The end of our trial run

So, we survived our first three weeks in the van. What did we learn????

• Practice runs are very important for sorting out "teething problems"!!
• Card games are fun for the whole family.
• One day the kids will beat their Dad at drafts
• A 24ft van isn't so big when you put 5 people in it
• Free camping is the best, the kids "instantly" make friends, the adults "instantly" make friends and the locations are so beautiful.
• There is so much more of our country to see.
• I can survive without 2 showers a day and the world does not blow up if our clothes aren't ironed!!!
• The children can get an education without a classroom.
• Not having any scales means cheese and chocolate and wine doesn't have as many calories!!
• It is nice to be home for a while, to give us time to plan the next trip at least and earn some more money..................one power ball!!!
• Life is too short for regrets!!

 

Day 20 - Thursday 27th Jan - Heading home

Well, a very sad day.  We contemplate staying for longer but know we have to get home and ready for school.  The wind has picked up and the waves are crashing down at the beach, what a different picture it is this morning, it gives us a new appreciation for nature, too dangerous today for any of us to swim or walk on the rocks. We are so glad we found Betty's beach and vow to come back again.

Our leisurely departure is sped up a little when a big motor home comes in and is awaiting our spot.  We drive out at about 12 and it is a beautiful 25C.  Then we head north and inland, planning on going halfway home today.  However, the further north we get, the hotter it gets and when we arrive at Narrogin and in is 40C we decide the comfort of the car is more inviting than sitting in the van all afternoon so we keep going.  At around 6pm we pull into York and the outside temp on the car clicks over to 41C.  I can't believe my eyes!!!!  We head to the York Caravan Park, crank up the air con in the van and I take the kids down the street to find some tea.  Showers are a brief relief from the heat, but we cannot believe the temp change we have experienced in one day.

We decide on an early start the next day.

Day 19 - Australia Day

Sleep in!!!  I can't believe we can now go back to sleep until 7:30 without feeling the need to get up.  Going home is going to be a shock to the system.  We wake up to the sound of the waves hitting the shore.  How appropriate on Australia Day.  We cook up bacon and eggs and pancakes for the kids then head to the water for a snorkel.  The kids swim and play on the rocks while we soak up the sun and before long we are treated to a pod of approximately 20 dolphins on  a feeding frenzy swimming up and down the bay, chasing salmon we guess.  What a treat.  Never have we seen so many dolphins at once and they fly out of the water, changing direction, coming in close then heading out again.  We watch them for about an hour and can't believe how lucky we are to have witnessed this.

We decide to go for a drive to Cheyne Beach.  This is a lovely spot also, everyone in their Aussie gear and beers all round at 11 am.  We have a bit of a swim then head back to Betty's beach and enjoy our little piece of paradise.  Glen and I snorkel some more and the kids have developed a whole community among the rocks.  Their imagination is amazing and they just love it here.  I do some token fishing, but my heart isn't really in it after snorkeling with the fish.

We very quickly become accustomed to the black skinks that bask in the sun on the rocks and we have also adapted quickly to the "dune toilet" and a bath in the ocean, although we are treated to a quick hose off with a fresh water rinse at the van tonight.  I am always amazed that before we leave for holidays I have to have everything ironed and we can't live without 2 showers a day, in a caravan park we cope with 1 shower a day and clothes cleaned regularly but only folded and never ironed, but when we are free camping, we wash in whatever we are swimming in at the time, only use the caravan toilet at night and we cope quite happily with salty, sandy clothes and hair!!!

That night we go down to the beach and light sparklers with the kids from the caravan next door.  It never ceases to amaze me how the kids make friends so quickly everywhere we go.  What a great Australia Day.

