Geraldton – Mid West Wheat Belt so the radio station
keeps proclaiming but what it doesn’t mention is, since dropping below the
Tropic of Capricorn, the flies, the constant westerly wind and the cooler
evenings and nights. Jan & Andrew offered for us to stay the night on their
back lawn and Jan clinched the deal with a promise of a pork roast for dinner
so we spent a quiet day around Geraldton. We started with a walk through of the
old goal now used as a craft market with most of the old cells used as craft stalls.
Next it was on to McDonald’s for coffee with the intention of using their wi-fi
to update this blog. The place was cold, the wi-fi slow and kept dropping off.
Kath & Russell left as us to it and wandered around town and after a couple
of hours Wendy & I gave up as well. Met up with Russell & Kath again
and had a crappy lunch in a run-down mall. Russell led us on a drive by tour of
the town before separating and having a meander around Geradton on our own.
Found a few places of interest; the port, beaches and the sight of the first
light house and the keeper’s house. There have been 11 shipwrecks off Geraldton
starting in 1629 with the Batavia (quite a gruesome story relating to the
survivors) through to 1936. Due to the dangerous reef crossing, quite an
ingenious way to assist ships navigate their way through the reef into harbour was
used. One lighthouse was built on the shore line and another on the hill
behind. The ships captain’s would position their ships so the two lights were
in alignment and sail directly towards them through the opening in the reef.
Caught up again with Russell & Kath and arrived at Jan & Andrew’s for a
chin wag and our promised roast. Thank you Jan for a truly magnificent meal and
to you both for your generous hospitality.
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