Birthday Sunday

After opening his 3 cards (actually quite good considering where we are) Owen and I set off North today, out of the city and eventually joining Indian Ocean Drive. The bush stretches away either side of us giving occasional glimpses of the blue blue ocean, sand dunes gleaming in the strong sunshine. The bush is a thousand shades of green with an overlay of yellow from the flowers that herald spring here. Really hard to capture in a photo.  The road is quiet and follows the coast. Not the usual dead straight freeway. Lancelin is our first stop for refreshment and a quick look at the beach. On again – our journey is 250k today – to the Nambung National Park. The sand dunes rise out if the bush on the landward side of the drive looking in the distance like cloud formations against the blue sky. There are yellow diamond shaped signs warning us to beware of wildlife on the road – black cameo outlines of kangaroo, emu and maybe echidna or porcupine. We don’t see any of course but it is hot and the middle of the day. Most self respecting wildlife is dozing in the shade. We finally arrive at the Pinnacles Desert. It is amazing. Calcerous pinnacles stretch up out of the sand. Hundres of them. Small, tall, all shapes. Research is inconclusive. I’m with the stalagmite theory but the science is not exact. There is a humming sound we can hear when the car is quiet. I spot a dragon fly but not the source of the humming. Next time we stop it is gone. This was and is a magical place. We should tread carefully. Respect the ancient ways  of the people and the place.

After a very informative visit to the interpretive centre we drive away to Cevantes for refreshment and to reflect on what we’ve seen. Definitely worth the long drive. We sit in the hot sun before setting off back along the Indian Ocean Drive. Birthday dinner follows our return with more reflection on a lovely day.