**WARNING: Another photo spam day**

Today was a great day! We met the Scott’s at the groyne in town at 9. We all transferred into our car and set off for the day. I was very keen to get the mountain hike out of the way before the temps rose and the trail became too busy with foot traffic. We started the hike around 930 and while I had been apprehensive about this one after my fail to finish the other day, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. It was a very steep hike! But wearing shoes instead of crocs while rock scrambling was a very good alternative. We enjoyed the scenery in all directions. Jagged rocks at the summit while overlooking the ocean and the peaks in the national park. A great start to the day.

After sitting and enjoying the vista at the top and chatting with fellow travellers we started the descent. In a lot of ways that was harder than the uphill. But we all arrived back to the car in one piece and ready for some lunch.

We moved to Hamersley Inlet about 10km west for a picnic lunch before checking out the inlet. The inlet is currently closed off from the ocean with a sandbar.

Then we headed to West Beach. I loved this one. So many jagged and rugged rocky crops right into the water. We walked a little along the long coastal hike and rock hopped (well the girls did while the boys sat and contemplated the coastline).

Then a short move to Cave Point. Once again spectacular coastal scenery.

Then it was back to Barren Beach where Bob and I had a lovely hour yesterday afternoon. Today the wind was strong, the waves were big and the tide was high so we limited our explore to from the top of the rocks on the beach.

Finally, we briefly called in to the location where the tiny baby whale was sheltering yesterday as Karen was very keen to see if it was still there and plumping out. Not surprisingly, the weather meant the seas were very rough there today so I’m imagining mum took it further out to sea or to a more sheltered bay.

That rounded out our Fitzgerald River National Park experience. We headed back to town where the Scott’s continued back to Starvation Bay for the next two nights. Bob and I freshened up before heading to the waterfront pub for a wine and lemon lime and bitters overlooking the water from the shelter inside.

Tomorrow Bob and I head through to Esperance for 3 nights. We are getting very close to the end of our 3 months in WA. Karen and Kieran will join us on Thursday before we all head through to Cape Le Grande.