Left Shark Bay early and drove through to Carnarvon, a distance of about 320 km. Largely uneventful although we did need to be vigilant at times given the prevalence of feral goats along the highway. At least goats seem to have slightly more road sense than kangaroos, the latter being unsighted so far on this trip.

The country side is very dry and we are now in desert country. Many of the rivers and lakes marked on our maps are dry. Carnarvon is also known as the place where the desert meets the ocean. Weather was warm during the day, around 30 degrees but surprisingly cool in the evening, we getting quite cold sitting around with some new found friends in the caravan park into the evening.

We have also learned that Carnarvon supplies around 70% of the state’s fruit and vegetables, including bananas, tomatoes, chilli, asparagus, mangoes and more. Many of these market gardens are in close proximity to the township of Carnarvon as we discovered on our brief tour of the ‘fruit loop’. Water can be a problem from time to time but meantime water is extracted under tight regulation from the ‘upside down’ Gascoyne River (see pictures below) via the many aquifers existent there. Very clean water  we’re assured and only about one metre down. Unlike in the east, water rights are tied to a property and cannot be sold off separately.

Carnarvon also has a fishing industry and a large radio antenna for space communications, being involved in the Apollo program back in the 60’s. Otherwise it is a town that struggles a little as it does not have any special tourist icons of its own. Having said that, it is a gateway to a fabulous region to the south and north so most tourists have to pass through this place one way or another.

Images below include the Gascoyne River where it meets the ocean and some kilometres up stream where it is presently dry.