26^th September: Esperance

Our last day of being tourists! And we spent it visiting the beaches west of here. With a bright sun in the sky, the water was lovely – clear, really blue and green, with surf rollingin constantly. It was truly beautiful and now I feel we have really been to Esperance! The beaches epitomise this place. We didn't get to Cape Le Grand NP but as I have never been there,I don't know what I am missing!! But I did so enjoy being on the beaches and walking in the sand today! The water wasn't cold either and for the first time for a few weeks, I wore shorts again! We saw a large pod of dolphins from the cliffs, fishing in a bay inside the reef.

There are two big wind farms here. In fact,this was the first place in Australia to use wind energy. It makes sense as the wind blows constantly and now nearly 40% of the power here is created by the wind!! And they are not noisy – over the sound of the surf, who would hear them!!

On our way home, we saw the Pink Lake (about which on the map, it is noted “which isn't pink by the way.” We had a laugh about that!). It is actually pale blue-green as the micro-organisms are not in the right balance at the moment. It is a saltlake and one of those extreme environments – 43% saltier than sea water. We then went to the waterfront in town where they are doing a lot of beautification . And it is lovely with lots of green grass, new plantings and new shelters with tables. I watched a ship load wheat while the others walked on the jetty. They didn't see Sammy the Seal who used to live under the jetty but they did spot 4 more dolphins close in at the shore.

Esperance is named after a French ship that sheltered in the bay during a storm. It means “hope” and there is also Hopetoun just west on the coast. Mainly a port for the Kalgoorlie- Coogardie area, wheat has always been one of the main exports. Now, nickle from Kambalda is the big product and a new wharf and infrastructure has been built to accommodate that. (Hence the big over-pass.) There are trains coming in loaded with pelletised ore and at the moment there is a ship in harbour loading and three standing offf port waiting. Once again, I have chosen a park next to a busy train line and trains have trundled in all night. But they are relatively quiet compared to Geraldton!!

Now that we are heading East, I have mixed feelings about our itinery. There is so much to see and we might not come this way again. However, it has been 4+ months and I am becoming anxious to come home. And I am tired! Tomorrow is a rest day but we will be busy with final preparations.