Continuing north from Ellendale Pools to Geraldton WA

While at Ellendale Pools we crossed the river and climbed the limestone cliff to overlook the river, the camp area and the beautiful surrounding farmland, then walked about 3klms through paddocks, around electric farm fences and over gates back to our camp site. After a delicious lunch of lamb loin chops and steamed vegetables cooked by the cook extraordinaire, Chris, we joined the young couple, David and Bvahani who were camped next to us, for a chat. Chris chatted with David while Bhavani and I joined in a game of Bananagram (a scrabble game of sorts) and a card game with David and Bvahani's children, Jasmin and Isabel. The girls were only 9 and 11 and were extremely good at both games.
Friday 25^th May we left Ellendale pools and travelled onto Geraldton. On the way we stopped at the small town of Walkaway and at Greenough to take a photo of the Greenough tree. A tree which has survived the harsh winds and continues to grow side wards away from the prevailing winds. As you drive into and away from Greenough there are many of these unusual shaped trees.
Geraldton is a regional city of 39,000 people overlooking the Indian Ocean. We replenished the necessities....... food, water, petrol and spent time visiting the tourist attractions such as The HMAS Sydney 11 Memorial and the hill top memorial to the lost sailors of the HMAS Sydney 11........ this magnificent memorial overlooks the city and harbour and has become the country's premier site for honouring the 645 Australian Servicemen who were lost during a World War 11 battle in 1941. This memorial features a silver dome of 645 seagulls, each representing one of the lost HMAS Sydney 11 crew. We also visited the iconic Point Moore Lighthouse....... this bold red and white landmark has become something of a Geraldton icon. Standing 34 metres tall this structure is the oldest surviving Commonwealth lighthouse in WA, having first emitted light in 1878. Its tower of prefabricated steel was brought out from Birmingham England on the Lady Louisa. Another Geraldton attraction.........The Bill Sewell complex built in stages in the 1850's was formerly the Victoria District Hospital, later the Geraldton prison and today part of the complex houses the Visitor Centre. Another interesting building, was the St Francis Xavier Catholic Cathedral........the cathedral's foundation stone was laid in 1916 and the building was completed in 1938.
We camped four nights just north of Geraldton at Fig Tree Crossing in the Chapman Valley. The flat topped Moresby Range hills in this valley are different and interesting. We enjoyed the few days... it was time to wash, read, watch a bit of TV and bush walk.