Day 18 - Tuesday 25th January - Betty's Beach - Albany

Well, time to move on.  The weather was kind, the rain cleared while we packed up the annexe.  We hope to "free camp" tonight and once again have no idea where, our back up plan is Cheyne beach which we have heard is lovely and there is a caravan park there if we get stuck.  The camping book says there is a good camping spot at Norman's beach, but it doesn't look that inviting when we get there.  Only a great race horse goanna and no other campers, a swampy, reeding looking inlet that looks like a nice spot for tiger snakes, we decide to move on. At the T junction we make a split decision to have a quick look at Betty's beach before we head to the caravan park.  Very glad we did, we stop to ask travellers if we will actually be able to turn around at the end of the road and they inform us it is a top spot for camping.  An old salmon fishing spot with a couple of derelict old shacks.  No power and about 6 vans and a few tents dotted around the grassy sand dunes.  One spot left with our name written on it!!!  A tricky manoeuvre to get the van into position and levelled, but once sorted, wow, what a little piece of paradise.  A beautiful bay, crystal clear water, snorkelling, washed rocks for the kids to explore and Mt Many Peaks as a back drop.  We think we could stay here forever.

Day 17 - Monday 24th Jan - Whale World

It rained all night and with another wet day ahead we decide we might as well go to Albany and see Whale World which has been on our "to do" list.  Why did I think it would be all indoors?????  We run from one exhibit to another and my sneakers are soaked within the first 5 mins.  I add "good walking shoes and a wet weather jacket" to my list of things to buy for the big trip.  Whale World cost $55 for the whole family.  Most of the exhibits are in the massive tanks that were once used to store the whale oil.  Every exhibit is different, some interactive and all very informative.  The kids loved walking around one of the old whaling boats.  It was just awesome and reminded me of the history we still have to learn, about our own country.

Day 16 - Sunday 23rd Jan - Denmark Markets

It rained during the night.  We find it so strange that the weather can be so much like winter in January down here, especially considering we haven't even experienced much rain in winter ourselves last year.  The max today would have been about 22C.  But the local markets in Denmark by the river are still very crowded.  The drizzle doesn't deter anyone and we spend most of the morning there.  The markets bring out the hippies and I think there is more than incense in the air!!!!  I think that this is maybe what it was like at Woodstock. The kids are in seventh heaven trying to figure out what to spend their money on next.  The markets just ooze "love and peace" and we really enjoy chilling out and mingling amongst the hoards and "feeling the love"!!!!

Day 15 - Surfing at Ocean Beach

What a great day for a surf.  Tori gives me lessons on how to catch a wave.  We spend most of the day at the beach, and washing clothes!!!!!  Ocean Beach is just beautful, a great place for an early morning run and a top spot for surfing.

Day 14 - Friday 21st Jan - Green Pools/Meadery/ Alpaca Farm/Wineries

Today we do some more sightseeing.  First we head to Green Pools for a swim with Mum and Dad.  What a beautiful spot, however, half of Denmark is there doing swimming lessons so parking is an issue.  But Glen and I get to have a relaxing snorkel while Mum and Dad watch the kids.  The water is very cold but so good to have the goggles on again.  I would have liked to have gone to Mad Fish Bay as well, but it wasn't on the agenda this day.

Mum and Dad then head back to the caravan park and we continue on our merry way to the Bartholomeus Meadery.  We'd never heard of a "meadery" before but soon discover it is wine and port made from honey.  Apparently the very first wine was produced from honey.  Not quite the taste we are accustomed to, it is so very sweet, however, it was a great sightseeing spot as they had a bee hive behind glass, tonnes of honey tastings to be had and of course ice cream made with not sugar but honey.  So the kids really liked this place.

Next stop the Alpaca farm.  We decide to take the kids as the place is full of guinea pigs, rabbits, goats etc and they can feed them all.  They are missing their guinea pigs from home so this is just great.  They spend the bulk of their time sitting with about 30 guinea pigs and I'm sure we could have left them there all day and came back later.  $35 for the whole family including food for the animals.  As much as they enjoy it, Shannae's eczema totally flares up so we end up making a fairly rapid exit in the end, via the tap to wash her down.

                                                                                                         

Next stop, wineries.  Scotsdale Rd has about 15 wineries on it.  Lucky we have the kids with us as we have to keep the wine tasting under control, however, Glen and I are getting right into the wineries now and we actually feel like we are learning something!!!! Well, we are sticking to that story anyway, and will further our education as we go!!!

That night we decide to have Chinese with Mum and Dad, bad decision!!!  Cody has a couple of prawn crackers and a taste of the honey chicken and starts to puff up.  We grab the epipen and discover Denmark does have a hospital, thankfully.  He puffs up a fair bit and vomits profusely, the nurses monitor him closely for a while then they give us the all clear to go home.  Very scary and a reality check for us.  Needless to say we get little sleep this night.

