MikeCoatesyBlog - Adventures of an aging Toy Collector

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Off into the sticks

The camper was straining at the seams thismorning as we loaded up in Tom Price with a weeks worth of food and water. If it rains out there it will have to last a lot longer.

Interview with our Geo

Here is a short clip of ashlie talking about her first impressions of the survey site

4WD Pilbara

Here is a short clip of crossing a dry riverbed with the camper in tow

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

L Plate Extreme Sand Driving

Alex is getting her log book hours up in a very unconventional way. I know this video is now out of sync with our trip but I have only just been able to post it

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

The hamersly ranges was our destination. The site of the rocklea dome, which is the geological formation that Ashlie is doing her honours thesis on. We packed up at exmouth and headed east towards the project site. We are in a bush camp around 50kms from our ultimate destination and home for about 5 weeks. Tomorrow we meet with a nearby station manager who is going to show us around the area.

We came across some broken down grey nomads during the day. Dad would have been proud if me as I managed to doctor their vehicle enough to get them the 200 kms to Tom price. I find it incomprehensible that people travel out here with no mechanical knowledge or tools.

We have a lovely camp and a fire thanks to an early roadside firewood hunt.

Can you see ashlie doing burpees.

I had a great dinner of fresh trevalea caught last night by our next door neighbor. YUM. Ashlie had a mushroom and an onion. Hmmm

Our camp at the Beasley river. Unfortunately there was no river.

The Girls return home

It was pretty sad to farewell Lisa and Alexandra today as they headed back to the east. Alexandra has to get back to hsc studies. We had a great 10 days together.

Ashlie and I head off inland towards Tom Price today. Our next big adventure is about to begin. Thismorning we will shop for 3 days in the bush/ desert. I'm a bit excited !!

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Naughty girls at Ningaloo

What are these two coatesy's up to?

Mikey found a new toy

I reckon I need one of these.

A day off in Exmouth

First up a little sleep in. In my swag.

Then an afternoon bike ride before beer o'clock

Swimming with the Whale Sharks

Yesterday we all had the privilege of spending the day swimming with Whale Sharks off the WA coast at Ningaloo reef. We had an amazing experience and actually got to interact with 6 different Sharks throughout the day. The girls also spotted a 4m hammerhead shark prowling close by as we all bobbed around in the Indian Ocean. Its one of those activities that if you stopped to think too much about what you were actually doing, you probably wouldn't do it. Anyway we all survived with our limbs intact and its an experience that we will talk about for the rest of our lives. Yes it was that good.

Ash & Mikey posing with a Bigun

They really are that good

We weren't the only hangers on

A spinner Dolphin. We were lucky enough to see a pod of around 300 Dolphins. They played around our boat for about half an hour, showing off their acrobatic skills

The Coatesy's all at Sea on Ningaloo Reef WA

Exmouth campsite-warm weather

Saturday, June 29, 2013

On the road to Exmouth

Termite mounds

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Denham to Carnarvon - time to move on

It was with a touch of sadness that we packed up this morning because we had to leave our old new friends at the Van park at Dunham. We have had a lovely few days and we just seemed to slot in nicely with all of the oldies that spend there winter months in Denham escaping the cold. Our next door neighbours have been coming to the same spot in the park fir 40 years. The girls were firm favourites around camp , especially Alexandra who just seems to mesmerise the oldies with her intelligence, friendliness and spunk.
Lisa and I went for a last walk on the beach before packing up and heading off. It was an easy 350 km run to carnarvon where we checked into a campground with a bowls green. We were lucky enough to arrive on BBQ night where the whole campground gets together for a drink and a feed. We made some lovely new friends " Barry and Cheryl " from busselton WA.
Tomorrow we he'd for Exmouth for our date with the whale sharks.

Denham morning

Shell Beach

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Denham - Monkey Mia

Denham Main beach

Alexandra is getting some extreme "L" plater experience

Cape Peron National Park

- Posted by mikey & my iPhone

Location:Knight Terrace,Shark Bay,Australia

Cape Peron Day-wow!!

Random fly in

Family sunshine

Red sand and beachfront

Tyre pressure back up after sand and Alex drove it!!

Shots around Denham

Mike and Ash taking in the view

Ag chasing sting rays at the spit

Hello warm weather

Spit-able to walk out on sand 200metres

Monday, June 24, 2013

JC the entrepreneur

We have caught the big fella with his finger in another pie.

- Posted by mikey & my iPhone

Day 8 - Garaldton to Denham

It was an easy 400k run today up the coast to Denham. Only 25kms from the famous monkey Mia. It's an incredible stretch of coastline. We are now settled here for a couple of days.