31 July 2026
Whenever there is the chance of viewing a solar eclipse we are flooded with advice not to look. The intensity of the light from the eclipse would damage your eyes. So it is when filling up with diesel in these remote places, just don’t look. You can read your fuel gauge on the dash but no more. Just fill your tank and swipe your card, don’t look. There is no alternative the last road house was 300 kms from where you came. The next roadhouse is 300 kms in the direction you are heading. Just buy the fuel and move on, just don’t look, price is irrelevant. You will be scared for life if you look.
We all learnt at school that Dirk Hartog arrived on the Western Australian coast in 1616 and he stayed only three days. Dirk decided a longer stay wasn’t warranted. I have to say I have some sympathy for Dirk’s decision. Now this coast has all sorts of attractions, coral reefs, rugged gorges, beaches, not to mention the mining riches. In 1616 however there would not have been much for your average Dutchman. This is very empty country.
The night skies in this country are spectacular. We enjoyed a tour of the night skies at 80 Mile Beach and have now received the pictures taken that night. I might be able to photograph a train but a nebula that is millions of light years away is beyond my skill level.
We have arrived at Coral Bay which is part of the Ningaloo Reef and national park. On the other side of this continent the Great Barrier Reef is only accessible via a boat. You can be swimming amongst Ningaloo coral straight off the beach and that is what we have been doing. Underwater photography is also beyond me.
We are now headed to Exmouth and a whale shark tour. More pictures to come.
A Traveller's Tale 
Your comments about the country are strangely reminiscent of Dirk’s own blog, Planet Hartog.
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Kevin, great photos as ever and yes I can well imagine the petrol prices would be important to ignore, once you’re committed you can’t argue! Am I right in thinking you’d need to reduce tyre pressures to cross that soft sand or will your beast traverse it anyway?
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Yes, I dropped my pressures to 25psi. The tourist info people said 20 I didn’t think I needed to go that low. The car handled it really well, it was the blind bends on the dunes that were a bit scary.
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