EXMOUTH (CAPE RANGE NATIONAL PARK)
Today was a significant day in our lives. The day we celebrate the life of a very special person. Clint's Pa, David Gordon Hartley. Unfortunately he passed due to another stroke while we're heading north from Perth. We were throwing about all our options for the possibility of Clint returning to Victoria to be with his family at this time but unfortunately with a number of circumstances and the Covid situation the funeral was only open for 10 people to attend. The funeral was to be livestreamed this morning. It is hard being away from extended family at a time such as this. Particularly today our little family unit pulled together to look after and support one another. The boys gave daddy some of the most beautiful hugs and shared some of their memories of Pa. His life is one we are all grateful for, his spirit for justice one to strive for, and his sense of adventure was to encourage us to continue our journey. He would have loved to hear about this journey around the country, and he can now be watching on from the heavens.
Today was a day we had all been waiting for!! For mummy a bucket list, to snorkel the Ningaloo reef region. For daddy the new found love for snorkelling was driving him to drive into the water
And for the boys reading the Alison Lester book 'Are we there yet' this was the next adventure, to snorkel a drift on the tide at Torquoise Bay, watching the fish shimmering like jewels below.
The boys snorkeled and looked below the water in the shallows and there was enough fish that they were thrilled. Beautiful schools of silver ..... Swarmed around showing lots of interest in the boys. One even cheeky enough to suck on Micah's finger!! Marty did some fantastic snorkelling & loved every minute! He saw some fish "this big"✋🤚 and "this small" 🤏
Again mummy and daddy took it in turns to have a snorkel, and the book was so accurate! The fish and coral are like viewing underwater treasure! Some highlights, the tiny neon blue fish, the fish as big as your leg hovering just above the surface watching but not startled by you swimming above, the brain coal, a sleeping turtle resting on the coral with one eye slightly ajar, the anennommies waving gently as they hid the clownfish and the black fish that look like an eel crossed with a catfish.
The deep water was warm, but as we surfaced the shallows were cold and the wind took your breath away. Time to seek shelter in the car! We drove to the next snorkel location, Oyster Stacks just in time as these have to be viewed only during high tide otherwise they are exposed to damage. Clint had another snorkel here. There were schools of fish like trumpet fish and trevally just in the shallows against the beach. The highlights were seeing some large electric blue star fish, a blue spotted stingray and an angel fish 🐠.
Clint said at the end of the day, "it was an emotional morning, so it was nice to have some really special moments snorkelling to lift my spirits". We have both recognised significant moments where being in the outdoors really does give you a euphoria that is very special. A natural anti-dpressant.
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