Day 13 - Thurs 20th Jan

A cruisey day by the washing machine today.....joy!! My Mum and Dad have been in Mt Barker for bowls so they have booked into the park for  a couple of nights.  It is great to catch up with them while we are on holidays as we have time to sit around and chat.  We go into Denmark and have a look around.  Glen, the kids and I hire canoes and have a paddle up the river.  Glen with Cody and Shannae, and Tori and me in another canoe.  A lot of fun, Glen not very competitive at all....ha, ha!!!  I am happy to enjoy the scenery and stay out of splashing distance from the others!!  Back at the park for drinks and Dad cooks up his "prawn special" on the barbi.

Day 12 - Wed 19th January - sightseeing

There is so much to see around Denmark.  Today we do the Tree Top Walk which is pretty awesome.  $25 for the whole family, which we think is good value. We do wonder how Cody is going to go but as it is a gradual incline to the highest point, he seems to cope much better.  Certainly not for anyone who doesn't like heights as it is a bit creepy, the kids get great pleasure out of trying to "rock the boat".  I am pretty glad to get to the bottom.  The kids love the "Tingle Forest" we get to walk through afterwards.  The bases of these massive trees are hollow, pretty amazing.
  
Yes, and once again, your only way out is through the gift shop.  The kids are busting to spend some money, so they have some serious budgeting issues to work through before making their purchases.

Next stop "Conspicuous beach" a nice corrugated road, tonnes of steps at the beach, only to lead us to an awesome surfing beach but way too dangerous for these little black ducks!!!  However, never fear, great dunes!!!!  so the boogy boards become sand surfers down the dunes....great fun.

We then head to Peaceful Bay where swimming lessons are being conducted.  A beautiful spot for snorkeling and leisurely swimming, I am impressed but the rest of the family needs "waves".

Then we head to "Dinosaur world" $35 for the whole family, well worth it.   Lots of Dinosaur skeletons but not nearly as interesting as all the reptiles behind glass.  It is also a bird park and many of the birds, both native and exotic, are just sitting on the outside of their cages happy for a feed and a scratch.  This is just fantastic for the kids and we could stay with the birds all day.  But then, reptile handling, yes, they bring out a number of snakes and bearded dragons to be held.  The kids just love it.  I think Shannae could have been Bindi Irwin!!, she just couldn't get enough of them.  It totally freaks me out seeing the kids with snakes slithering all over them.  I will have nightmares tonight!!!


Last stop for the day the "Ducketts Mills Winery and Ice-creamery".  My kind of tourist attraction!!! The kids get a tub of ice-cream to share and a cheese platter and wine for the parents.  And there is a big grassed area for the kids to run around on.  The car park I think, but hey, dodging cars makes it much more fun!!!!

Day 11 - 18th January - "Chillax" day

Well, now that we are set up it is washing day, beach day and just relaxing day.  We're not very good at just doing nothing, but we know this is the place we are staying the longest and we need to re energise after harvest, so we relax at the beach, get take-away and plan all the things we are going to do tomorrow.

Day ten - Mon 17th January - Denmark

The drive to Denmark takes a couple of hours.  We head to the Big 4 Caravan Park which is about 8km from the town centre.  A very nice park with ample ablutions, very clean and very central.  Not much shade but we soon discover that top temp will only reach about 27C so heat isn't a problem.  We are getting better at setting up the annexe while kids explore the park on their bikes on the very nicely sealed roads, no black sand in sight!!!  The park has a huge "pillow" for bouncing on and a playground which they don't seem to impressed with to start.

I have a giggle to myself at the human race and how we happily leave the comfort of our homes to congregate in one big fenced off area, to sleep under the stars in much less comfortably accommodation and share facilities with a group of complete strangers.  What strange creatures we are!!

Day nine - Sun 16th Jan - Pembi

I start the morning with a 6km walk around the dam.  The forest is just so beautiful and the water on the dam is like a mill pond and there is not a soul to be seen.  A lovely way to start the day.

