To James Price Point

Today we’re heading to the beach for breakfast. First a swim, then brewing some coffee… It’s incredibly quiet and peaceful here, just sand and sea in sight, and only the gentle waves to be heard. If it weren’t for the occasional visiting seagull, we would be all alone.

Our next two destinations for today are Kooljaman and Ardyaloon. We already knew back home that the Kooljaman Resort was closed, but we were hoping we could still go there on foot. No chance. Of course, we could ignore all the no-entry signs, but we won’t do that.

When I’m helping someone at the gas station in Djarindjin, a Frenchman approaches us asking what is happening in Ardyaloon. He was turned away at the entrance to the community. Everyone was supposed to duck down in the car, and he was to turn back immediately. We had no idea, of course. Birgit was not very motivated to go after that, but I still wanted to try.

By the time we reach the access road, it’s already barricaded. At the intersection stands Bruce, the chief of the neighboring community of Cygnet Bay. He explains to us that a two-day funeral ceremony is taking place and that, according to their laws, we cannot be present. What a shame.

So we have no choice but to head further south today. This way, we’ll just have a shorter drive tomorrow. In the end, we still manage to reach our originally planned first destination, which we missed due to the bushfires: James Price Point. The access road is a bit rough, and towards the end, it got truly “wild”. 

But we turn around and find a parking spot on the edge of rust-red cliffs. Below is the green water, then the yellow beach, and above, the rust-red rocks guard white-flowering bushes, simply breathtaking!

After a little sunset stroll, we have to watch as two young guys get stuck in the sand with their jeeps. Unfortunately, we have neither the means nor the skills to help them. Fortunately, after about an hour, the two win the battle and manage to free themselves with sandboards and a winch. We would have miserably failed there, as the tide had come in overnight.

We end the day under a marvelous starry sky by the campfire.