  I followed him with the camera until I couldn't pick him up.  Can you see him in this photo. (Hint:  he is to the right of the two trees, just beginning the walk).

Philip was a little disappointed in the walk and said that we got better views from the lookout that we both visited before his ascent.  Apparently at the summit here is a lot of scrub that you can't see either through or over to enjoy the view.  I will try and attach the GoPro footage at the end of this blog.

The walk took us just over two hours and once we were back in the car we continued the loop through the National Park stopping at a couple of places along the way.  There was another walk, Youed Ponar, that we contemplated but it was just too long and Class 4!  Our last stop was at a place where we could view the Black Boys. So...many....Blackboys. 

We didn't leave the National Park until 1.30 and by that stage we were a little peckish (thank goodness for the red raspberries that Philip bought at our last fuel stop 😂).  We made a decision to head straight to the Cervantes Bar and Grill where they have an all day menu.  It was after 2.00pm before we sat down to lunch but it was worth the wait and the service was excellent because as you can see the place was not overrun with customers.....

You could probably guess that Philip had the deep-fried everything and I stayed with the Reef n Beef.  I didn't even touch the fries as the Steak was very filling.  It's been the perfect day for us with just a little bit of everything.  Tomorrow will be a quieter day with less walking but probably just as enjoyable.