Dag 61 - Sunday, 13 March - Augusta (Youth Hostel - expensive and well kept)

I make an early beach walk with myself.

Feeding Sting Rays.

Waiting for Sting Rays.

After a long stretch through Karri Forest, we visit the "Jewel Cave" just north of Augusta.  Found in 1957 and opened to the public three years later.  Our Guide told, that this cave has 10 different crystal formations which all are translucide, like marble.  

I can only remember stalactite, stalacmite, column, pendulum and veil.   There were also tree- and coral like formations.

Pendulum.

Stalactytes (falling from the ceiling) and Stalacmyte (might reach the ceiling)

Veil - in 20o8, a wedding took place in front of this rock formation.  Hence then the name.

The photos from cave only gives a weak impression of the grandiosity of this site.  We were 58 meters under ground and the climbing was tough, also because of lack of oxygen.

We drove through a large area of Karri tree forest before reaching Augusta, at the border of Blackwood River, the Hardy Inlet and the Southern Ocean.

The water in this rivermouth-Inlet is as salty as the Ocean.  I tasted it during an afternoon walk with Hans.   

We met an elderly Australian tourist couple and spoke about trees.  Now we know what a Paperbark Tree looks and feels like.  The trunck is white and soft.

Wine tasting at the Blackwood River, the Hardy Inlet and the Indian Ocean in the horizon.

"Wall of Faces" - in Augusta.

Not much left of this wheel which supplied the lighthouse cottages with fresh water.

Last view on the Indian Ocean - with Inga

We walked around the Cape Leewin Lighthouse, which is the tallest on fastland Australia - and the most south-western point of Australia.

Nice to sleep under roof tonight - a real bed and white towels.