Area 51

Today, we did a bit more exploring around the area. We decided to check out Point Lowly and Stony Point on a snorkelling reconnaissance mission, to find out where we would enter the water when the cuttlefish come through to breed.

On the way there, we drove past signs warning us not to cross the fences as there were laser hazards and live bombs! There was a crude oil plant (or so they say) set right on the shore, with massive vats and barbed wire all around. The area was desolate, except for the oil plant, surrounded by miles and miles of scrub land cordoned off with electric fences, barbed wire, and warning signs about bombs. Daph and Ern suspect they may have stumbled across the Australian version of Area 51[1], and there are UFOs and alien autopsies inside the vats. It was all very suspicious.

We had to drive along a dirt track to get in there (of course), but Ern didn’t seem to mind. Daph supposes he was too excited about the prospect of discovering experimental UFO compounds that he forgot to worry about red dirt getting churned up in the engine.

Daph and Ern had packed a picnic and taken the beach chairs and a book each to read on the beach when we got there. However, Point Lowly had a lighthouse, but no beach. So, after exploring the old lighthouse keeper cottages, we moved on to Stony Point.

We found the dive entry at Stony Point. But we decided, due to the rocky terrain, that we would be better off organising a snorkelling trip through the local dive centre than tackling it ourselves. It seemed a bit tricky to get in, and the complicated signs explaining the tides and currents convinced Daph and Ern that they are too amateur to do this without professional advice. So, snorkelling survey complete, it was lunchtime. But we couldn’t set up our chairs on the beach for a picnic and a read… because there was no beach here either! Just rocks. The name Stony Point should have given us a heads up!

So back to Whyalla foreshore, where we know there is sand. The tide was out, so the beach went for miles. We had finally found our beach to set up on, but by now the day was getting away from us and it had turned a bit windy and chilly. So, we just had a walk out on the sandbar then headed “home” for eggs on toast.

Ern: “I’ve noticed there are no crabs here,” remembering the millions of sand bubbler crabs we usually see on the East Coast.

Just then, Ern disturbs a massive crab, the size of his foot, camouflaged in the seaweed. Mr. Crab puffs out his chest, displays his giant pincers, and says,

“Come and have a go if you think you’re hard enough[2].”

[1] Surely, you’ve heard of Area 51 and don’t need me to explain it?! [2] An English football chant that could be synonymised with hooliganism, or just good old English banter.