Today we set off to play tourist around Pembi.  We head to the Beedalup National Park. Unfortunately due to the area only having 50% of their annual rainfall, the water falls are not running, but is a lovely walkway to take.  We drive through the Karri Valley Resort, a magical spot but certainly not the place to be when a fire is coming through.  We head to the Lavender and Berry farm which boasts the best pancakes in town, but not good timing as we have just had lunch!!!  The kids loved the animals and you could feed the alpacas but they didn't look too hungry, or friendly for that matter!!  We head back to the Dam for more swimming, a popular spot with the locals.  We make good use of the running water and flushing toilets at the dam albution block, before we head back to camp.  We just love being in the middle of the forest and enjoy the company of a NSW couple who have seen more of WA than we have.  Another night by the open fire listening to the crickets and frogs, you can't beat it!!!

Day 8 - Sat 15th Jan - Pemberton

Our first real adventure, we haven't got a booking for the night and are just planning to take pot luck somewhere near the Big Brook Dam. We trek deep into the forest and it just feels like it is closing in around us.  We hope we are heading in the right direction as with "Big Bertha" behind us, turning around in the forest is not going to be easy.  After 8 km of gravel we come upon a camping area with a few tents and caravans and one long drop, beautiful!!!

So we are "at one with nature" !!!  The kids immediately make friends with the kids next door while we are setting up, then it is off to the the Big Brook Dam for a swim. What an amazing back drop.  The dam is massive and the trees come right up to the edge and their reflection lines the edge of the dam.
After a quick swim we go for a drive and have a look at the Gloucester Tree.  "Health and Safety" have certainly missed this one, as it looks about as safe as it did 30 years ago.  On the way back to camp we call into the "Hidden River Estate", a lovely little winery with a fantastic playground for the kids, a beautiful view and restaurant.  Unfortunately they are shutting up for the day, but not before they allow us to taste their wines and the owners happily sit with us and chat for about an hour.  What a lovely couple and staff.  They give the kids food to feed the horse and we feel like we could sit and talk with them all arvo.  Back to camp to cook tea on the open fire and take notes from the seasoned campers who are camped next to us.

Day 7 - Fri 14th Jan

Well, our last opportunity to wash clothes and stock up on water as we are "free camping" tomorrow night.  Washing on....Shannae, Cody and I decide to go fishing off the jetty.  They get very excited when Mum catches a couple of whiting and they love running up and down the jetty, especially when a massive sting ray swims under us.  We keep the fish for while, but once they are named no one wants to eat them, so they end up setting them free.

So for our last night in Augusta we decide to go to the "local" for tea.  It is packed, but the service is awesome, the meals are great, they cater really well for the kids, they have an extensive range of local wine and the view of the river is awesome.

Day six - 13th January - Jewel Cave and the Chocolate Factory

Today we decide to go and explore the area some more.  Jewel Cave is first on the itinerary, Shannae is navigating, I am starting to think of things the kids can do for their education on the big trip.

Jewel Cave is awesome.  The CO2 level in the cave is very high on this day so breathing is a little difficult which we notice towards the end of the tour, but we are all in awe of the beauty and can't comprehend the age of the stalactites and stalagmites.  We try to imagine what it would have been like to have been the first one down there without much light.  Cody has no probs with underground and they all take in the commentary and ask questions. Very well worth the visit.

Next stop, the The Margaret River Chocolate Factory, a popular choice with the whole family, however, not without Dad deciding he would like to take a 4wd track to suss things out a bit more.  We head down a narrow, sandy track towards the beach, it gets hairier the further we go and only room for one vehicle.  After a couple of km's I am questioning whether the view is going to be worth the trip and on a couple of occasions I decide that walking some stretches may be a safer option............. I really must toughen up!!!!!   I start to imagine lunch in the civilized Chocolate Factory and wonder if we will we ever make it.  We speak to a couple of other adventurers and decide it probably isn't worth going all the way as the worms are starting to bite, so we head back to the main road.  But with Dad behind the wheel we make one more stop at Prevelly Park so he can take a trip down the memory lane of his misspent youth with Uncle Craig, the kids listen to his stories and then finally we are on the road to the Chocolate Factory ......"Are we there yet??"  Well. I have never seen the kids so "wide eyed"!!!  They don't know where to start and OMG........free chocolate samples!!  We order lunch,  which was most enjoyable and the kids spend much time deliberating over what to buy, how much it is going to cost and who is willing to share their purchases.  It is very expensive but I am impressed at how carefully they weigh up their options to get the most for their money.  Glen and I also decide we are sick of drinking coffee out of melamine and decide to purchase some real mugs and wouldn't you know it...............they come filled with chocolate!!!!

