On the way into Carnarvon, dominating the ridge to the east is the OTC satelite Earth Station. Now closed down due to out dated technology, the site was once also the home to a NASA tracking station used durning the Apollo Moon Missions. In fact it was this station which received some of the pictures of Neil Armstrongs first moon walk in 1969. The station was most recently used in 1986 to help with the probe to Halley's Comet.

Carnarvon itself, is situated on the mouth of the Gascoyne River. This view shows the semi-tropical nature of the place (it is just south of the Tropic of Capricorn), and part of the river esturary. The river is rather unusual in that for most of the year there IS no river to see - just a flat, wide sandy river bed. There is, however, water flowing underneath, and this sustains the many crops grown by irrigation watre from the "river". When water does flow in the river, it can come in rather a rush, and often floods some of the surrounding plains, so much so, the town has a permanent levee built to protect it.

We took a short break at one of the banana plantations. You can see a typical banana plant flower, and developing bananas. And what better way to enjoy some of the local crop, that with a Banana Split! The mango sauce, made from locally grown mangoes, was so yummy!

One banana, two banana, three banana, four!
Four bananas make a bunch and so do many more! ...

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