Step 48 Cape Le Grand – back to Esperance 62 km's (plus 100km's touring the park)

Friday 25^th February

Planning ahead, for a change, we have already booked in for the night back at the Esperance Caravan Park, so no hurry to check in.

Took off on the Esperance Great Ocean drive and again this coastline is nothing short of spectacular.

After what seems to be only 500 metres there is another bay, another cliff, another white white sandy beach, another glimpse of this glorious coastline.

After half a dozen or so beaches we stopped at Salmon beach and got ready to jump in for a swim. However while getting ready we were treated to the sight of a guy pulling up on his Harley with his leg in plaster. That's the biker spirit, "no broken leg is going to stop me taking the hog out for a ride". Now I would have taken a photo for you but as you know bikers don't like you taking photo's of them because they believe it takes away a piece of their soul. No wait, that's some African tribe I think, bikers don't like you taking their photo because they think you are with the police and so they take away a piece of your soul, by grabbing you by the throat. Whatever, no photo.

I think the camera has narrowed the angle -
it was a lot further out than it looks

We also noticed people swimming out to a small island and checking out the view. Still inspired by action girl from Fowler's Bay, Action Steve took to the water. Now putting on my swimming goggles seemed like a good idea until I started thinking about what else might be in the water with me, and being able to see with the goggles on was not helping. What was that shadow??? OK now the seeing is not the problem, how come I'm swimming as hard as I can and the island is not getting any closer? OK, breast stroke for a bit. OK doggy paddle. OK, made it, now how did people climb up here? Slippery little sucker ain't it?

Eventually, having made it up on to the island and much later having regained my breath I reflected on the need for a bit more walking and a bit less cream cakes. Another alternative/addition might be to take swimming lessons. Anyway even more eventually the view was worth it. It looks like the rock/island is really protecting the bay because on the far side the ocean is much wilder. Mmm, maybe thats's where the current was coming from before. While out there chatted to a guy who has just started his round Australia jaunt, he's a surfer/plumber from Margaret River and he's going to work his way around. He assured me that the swim in was going to be easier.

And it was.

Sat and ate lunch in MM and felt blessed that we live in Australia. Was also feeling quite good that Australia gets a lot of European visitors, in European swimsuits (Editors note: swimsuit fashion for this season is high cut). Then Di noticed I was feeling good about our overseas visitors, muttered something about sad old man and encouraged me to head off, back on the Ocean Drive. 

Lot of steps but we felt no pain - we didn't go down 

Really shouldn't be surprised how windy it has been here
if they bother to build all these wind farms

The drive deviates from the Ocean for awhile and heads on past the famous Pink Lake, which although it doesn't show up too well in the photo's really is pink.

Stopped off at Oceans Blue Cafe on the way back through town for another one of their superb affogattos and Di had another cappuccino before ducking in to the supermarket for a stock up. We might have had another piece of cheesecake while we were in the cafe too, so much for cutting back on the cakes to improve the swimming.

Back at the caravan park we are in a site two down from the one we left. While chatting to our old friends from Strathalbyn/Port Lincoln we were treated to the Esperance dolphin show. Right out the front of the caravan park. While quite spectacular, dolphins leaping out of the water doing somersaults,it was an extremely short show, about 45 seconds in all, but it was free. Editors note: yep I missed the photo's of that as well.

Surprisingly the wind has dropped so we were able to cook and eat tea outside for the first time in ages. After tea got an astronomy refresher lesson from the next door neighbours and I now remember how to find Alpha & Beta Centauri and the Southern Cross so I can now confidently navigate my way across the country. (as long as the batteries don't go flat on the GPS).