We loaded my kayak on the car the previous night, to be ready to go at 5.30, and launching at first light. It will be about 2 ½ hrs after high tide then, and with my wheels hopefully still no problem to get out to the water.

Kate drove me to the beach, and I launched easily with the dawning sun at 6am.

I was planning to keep on going until dusk, but I spotted a long line of cliffs, marking eventually the end of the 80-mile beach!

I decided I was more happy to stop at the last high barren sand dunes before those cliffs for the night, and as my next night spot would be around Cape Keraudren, overall 100 km away from Wallal Downs.

I was thinking to best split this leg in easy two times 50 km. No need to push hard anyway, as I should be in Port Hedland in 4 days time to be there on Sunday night to do chores like picking parcels from the post office on Monday’s work day, and not be there on Saturday night already, and not be able to do my chores on Sunday!

I happily pulled into shore at 4pm, again using my wheels to get the kayak up the high tide mark.

After putting up camp in very soft, deep powdery sand, I was tempted to climb those high barren sand dunes, free of any vegetation, for two reasons:

For sure I would be enjoying the wide view over the landscape, but usually high up a hill I’m getting the best chance for cell phone reception!

Both pics show my shadow on the bottom right edge…

And I was lucky this time, on the highest dune around! Calling Greg for longer at night on my cell phone, not only the brie sat-phone calls during the day, and checking e-mail is one of the highlights of my day! I’m lacking quite some communication on this trip, not that I’m feeling too lonely, but even a person who is quite happy by herself needs some mental input to not drain the brain too much…

Standing on the high dune was quite impressive, to the left the sea, straight ahead endless sand, to the right endless grassland with some cattle I could hear, but not see.

Text message from Freya via satellite phone:

19.54 120.11 80-mile Beach. 6:00 am to 4:00 pm, 50km. I climbed the highest sanddune for

great outlook over the desert.