7th - 9th November 2021 Fanny Cove Stoke National Park

After leaving Masons Bay we stopped off at Starvation Bay to see what the camp sites were  like there, they were ok but as a beach I preferred Masons Bay. 

We continued on heading for Fanny Cove, we weren't really sure which 4wd road we should take so it was a blessing when we got to the crossroads there was some local people there letting their tyres down so they told us which one to take, we later found out the othe4 track was closed.

It was definitely a let your tyres down 4wd track but we took it easy traveling at between 20-26 km p/h, as we went along we met the ranger coming out who stopped us to check our national park pass, as we talked to him he told us not to go to the Shoal Cape camp area as there was too many trees and not suitable for our truck or caravans.

We drove towards Fanny Cove through kilometres of banksia in bloom, we also saw a huge kangaroo.

When we arrived we were so surprised by the beauty of the area, the coast is rugged with a large area of surf beach but the cove is protected by a point and is calm, there is a lot of winter weed washed up at the moment has been there awhile with a lot of it already rotted.

We walked around the camp sites and found the most sheltered, which happened to be down closest to the beach, we set up camp and went for a walk on the beach.

Later we took some fishing gear down to try to catch a fish, we had seen large shoals in the big waves as they stood up.

It was very cold on the beach so we didn't stay later than 6.30 , Merv caught a whiting while I found some nice shells.

It was a very quiet night we are out here alone.

The next morning Merv made a fruit loaf ready for cooking, then we took some fishing gear right around the beach where we had seen the fish in the breakers, they were still there moving backwards and forwards along the beach, Merv fished I watched, he caught a herring.

There were a couple from Esperance that had come out for the day, they were fishing for whiting, they told us the shoals of fish were salmon.

We don't want one of those they are not nice to eat.

After Merv cooked the loaf in the afternoon we walked around the point up on a huge rock to try for phone reception, no luck.

It is so rugged and beautiful around the corner with a good swell running and a stiff wind behind it.

Next morning after the usual morning duties I took the time to wash my hair, it is quite a cloudy day and rain forecast so it seemed a good opportunity to walk out to Shoal Cape.

We took a lunch of fruit bread Merv had made and plenty of water for lunch. The walk was a lot of soft sand on the track and a lot of uphill. 

When we were at the top of the last hill we met two young men Shannon and Shane, in their 4wd who was camping at the cape campsite but had driven up the hill to make a phone call, I decided to stop there on the way back and call Liza.

The decent into the camp was very steep I told Merv it reminded me of Colins driveway, there were some trees overhead but a lot had been pruned back.

The campsite areas were very small and really only suitable for tents or camper trailers, we were pleased the ranger had told us not to go there as it was were we were originally going to go.

When we walked through to the beach area we found a well built staircase of 100 steps leading down to the beach, the view from the landing was breathtaking, it was just as beautiful from ground level with a beautiful clear lagoon which I thought I would love to swim in the summer time.

There was one comment on wikki camps that a guy snorkeling saw a lot of fish but a couple of big sharks so I am not so sure.

As we were walking back out we met Shannon and Shane coming back down, had a great chat.

When we reached the top of the hill I gave Liza a call, was sad to hear her not well, but at least things are moving forward for her and Phil with the house and Ranni is on the mend.

That evening Shannon and Shane came over to where we were camped as they had left their boat there and was hoping to go out diving the next day.

Merv invited them for a beer and they turned out to be very interesting people, Shannon the oldest one, holds the world record for riding the largest wave which happened to be in southern Western Australia, he also does a lot of paid public speaking, they both go to Tassie 

to ride the big wave down south.