Vlamingh Head and Graveyards

Sep 30

Emma: We arrived in Exmouth today and this afternoon while Adam played guitar and rested I set off to check out the area. I drove up to the lighthouse near where we are staying and saw some excellent views around the cape. I also saw lots of whales! I then drove to another beach where there quite a few green turtles and I actually saw two mating- with one turtle on top of the other as they were swimming along- never thought I’d see that! They are currently coming up onto beaches around here at night to lay their eggs.
Then, as I walked back to the car there was an osprey sitting on the railing next to the path- it didn’t fly away and I was standing very close…took a few good piccies.
On my drive to another section of the coastline I then saw a wild emu with a little one running along behind her. Then I went snorkelling, saw a little shark, plus more whales breaching out to sea. Quite an afternoon for wildlife!
It’s pretty windy again so we hope it drops off for a morning snorkel, then adam might go sailing again.

1st Oct

Adam: Today we went to Turquoise Bay and did a 100metre drift snorkel over some bombies heavily populated by super colourful fish. Snapper in the marine reserve are so big and couldn’t care less about us snorkeling near them. Parrot fish were in abundance chomping on the coral, some were well over a foot long, and if you stopped and listened closely your could easily hear them cracking the coral with their strong beaks. Nemo fish, clams, Surgeon and butterfly fish all in abundance.

We stopped at the beach where the turtle “rookery” is said to be and saw two more loggerheads going at it……….it’s mating season after all.

Went sailing for a couple of hours at a place called Graveyards, which is a hole in the Ningaloo reef (which allows access to the surf) about 15ks south of where we are staying at Vlamingh Head (most northern tip of the Exmouth peninsula, WA). Was the best sailing I have ever sampled in WA, with the winds very consistent, and some nice waves for jumping and riding. There were some many large Loggerheads and Green turtles here too. After going at it in the surf, they would come up onto the sand on the beach to rest before heading out for lots more turtle sex. It was amazing sailing with them, seeing them rise to take a breathe and hanging with them on the beach, they were so big!

Thanks Emma for spending the time to take so many sailing pics of me.

Loggerhead taking a rest.

Little jump on way out to the reef

Gybe on the inside before heading back out to waves


Back Loop..........attempt.......failed.....dug the nose in on landing, again....and again...and again and got punished every time....maybe one day?