DAYS 26 T0 29 MIDDLE LAGOON 15/05/16 - 18/05/15

DAY 27  -  15/05/16……At this stage I should say that Michael has been writing a great deal of this blog pretending to be me.  I think he should take the credit for same. The following several days for example were written by Michael. I was up early and went for a walk on the beach around 6.00am.   I was able to catch the morning light on the rocks and over the sea.  I was able to collect a few freshly washed up shells from the overnight high tide.
Back for breakfast and following this Michael and I go for a walk around to the creek entrance near the top of the cove.  Foolishly we took no water or sunscreen and the morning sun was starting to burn.   Our round trip was circa 3 klms.
Tony was attempting to set-up his Satellite connection and gets assistance from another camper and gets connection, but then finds his registration had expired some  3 days ago,   So Tony heads towards the office to get phone reception and to register.   Unfortunately he cannot get through, so into the office where he is assisted via WIFI to register…..then back to me for a technology update on what WIFI is and how he uses it for the future.
Then some maintenance work on the van by Tony and Michael ….repairing the ensuite door latch with glue and screws; then pondering the drawer not staying locked.  Examination of the drawer runners indicated screws missing on a number of drawers……the screw pilot holes there, but no screws inserted…….spare screws found on floor throughout trip installed as temporary measure.
After lunch, everyone was very drowsy from the heat and not able to get cool.  Definitely  far too hot to do anything,
Around 3:00pm Tony and Jen emerge from their slumbers to go for a swim with Michael.    I await a report to determine whether I go in tomorrow.   The reports of the swim are excellent…..refreshing with the water not cold, so I gave the commitment to go in tomorrow.   Plus Tony and Michael got great information on Cape Leveque and One Arm Point further to the  north.
Up to the clifftop around 5:00, to view the setting sun…….trestle tables/bench seats provided…….a little cloud, but much improved on yesterday.
BBQ in action again for the sausages, potato slices & onions with a salad.
Michael and Jen, at some stage have been attacked by Midges or sand-flies or mossies as they have come up in large red welts.  I have the occasional bite, but not the welt reaction…Controlling the scratching urge is the challenge.
We sit around outside, as it is cooler, listening to music and chatting with Tony.
DAY 28  - 16/05/16    I am up before 6:00 as usual and onto the  beach, to have it all to myself for a while.  It is a clear sky and the sun is starting to burn my fair English skin, so it is back to the van for breakfast.
Following breakfast and clean up, Michael and I go for another walk on the beach…….this day with water and sunscreen.  The tide is in its way out and we explore a tiny sandy beach between two rocky sections.   The sand is a mosaic of very small balls from the work of the tiny crabs……from an overhead shot you could imagine a large aboriginal painting canvas.  We find a rock pool with baby fish, and then we spy the movement of tiny hermit crabs across the sand from the water……..some not being much bigger than a pea.  However, there are tracks running around the park and on the track down to the beach  which indicate that the crabs which make them must be very large, unfortunately we haven’t been able to track  them down
It is getting quite hot and our water has run out, so it is back to some shade at the van……the temperature increases a number of degrees away from the water edge,
We meet up with campers Paul and Noleen…..they had a broken camper trailer that we passed and stopped to provide information on welding on our travelling day to Middle Lagoon.   The camper trailer drawbar was welded in Beagle Bay after some temporary measures to limp into there.
After the hiatus of the heat from midday to 2ish, we head to the beach for a swim…Tony has invited Paul and Noleen to join us…..it is refreshingly cooling in the water with the small waves flowing past.  We have to walk a decent way out just to get to a spot where you can sit down with the water up to your neck.  We spend around an hour and a half, with Tony telling Paul about our journey thus far.
As we are leaving, a fisherman with a big dual cab GMC ute is attempting to get his boat up the beach. Tony suggests that he lowers his tyre pressure. He arrogantly tells us that he doesn’t let his tyres down unless he has to.  He makes several attempts carving the beach up badly in his efforts.  Finally he has to let down his tyres and make a fast full powered run at the sand, he makes it but one of the caretaker women comes out onto her porch and gives him a serve.  Hooray.
Time to go back to the van and then the clifftop to view the sunset……our first without cloud on the horizon.   Noleen opens a bottle of red and invites all of us to share, which Michael accepts gratefully.   Tony indicates Michael can have his share, being he is a non drinker.   The Swan Valley Petit Verdot was very very pleasant, according to Michael and I have to agree.
Tony lights a fire after our dinners to sit around and chat and enjoy the night sky.   Paul is a State Park Ranger and has worked in both the North and South of WA,    He gave us an insight into his special parks in WA, as well as his workings and dealings with the aborigines in the management of the Parks.  Noleen works in in the WA Land Registry Office and they are both on leave for 12 weeks.
It was a very relaxing way to finish the day, just sitting around the fire, which we did not require for warmth, and watching the brilliant stars and chatting.

DAY 29  - 17/05/16     Up early, but no walk as we plan to go to Cape Leveque this morning and not sure what walking is involved.  We off around 8:00 am to drive back the 3km to get to the main tarred road.  Then it is smooth sailing for the next 65km.  Near the turn-off to Lombardini Community there is an impressive air-strip…completely sealed and very long for very big planes, with a fire tender and fuel tanker.  Tony suggest it is for Military purposes and that is the reason why the road is sealed.
Not far up the road is Kooljaman at Cape Leveque, where there is resort to enable camping or hut / tent accommodation.   Their restaurant makes a good coffee and nice pear and walnut, as well as orange and almond cake with a small serve of ice-cream. Though very nice, they are somewhat expensive at $25.00 for our 2 coffees and 2 cakes.  The seating area has exceptional view of the coastline and the blue sea.
Tony covers the entry permits for us all to park the car and walk around the complex and surrounds.  By this stage the sun’s heat is intense and the dark coloured top for both Michael and me was not a good idea.    We walk the board walk up over the hill, past the lighthouse, stopping to read the information boards on display.   Michael and I are a little slow in walking, and once over the hill and down the other side, we find Tony and Jen in a little cafe, with Tony eating an ice cream and Jen an icy-pole, so we join them for an icy-pole and some much needed shade. 
The provided huts near the cliff edge have spectacular views of the white sandy beaches and the reddish sandstone cliffs.
We decide it is much too hot to visit any other areas so it is back to the  cars and back to Middle Lagoon, for shade, rest and the usual bob around in the sea with the tide out further than the previous afternoon.
Day 30.  18-5-16
Another walk on the beach at 6:00.  Magic.  Today we plan to go to Beagle Bay for a looksee.  In the meantime, I have noticed that some of the trees in our campground have fruit on them.  I collect a couple and take them down to the office for identification!  Yes!  they are gubinge trees (Kakadu Plum)  I read about these when I was teaching home economics, so I am thrilled to see and taste them. They are sweet, but don’t have a great deal of flavour.  They have huge quantities of Vit C 2300-3150mg/100 gm wet weight, The highest occasionally 5300mg/100gm compared with oranges 50mg/100 gm.  Exciting to see them, but I was told not to eat too many (caretaker) as they would give me diarrhoea
Beagle Bay is a really nice town, but the big attraction is the Church which was built in 1917 by the interred German monks and brothers as well as the local aborigines.
Back to Middle Lagoon for a rest from the heat, go for our daily swim (while we are swimming we notice a fire begin in the distance, it grows quite quickly and then dies down) and then begin packing up.  We move on tomorrow to Derby.