On 29th of June 1959, a fishing boat, the 'Wangaree', was wrecked when a pot line tangled around the propeller and the vessel was swept onto the rocky coast nearby. Two of the crew, skipper Eric Tapley and his son Barry, survived. But young crewmember, Leo Cummings, 23, was lost. A monument to Leo was erected near a high point along that rugged stretch of coast north-west of Port Lincoln. As we drove toward the port, we passed along the rather bleak shore of shallow Lake Hamilton and spotted the sign informing travellers of the park-up and lookout at the monument site.  Although we were keen to get to Pt. Lincoln, it was time for a break, and we were glad we stopped. Like so much of the Southern Ocean coast, this spot is spectacular.

That's Nik up there on the high point at the Cummings Monument lookout. The layered sandstone cliffs are slowly crumbling into the sea.

The stack at the foot of the cliffs is definitely on its last legs. One stormy day...

We continued on through whistle-stop Coulta, a tiny settlement backed by the picturesque Marble Range. The surrounds had morphed from the drier country behind us to lush green. The vicious spring storm definitely had a silver lining with these meadows looking at their verdant best. How often have you fellow travellers passed up an opportunity for a neat pic when running to something of a schedule, as we did at Coulta. Geez, that stretch looked great with its cow-belly high grass after a seeming universe of Nullarbor arid and dry farmland behind us! But Lincoln and beyond it, Whyalla and Port Augusta with a couple of must-dos to cross off the wish list, beckoned. 

The turn off to the water playground and oyster-farm heaven (if you like 'em!) of Coffin Bay is about 30 Kays north-west of Pt. Lincoln. Coffin is another of those wonderful large enclosed waterways so evident along that stretch of coast. Here, you walk out the back and down the ramp from your cottage, and you're at water's edge. Sweet!

Here's one for the yachties and boaties. You'll never find a better waterway to mess around in a lovely little classic cat boat than Coffin Bay. A squiz into Google had images and information about the builder of that special craft coming straight up. So she's sort of famous around South Oz's retro boat scene. Skilled builders of such wooden vessels are becoming ever thinner on the ground. And of course the bigger 'fisherman' behind her is built to take on the wild local seas outside the Bay.

The vista over Boston Bay and Port Lincoln from the ominously named Winter Hill is breath-taking.. especially when the wind is blasting through at possibly 35 knots, as it was the day we drove to the hilltop carpark for a look. Opening the vehicle doors was a risky challenge, but it was sort of fun letting the wind support you as you leaned into it. This is one of just a few images I took at Port Lincoln because the weather was mainly inclement while we were there. And to be honest, my shutter-bugging tends to come in fits and starts. Another plus with climbing to Winter Hill was that we met and chatted with a fellow WA couple passing through on their way to Uluru the longer way.  

The entrance to the Port Lincoln Caravan Park office, on the bay shore a few kays out of town is, er.. imposing, to say the least! In view of recent events, some West Aussies might find this a bit challenging to pass through - you can skirt around it    One of the earliest images I have of myself was taken on a stop during a family voyage on the old Spencer Gulf tour ship 'Moonta' to Port Lincoln and other gulf ports, when I was about a year old. My big sister who was 12 years old was holding me while inspecting a huge white pointer shark hoisted on a Pt. Lincoln jetty, so great whites have featured around those parts for a long time. So much of this odyssey would be a reprise run of journeys long ago for yours truly, with my long suffering spouse just being dragged along for the ride.. well, not quite. It was all new territory and experience for her. And really not much different for me. We were both having a ball! 

My next edition will include a series of critter shots taken at Glen Forest Tourist Park near Port Lincoln. We don't usually frequent such animal parks, but it seemed like a bit of fun and a photo opportunity for us. And so it proved. Especially if you have kids along, or just love animals, this place should be on the list.