This was an easy, lovely paddle along steep red sand cliffs. At some point, marked clearly as a “sandy water area” on my map, I saw on the horizont a *yellow* lin ecoming up. I was hoping that the sand wasn’t dry as it looked like from the distance, forcing me in a wide berth around the headland.

It wasn’r dry, but bloody shallow! I had to jump out at one point and was dragging my boat behind me, wading in less than knee deep water only. But soon the water became at least over knee depp, and I could keep on paddling. I was watching the ground all the time, seeing plenty of small reef sharks swimming around, big manta rays, but few turtles. The yellow crystal clear sandy water exchanged frequently with dark spots of sea grass areas. The colors of this pristine, remote nature were so intense! Bright red sandy high cliffs with some spots of green scrub, blue sky, yellow sandy water, black sea grassy water, and my white boat floating in the middle of all of it! Not too bad of a life…

I was arriving conveniently at around 5pm, and got greeted by Kristy Blackman, a lovely lady contacted through another lovely lady Kelly Chapman from Exmouth, who have arranged a place for me to stay. Internet…thanks for that, Kelly and Kristy!

I’m staying at Michael’s house, a nice chap who is running a kayaking and small boats rental business at the Monkey Mia resort, right across the Cape Peron peninsula. He is not home all weekend, so I have the house for myself!

But I met Michael that night already, as a friend of Kristy’s, Tony, originally from Wales, was driving me over there that night to say “hi”. Austrailan people are so easy going and relaxed! I wonder who in Germany would give his or her house to a complete travelling stranger for some days…thanks a lot, Michael and Tony!

Text message from Freya via satellite phone:

Denham. 55 km,  7:30 am to 5:00 pm. An easy paddle in light following wind along red sandcliffs into Denham “town”. Will have Friday and Saturday off due to weather, probably paddle Sunday to Steep Point and will hopefully have nice northerlies from Monday on!