Homeward bound

Sadly our winter escape to Ningaloo has come to an end and we are now on our way home to Perth. Happily, we have rebooked sites for 2013 July school holidays. The World Heritage Area listing for Ningaloo Reef Marine Park areas and Cape Range National Park does not affect camping or fishing where we go however the management of the area is now under much tighter control. Changes in the 3 years since our last visit are:

- designated camp sites, numbered and available for advance booking

- gated entry to each of the camp areas located throughout the station accessible only with key ($100 bond)

- no rubbish tip on station (take out to highway)

- firewood available from station $18/bundle (few planks hardwood, nails free)

- rest as usual (must bring/hire porta loo, no groundfires must bring/hire firebox, supply own water, UHF comms good but no 3G without external antenna in car kit.

We have enjoyed the peace of being away from modern life for a while and as usual we feel recharged from time spent doing it basic.

We have a hectic 7 weeks ahead in the office with important projects on both ExplorOz.com and TriathlonOz.com to finish before our next trip on September 5 but for David, he also has to focus his energies on his final preparations (swim, bike, run) for the race in Las Vegas on Sept 11 (Ironman 70.3 Worlds). He did not slack off training whilst away because his coach provided a tailored program with full run/swim intensity (but the bike stayed home).

The only major disappointment of the trip has been missing the broadcasts of the tour de France, especially that it has been won for the first time by an Australian - Cadel Evans... but there's bound to be countless reruns!

Our boat trailer has also suffered the trip pretty harshly, with the mud from Gladstone Rd and heavily corrugated Ningaloo Road taking it's toll on suspension and the brakes having to be disengaged after being too dangerous to drive (grabbing and releasing).

So we return to wash, repair, train, and work! Ho hum!!