Wudinna to Baird Bay

 

We had decided to hang about in SA till WA allowed us in without 2 weeks quarinteening. So southward to the coast it was. SA was already down to a low risk state according to WA, only one more step to go.

We hit the highway at Wudinna and promptly checked out the town. It had a laundromat and a large vehicle car wash as well as a pub and RV park to get water, we were set.

First it was do some washing, dropped off Din at the laundry and went to the car wash and spent a small fortune cleaning the mud and salt off Ned.

Then checked out the RV park for a camp, had a look, it was OK but we talked ourselves into getting a room at the hotel/motel for the night.

Rested and long showers later, we headed out of town.

Southwest to Port Kenny on the coast. A sleepy little town, one servo/shop and not much else. Called into the servo and asked about Venus Bay Conservation Park Down the road,access and stuff. The lady in the shop looked out at the truck and said “I wouldn’t recommend it with that, most lickely get stuck.”

Didn’t argue with her and bought a bag of hot chips and continued on. Her words did make me a bit aprensive to go that way, but Din as usal was all for giving it a go, after all, that lady didn’t know what Ned was capable of and we could always turn back. So into the Park we went.

The track winds around the Bay and was no match for Ned. Although you could see in places if it was a bit wetter the track could become very boggy. With deep wheel ruts off the side where others had come to greif.

Made it all the way to the bottom edge of the cape where there is a vermin proof fence and a large gate to go through. Ned however could not fit through. A disappointment, would have loved to go all the way out to the point, but we went down to the shoreline at that point and camped the night.

A short way back was a road out which we took, and further up that road was one that went back to the coast on the other side of the conservation park.

It came out on a cliff face overlooking the coastline. Spectacular views of the rugged coast in both directions. A way over we could see a track disappearing over the hill, and it was too interesting not to find and follow. From our maps and GPS we could determine the track should go all the way to the next little fishing village of Baird Bay around the coast, maybe.

Off we went, and found the track. A slow, bumpy, but solid footing underneath us, we proceeded along the cliff edge.

Some hours later we hadn’t gone a great distance but were spoilt with magnificent views of the coast beneath these jagged towering cliffs.

Perched high above the ocean we selected a spot to stop for the night.

 Next morning we continued on and finally came to the back of Baird Bay, only thing was there was a large sand dune to cross to get to the village and it was the only way to get there. Tyres right down and into low range 4x4, with a short run up Ned launched himself at the dune. I was a bit doubtful if he could do it given the steepness of it, but without skipping a beat he powered on up the incline and reached the top with hoots and squeals of laughter from us, good old Ned.