Denham-Hamelin Road to Snapper Rocks

Day 87 - Denham-Hamelin Road to Snapper Rocks

Hamelin, Tamala Station, Snapper Rocks

Monday, 15 April 2013
Woke up to a sunny morning, had a walk in the bush with Tuka, had breakfast, packed up and on the road again.

Detoured into Hamelin Pool Marine and Nature Reserve where there are 3000 year old stromatlites. They are the largest and oldest living fossils and dot the shore of the pool in rocky lumps. The stromatolites grow in Hamelin Pool because of the extreme salinity of the water, the occurrence of calcium bicarbonate and the limited circulation of the water.

Then drove on and turned off onto the dirt Useless Loop Road and 40km later arrived at Tamala Station. Met Joke, one of the owners and she told me where I would be camping and a bit about the Station. I also said hello to her dog and nursed a joey that Joke is raising as its mother died. There were two roos lying in the yard. Not pets but wild - they just like the shade and grass. She then said hello to Tuka.

I then drove the 8km to my camp site, Snapper Rocks.The site is situated on a little cove with smooth rock access into the clear blue water. The cove is located in Henri Freycinet Estuary. It is part of Shark Bay Marine Park which is 748,735 hectares in size and covers 1500km of coastline.
Tuka was in the water before I set up as it was hot and sunny. Set up the awning with sunshade and added a shade tarp at the end. Added poles and ropes to keep them all in place. I then assembled the kayak, had a swim and a late lunch.

Later in the afternoon SW winds came and the awning was blown up and down even with a deflapper on it. Eventually pulled down the ropes and tarp and wound up the awning. The Fiamma awnings are classed as sun shelters and not meant to be used in windy conditions which makes them bloody useless on the Western Australian coast.

Anyway the wind made it cooler but also stopped me kayaking as it was too rough on the water. Tuka and I went exploring instead. Around the corner I could see another camp site about a kilometre away. Other than that there is nobody.

	Campsite at Denham-Hamelin Road [Map]		Viewing platform for the Stromatolites [Map]
	Stomatalites [Map]		Red stomatalites [Map]
	Road to Tamala Station [Map]		Roos resting at Tamala Station [Map]
	Tamala Station office [Map]		Tuka coolling off Snappers Cove [Map]
	Sunset at Snappers Cove [Map]

---

Sent from my iPad by My Vacation HD app (www.myvacationapp.com)