We’ve been here for four nights now, and are tempted to stay. Conditions are perfect this morning, and the water is glassy.
Ferg took (lots and lots of) photos this morning when John had an early surf. There were whales there watching them too.

It was just John and one other guy from near Margaret River who was once munched by a Great White Shark. He’s not worried about a whale.

Ferg said the whales hung out and flipped their tails for ages.

And the last view of the Bluff comes from my flora collection. There was huge patch of banksias as we drove out:

(Do you like that one Al?)
While we’re having flora, we’d better have fauna too. So here’s a big Red that Ferg and Harry met on the way to the point. He could be the one who ate our bread.

It’s not every day you spend the first light of the day surfing with Joel Parkinson, but today John found himself doing just that. After aborting a planned early dash to surf Gnaraloo this morning, he surfed “local”, as it were. He had the break all to himself. Till Parko arrived, with Ky Hurst, Kane and Shannon Eckstein, Zane Holmes and Wes Berg. So for those that have no idea who I’m talking about, that’s Parko – World Champion surfer, the rest of them are surf ironmen on the Nutrigrain circuit. They are here filming a series for tv on sporting challenges at various destinations in WA. They were headed up to Coral Bay after this to swim with the manta rays. Ha! We’ve already done that!
So as well as the “talent”, you also get the other 20 odd people lugging cameras and sound gear to capture the action.

Then there’s the jetski crew. And the tag along lackies to fetch and carry. And – they ate the café out of just about everything.

Anyway, we left them to it, and had a good day at Gnaraloo. John surfed in a strengthening wind that saw the number of sail boarders and kite surfers outnumber the regular surfers. The boys had a fun snorkel in the lagoon, and we headed back to the Bluff for a late afternoon session at the point.

It was another perfect evening of crashing waves on the shore break – and sunset cameraman tonight was Harry.

We have been seeing humpback whales since we hit the coast way back at Cape Leveque, north of Broome. They are usually a fair way out, and it’s hard to catch a good photo. But this evening, we were all relaxing round camp at Red Bluff when Ferg spotted a whale close to shore.

Campers appeared from their shelters and shacks and posh tents up and down the beach. This was a rare treat! This next photo shows how close to shore he was.

He frolicked all down the beach and out to the surf break at the point, into the sun. But we loved to watch while we could.

Early morning surf – goes without saying. But John was back by breakfast time. From our camp site he can keep an eye on the scene at the point.

We were a little tardy, but finally got ourselves on the road north for a day trip to Gnaraloo.

It’s only about 25km, but we took the slow road via another surf break – Turtles. John had a “quick surf” there. Is there such a thing?
The boys found a sand dune to play on while we waited.

Gnaraloo’s camping area is much bigger than the Bluff, and that means more people. They have water here, and there’s hot showers from 4pm-6pm. But that’s still not enough to get us to move from our great spot at the Bluff. The surf break here is called Tombies, so named because of the way your surfboard sticks up in the air like a tombstone while the wave holds you deep under the water attached by the leg rope. That’s encouraging, isn’t it?
Fergus and Harry had a surf, just along from the Big Boys break.

There’s great snorkelling around the lagoon too. We’re planning to come back here tomorrow.

The new day dawned with a change in the wind, which also abated. John was first in the water, followed by about 20 others. And there they stayed for the next six hours. For someone who eats as much as John, I struggle to understand how he goes without food (including breakfast) for so long. You see what surfing does to people?
I’m told the rewards are many. Here’s a few pics from the long morning session.

Red Bluff is often said to be the best left hander in Australia. And that makes it a goofy foot’s seventh heaven. Did I mention John is goofy foot?
The surf was way too big for Fergus and Harry, so they joined me on the rocky point as we watched the surfers share the waves with dolphins. I’m pretty sure the dolphins outnumbered the surfers. And then there’s the Humpback Whales. They are migrating past here till November. I have lots of pics of black spots with spray in the air as they dive before I can click my camera. But they were very close to the surfers at Red Bluff!

Times like these I wish I was out there too.
In the afternoon I climbed the hill above our camp. It’s a magnificent view of this part of the coast.

And I found a nest of Ospreys atop the tower that probably has a purpose – but mobile phone reception isn’t it.

Fergus became chief photographer for the afternoon out at the point, having nicked off with my camera. He got some nice shots in the afternoon light.

And today’s sunset photo is from Fergus….

All up, a great place and a great day.