Miramsmeanderings: Carnarvon to Kalbarri

Cleaned up the van and car in Carnarvon which felt good. As it was a Saturday the local market was on. Bought a couple of jars of authentic curry mix from an Indian lady which should be most tasty. Also did a slow drive around the fruit and veg trail where we bought somw frozen mango cheeks and some ruby grapefruit. It is in the Carnarvon area that a great deal of western Australia's fruit and veg are grown but the area was devastated by a cyclone earlier in the year. Evidence of the terrible damage is everywhere in smashed trees etc. The crops have been severely affected and it will be some time before the markets are supplied again.
From Carnarvon it was a short drive of 119kms to Wooramel Station. A cattle station which has a bush camping area on the banks of a wide dry river which is edged with very old river red gums. Lovely gnarled old trees with many nest hollows and these were being fully utilised by the many hundreds of budgies whizzing through the campground. Also zebra finches and galahs. The competition for nest holes was intense and there was activity everywhere. I also found a family group of rufous song larks and nesting whistling kites with young, white plumed honey eaters etc.. Another gem. A campfire at night and lots of stars.
Regretfully left and headed for Kalbarri and shortly after we hit the road an amazing floral display unfolded. Yellow pom poms spreading out over the landscape, then white pom poms, then so many varieties shrubs heavy with blossom. Banksias, grevillias, thryptomene and so many others. Unbelievable quantities colours and varieties stretching into the distance. Turned into the road into Kalbarri and the road was lined with an even more huge selection of flowering shrubs. Each time we stopped and walked into the bush we found new varieties and colours to marvel at. It appears that this year has been exceptional because of the rain at the right time. We have been told that it is the best wild flower season in decades. How lucky are we. Spent all the next day in the Kalbarri National Park flower hunting and walking and the following day we took the river track which yielded even more plants all smothered in flowers. We had hoped to see some flowers but this has surpassed all expectations. A few more flower photos.

Yellow pom pom everlastings