After driving through dry, arid country I couldn't believe the oasis that is Carnarvon. It is a small town lined with palm trees ( a bit bruisied and battered from harsh winds) and bush after bush of pink, purple and white bougenvillias. The people are the friendliest we have ever met and at every turn we were given help and information.
The plantations of bananas, mangos and countless other fruit and vegetables are absolutely amazing. The water from the Gascoyne River is micromanaged so that each plantation owner has enough for their needs - and 70% of Perth!! Walking around with a farmer's wife on her plantation was humbling to say the least. I will never take the beautiful fruit and vegetables that come from Carnarvon for granted again. I feasted on a perfect papaya, custard apple, avocadoes and pure mango ice-cream. Chris doesn't like soft, fleshy fruits so all the more for me!
Visiting the Carnarvon school of the air was also very interesting. We met a few of the teachers there who were only to keen to allow us to sit in on their "air lessons" which we did, listening to children from remote stations working with their teachers.
We could have happily stayed in Carnarvon with Chris keen to negotiate with the Ed Dept on reducing the delay on the phones for the kids and teachers at the school of the air! He was also invited to come down to the heritage restoration area to work with some laid back guys on restoring an old diesel shunter. They had an amazing workshed - sorry boy's playroom - which they disappeared into for a fair while! While I was waiting I climbed an old water tower where I could see the amazing view of the wetlands, Carnarvon town and the Gascoyne entering the sea. Carnarvon was not like I had expected at all though I hear the winds can be pretty bad. We saw a row of trees growing almost parallel to the ground as a result of the winds.
We drove down to a place called "Pickle Point" at the harbour and bought the most gorgeous piece of fish and freshly caught prawns - since we are not fishermen!! We saw huge, big fishing boats in the harbour which were awesome.
We'll have to visit Carnarvon again.
