Friday 3 March: to Kalbarri

Screeching pink cockatoos in the gum trees greet us as we get up at 6 for yoga and stretching. We’re on the road just after 7:30. We make good progress along the Indian Ocean highway. Scrubby vegetation and occasional snow white ice cream like sand dunes. 

We stop at Geraldton to refuel and buy provisions and have a memorably nasty cup of coffee! A few more hours of driving through wheat country again. The road snakes and turns. We turn off at Northampton and come across the Hutton lagoon with its pink water. Really stunning. 

Eventually we turn the corner at Kalbarri and see the Murchison river inlet and white sandy beaches. 

We take some rosé down to the beach to watch the sunset. Jupiter and Saturn or whatever planets they are very prominent and close together. 

We use the van bbq for beef eye fillet steak. Absolutely delicious washed down with plenty of wine. Early start tomorrow.