Day 124 - Kalbarri to Geraldton

It was a dull and overcast morning as we left Kalbarri for the drive down to Geraldton.  

We took a couple of detours into Port Gregory and Horrocks on the way.  Both are small holiday towns which would have been fishing villages in the past.  They are also anchorages for crayfish boats.  Each town has a reef out from the shore which provides a protected lagoon.

080814 The beach at Port Gregory

080814 Horrocks from a hill behind the town

080814 The beach at Horrocks looking north

Between the North West Coastal Highway and the dunes near to Port Gregory is a large salt lake which is called "Pink Lake".  A pink algae grows in the shallow waters.  It is harvested by BASF Chemicals and they process it to produce beta carotene, for use in pharmaceuticals.

080814 Pink Lake near Port Gregory

080814 Pink Lake near Port Gregory - these are not pink cloud reflections

The highlight of the trip for most of the 211km we did today was the agriculture.  We passed through fields of wheat, canola and lupin as far as the eye could see. The contrast of the white lupin flowers, the yellow canola  and the green wheat had to be seen to be believed.  The fields were dotted with natural foliage marking areas where the rocks outcropped or the soil was unable to sustain the cereal crops. 

080814 Canola (yellow), lupin (white) and wheat (green) 

080814 Canola and lupin

080814 Lupin

080814 Canola, wheat and lupin

The town of Northampton is a receiving point for the grains.

080814 Grain storage at Northampton

080814 Grain strorage at Northampton

In between the cereal crops there were large tracts of improved pastures and the green grasses were dotted with sheep. We saw very few cattle.

080814 Good fodder, healthy sheep

080814 A sizeable flock

We stopped at the Lynton Historical site.  Some old ruins remained from the days (1853) when convict labour was used on the local farms. This was a convict hiring point.  One of the older buildings has been restored.

080814 The gaol ruins at Lynton Historical Site

080814 The restored accommodation building at Lynton Historical Site

Gerlaldton is a bustling port and a sizeable town.  We are looking forward to seeing more of it over the next few days.