The perfect camping spot turned even more perfect today, when we explored the coastal track that wound it’s way up to and along the headland. We bumped along the track getting higher and higher, then chose a left turn at random and carried on climbing. We were getting glimpses of the ocean below through sand dunes and trees, and just as I was wondering if we were going to launch off a cliff edge the road stopped in front of some trees. There was a clearing to the left of them and down a fairly steep bank of vegetation we could see the headland reach a stunning turquoise sea, lapping against a white, white beach which stretched away from us.
The clearing was also the start of a very rough sandy path that went down the steep bank. It started with a steep white slope, then disappeared into the bush. We gathered our swimming things, water, snorkels, towel, etc and launched ourselves down the steep bank. Holding onto roots and branches, we scrambled through the undergrowth, to come out at a very steep sand dune which we happily slid down onto the beach. We had made it!
No one in site and everything either turquoise, white or green. Amazing.
After a bit of snorkelling around the rocks, Darren managed to catch an octopus which had been trying to hide from him under a rock. As soon as he had it he said, “I’ve caught some bait! Now I’m going to catch the bream in there”
So Darren decided he wanted to go fishing, which meant the long trek back up the cliff for equipment. I had settled myself further down the beach where there was a little tree shade. No sooner was the decision made, he was running back up the beach and scrambling up the steep sand dune.
This was classic Bear Grylls stuff:
1) the catching of the octopus with bare hands
2) the spotting of the bream in the rock pools
3) the running along the beach
4) the stair-master way he rushed up the steep sand dune
5) the scrambling up a very steep cliff amongst roots and trees
6) the appearing and disappearing amongst the vegetation as he made his way up
7) the pleased ‘I’ve made it’ wave from the top, far in the distance
- I was surprised he hadn’t caught a rabbit in his teeth on the way up…
While he was up there I was being attacked by a march fly, or horse fly as they are called in the UK. After a bad experience with a bite from one in my teens I am slightly paranoid of them, so I needed the magic fly repellent we bought at Uluru – that really works. There was no way Darren was ever going to hear me calling to him before he started the steep descent. With this in mind , and probably a few shipwreck films as well, I wrote in the sand in enormous letters
FLY REPEL
Just before he started the descent he disappeared back to the car, and I knew my brilliance had been answered. Sure enough he returned with fishing rods, tackle, and fly repellent. Clever boy.
True to form he had soon caught a bream. However, not having any bucket to put it in to take home, we decided to cut off the top off a large water bottle, put seawater in it, and leave it in there.
Darren left it on the shore while he waded out to get another, and I sat a little further down the beach.
I glanced up and saw a pacific gull making off with the booty! With one hand clutching my bikini top on, and the other waving my sarong at it, I ran down the beach yelling at it. Darren too saw what was up, and started to quickly wade back to shore. Athough a pacific gull is about twice the size of a seagull, the fish was almost too large to allow the bird to take off, so it had to keep landing tantalisingly metres from me as I chased it down the beach. By the time we had reached the rocks at the end of the beach I realised what was left of the bream was not worth having. Shooting disgusted looks, and indulging in a bit of name calling at the bird, I retreated back to my towel.
Happily Darren was able to catch one more fish. This time it sat in the plastic bottle, covered by my sarong, with me guarding it.
No bird was gonna get the better of us again!
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