80MILE BEACH

80 MILE BEACH.
6TH June we arrived at 80 Mile Beach after 114klms. trip from Cape Keraudren. We visited this caravan park last year, but for only a few days and it really inspired us to come back again, this time a little longer. The fishing is the main attraction off the beach during the high tides and also there is an abundance of beautiful shells of all shapes, sizes & colours. I do have a lovely collection and ideas of what I want to do with them. The fish caught here is Blue Salmon, Giant Threadfin Salmon, Mulloway & Catfish. As well as baby reef sharks. The Giant Salmon seem be the most caught since we have been here, although have alluded us so far. D’Arcy has caught a couple of sharks, which were really lovely eating. Our friend, Phil, caught a Giant Salmon, 1.1m long and presented us with half. Another lovely fish for eating.
The 80 Mile Beach Caravan Park is all that is here, being 9klms. off the Great Western Highway on the Indian Ocean. Fresh baked bread sticks are available every day and meat pies cooked to order. A mini mart has quite a lot of supplies including fruit & vegs. There is an unofficial Coast Watch officer here, Billy, who patrols the beach everyday on his 4 wheeler looking for “unwanted visitors”. He is a permanent resident here and has his place of residence set up really well. It includes a lap pool and spa all under a domed canvas roof and down on the beach, a “hut” for daytime observation.
Phil & Heather departed on Thursday, 9th and I must say I am missing them. As they are from Queensland we hope to catch up again at the end of the year. Loved your company Heather & Phil. Had a lot fun together.
Today, 13th June like the last few days have been windy and not good for fishing, but maybe tomorrow the weather is looking like it could be better as well as the right tides. Also the temperatures have dropped quite a lot, especially at night. Yesterday morning was only 9.7deg. when I got up. Locals say this is very unusual for here. I am into “tag & release” for fish and did catch one, as per photo. Now you see why it was “released”.
We are still 370klms. south of Broome and do not have any phone or internet service. Not till our next stop at Barnhill Station, 120kms south of Broome, this will be approx. 1 week. So this post will not go until then.
Last year at 80Mile we met a couple from down south at Donnybrook, Nerilee & Jock. They come up here every year and I thought we would run into them during our stay, but only on our last day caught up with them. Nerilee gave me ideas on what to do with my shells and now has introduced me to another guy who makes lots of things from his shells and what a display he has. Before leaving he gave me a gift of one.
A few days before departing we had new neighbours, Henk & Gerda from Albany. Another lovely couple who proceeded to give us a gift of a bottle of red wine. We were getting very low on our supplies and we said it wasn’t necessary, but insisted as they said it was a promotion from www.barwickwines.com The wine was very good & thank you to Henk & Gerda.
One day at sunset it was a very low tide and we witnessed a couple of guys coming ashore from a catamaran approx. 1 klm. After speaking we discovered that the boat had run out of fuel and the captain had sent his 2 crew ashore for more. They were heading north to Broome and there was hardly any wind.
Till next stop........