Short jaunt from Kalbarri to Geraldton, through rolling hills, farms (sheep and wheat) and other frequent signs of civilisation. Wild flowers are becoming abundant, with more to come as we travel south.
We really have been through some desolate country these past weeks. Had a drive through the town and noticed a really funny thing. When you look over the water at the horizon, it's lumpy. There must be a reef several km.s out. It really looks strange.
The town's nice, but busier than we're used to. They have traffic lights and everything.
Visited the WA Museum and watched a dramatisation of the wreck/ mutiny of the Dutch ship the Batavia, in the 1600's. Information is at http://www.abc.net.au/backyard/shipwrecks/wa/batavia.htm
Interesting to think the Dutch were busy in the "East Indies", now Indonesia, at that time, but had no knowledge of Australia. Well, not until the Batavia and other ships began to go too far east, and wreck themselves on the reefs. The stories of survival, and bloody murder, on these barren islands, while waiting for rescue are truly amazing. And all documented in captain's journal and shipping records. Apparently the Dutch East India company had the motto "Jesus is good, but trade is better."
In the end, the bad guy had his hands cut off, then was hung. Made trying to get the rope off his neck needlessly difficult, I thought.
The museum also had a gallery of astrophotographs, the first I've seen anywhere. Should be more of it, I say.
Our final tourist destination was the memorial to the HMAS Sydney, lost with all hands during the war. The memorial was built in 2001, well before the ship was located in 2008. Another tourism recommendation from Jack and Joyce, an impressive, modern memorial, with a dome of 650 interlacing seagulls, made of stainless steel, one for every man lost. This is on a hill with fantastic views of the sea and hinterland.
Very nicely done,and in a great location. Since we've been away, we have become much more aware of the impact on, and threat to Australia in the second world war. Living in Victoria had protected us from this knowledge. Travelling in the north and the west makes you realise the vulnerability of our coastal nation, and the sacrifices that have been made.
We're staying in a caravan park right on Sunset Beach, can hear the surf rolling in.
Perth, and the start of the drive home, are getting ominously close.
God bless those who went down on the Sydney, and their families and friends.
ReplyDelete