It looked like a nice day at the start. In fact it was a nice day. John and Fergus had a surf back at Hellfire Bay at first light. After breakfast we went east, to Wharton. This is a town that was gazetted in 1967, but actually has just a caravan park. So far. But it looked like a nice caravan park. Maybe one day someone will build something else.

Unfortunately, by the time we arrived here for a day of diving, surfing and baking on the beach, the wind had changed, amped up to Storm Force and the rain set in. There’s no reception out here, so we couldn’t check the forecast.

Little Wharton Beach – note the sand being blown across the beach

We peeked around every corner and investigated every sandy track for all beach options, all to no avail. So after a couple of hours invested in the excursion, we came away with nothing. Not even any bread from the shop at the Wharton caravan park. They were shut.

Back at camp, we regrouped over soup and no bread. The weather was still bleak.

John had faith in a break in the weather (!) and decided it would be good for a dive in the lea of Missisippi Point, back at Rossiter Bay, the next bay to the east from our Lucky Bay. So he and Harry drove back there, while Ferg and I walked there – along the beautiful Lucky Bay beach and over the headland. We saw another of the threatened Oyster Catcher birds. They are quite remarkable, with their long red beaks.

Oyster Catcher

Turns out, the dive was worthwhile. We had four abalones cooked in garlic seasoning for entrée, and then four banded sweep and one magpie perch for main course. Harry had his first try at shooting the spear gun, and ‘nearly’ got a fish of his own. Only a matter of time.

It’s turned cold and we’re all back in long legs and down jackets. And we know now that yesterday was indeed a Lucky Day in Lucky Bay – when it comes to weather.