Day 18 - White Sands and Kite Surfers

Inner Pilot
Dec 27, 2010
4 min read

Updated: Dec 11, 2024

I’m writing these blogs ‘on the fly’. They’re basically rough drafts because I don’t have too much time to devote to their refinement. I’m keeping notes throughout the day, obviously capturing pictures, and thinking about what stories and trivia I want to share. Then I find an internet connection, compose it all into an article, and publish. The blog of the day before is typically still fresh on my mind, thus I occasionally realize errors or need to clarify. So occasionally, I’ll go back and edit a blog from the day before. For example, today I went back and clarified in the Day 17 blog that a “Sheila” is a good looking older woman (not just an older woman), the “family” listening to Jingle Bells was actually “five adults” (either one is true; one if more humorous), and “causeway” was changed to “canal” (I had used an incorrect word). Except for this kind of minor and in-time editing, I intend this series of blogs to be my set and for the record journal; on-line and open to the public. This is fun for me, partially because I’m traveling alone and this is my way of sharing, but also because I have a passion for writing and capturing imagery (documented story telling).

We all want different things in life, and I wouldn’t expect anyone to necessarily have the same impressions or focus on a trip to Australia. Even given my own values and interests, my experience is a random grab affected by the people I meet, the weather, my moods, the times of day that I pass through the landscapes, my luck, etc... I could be telling a hundred different stories. The important aspect seems to be ‘keep a positive and open mind’. My good friend Steve Keller once told me (when I was an idealistic young man) that “life’s not black and white, but many shades of grey”. I have taken his advice to heart and endeavor to see life this way. The opposite is to be judgmental, which forces the story to be black and white, hindering insight and tainting life with negativity. So my goal is to offer observations, humor, and open-minded conclusions. When you sense judgment, it’s my own weakness showing through.

We’re at the halfway point of the trip. Let’s continue.

Guilderton

Last night, I just wanted to get north (and out) of Perth, and to the Indian Ocean. I made it just as the sun was going down, to a place called Guilderton. It must be a seasonal retreat. There was a caravan park there, which was full. Many people were fishing, including a boy of about 12. I wanted to get a photo of the pelican statue with the setting sun behind, using my tripod and remote push button. It turned out well. Check it out – you can see the stars.

This boy was located on the shore behind the statue and noticed what I was doing. He said ‘do you want me out of your way mate?’ ‘No, you’re okay’, I replied quickly. I wasn’t rude, but I wasn’t open with him. He moved over and kept watching me position and take the photos. I later came back and showed him on my laptop how well the photo turned out. He reminded me of when I was a boy - quiet, polite, along the ocean fishing, observing in obscurity. I wanted to pull him into my world.

I didn’t like how this morning was starting to go. The locals seemed irritated and so did I. But then I found my coffee, and some people with smiles, and the sun came out. It all turned. I really like it up here on the north side of Perth, along the ocean. There are massive, white sand dunes. Sign says they move up to 20 meters a year and that there’s an industry to mine gypsum and lime from them. (It’s all dunes here, but most have vegetation.)

Necola

I pulled in to Port Denison and noticed my first kite surfers. (They seem to be at all the beaches now.) I started talking to one who was preparing his board and learned he’s an environmental engineer from Italy. His name is Necola, and we each expressed a common lack of fulfillment in our engineering professions and pointed to traveling and things like enjoying the ocean as a good way to obtain balance in life. Before we met, I had been taking photos of his girlfriend kite surfing.

I’m at Geraldton now. The Indian Ocean seems perfect, as does the weather. There are many species of flowers out in bloom, and I enjoyed the local historic drive. It’s a small to medium size town, and a nice place to spend time. I’m going for a run along the ocean and then having the fired-oven, lamb & pumpkin pizza afterwards. (They weren’t open for pizza yet when I stopped in for lunch.)

I learned that the French actually laid claim to Western Australia in 1779, but there wasn’t enough interest in it then to set up a colony.