Next stop the Margaret River Dairy Co., everyone is feeling very full and sick by about now and not at all interested in cheese, I don't know why!!!  I make a couple of obligatory purchases and we head a couple of hundred metres down the road to the Palandri winery for Mum.  Well, I am in seventh heaven.  This is a huge winery that also sells "Guess" handbags, jewellery, beauty products and heaps more.  A whole corner of the building is dedicated to the entertainment of the kids with xbox's colouring, toys etc, plus it has a beautiful cafe, a little pricey, but the meals looked awesome.  Pity we weren't staying closer, as it would have been a great place to come for lunch another day.

Now we are just about all "touristed" out, but we know they have a honeycomb making display happening at the "Candy Cow" in Cowarumup and we don't won't to miss that.  We are nearly there when our son informs us from the back seat that he has just swallowed a 5c piece. We are obviously giving him too much pocket money!!! Great.......do we go to a hospital, has it gone down properly, can it get stuck anywhere???  We get some help from the chemist and are told to take him to hospital if we are concerned and after a couple of phone calls the general consensus is that he will be fine.  So everyone seems to enjoy the honeycomb making, Cody doesn't miss a beat, however, I decide on the way back I am going to take him to the doctor in Augusta.  He gives him a lolly snake and tells him he has to give up eating money and that is it.  So we spend another relaxing evening on the foreshore.

Day five - Wed 12th Jan - Sea Dragon Boat Cruise

Glen and I are trying to keep things under control in the weight department by going for the odd walk and run!!!!  I think we are fighting a losing battle, however, the early mornings are so beautiful and it is nice to have the time to enjoy exercising, without having to rush to get ready for school and work.  Exercising is always easier in a different environment and everyone out and about, is very friendly.

So today we decide to take a boat cruise up the Blackwood River.  We are too many to hire a 4 man dinghy and anything bigger we need a skipper's ticket, so we decide to do the Sea Dragon Boat Cruise.  We climb aboard with all the Greeks, Japs and Italian tourists, thinking we feel a bit strange being a tourist in our own country!!!  A female skipper stumbles aboard in a bit of a rush, thermos, styrofoam cups and assorted creams under her arm.   Yesterdays bin still full and a PA system that she can't get to work.  It was a nice leisurely cruise up the river but certainly not worth the $100 it cost to take the family.  Kids are more interested in how many biscuits they can eat for morning tea, than the commentary we are getting over the very "dodgy" loud speaker.  Oh well, you win some you lose some!!!

Another afternoon is spent walking around to the trampolines and mini golf, an entertainment centre that has slot cars, space invaders games and pin ball machine, we all love it.  We watch the kite surfers and having a crack at catching some whiting.  It's my favourite time of the evening as all the families are out, the wind is minimal, the kids ride their bikes, there are dolphins frolicking close-by nearly every arvo and everyone is having drinks and nibblies on the foreshore with their families.  We can't believe how lucky we are with the weather, days have been mid to high 20's  and there has been no wind, I didn't think Augusta had "windless" days.  Very lucky.

Day four - 11th January - Augusta

Augusta is such a beautiful place.  We head out the Leewin lighthouse on a very windy but scenic drive.  The lighthouse is on the point where the Southern Ocean and the Indian Ocean meet, which explains the "Two Oceans", label given to so many places in town.  We decide to take the tour to the top of the lighthouse, much to Cody's disgust!!!  It appears our boy is scared of heights......news to us.  He loves going for a fly in the plane with his Dad.  The girls are very keen and soak up the history that is written on the plaques at the bottom of the lighthouse.  We head up the winding staircase with the tour group, however half way up the 176 steps, our son announces that enough is enough and he will not be going any higher.......mmmmm!!!!!  He's terrified eyes tell us that no amount of discussion, negotiation or bribery, is going to change his mind, so he happily parks himself on a chair and stays there, while the rest of the group heads to the top.  We feel very confident that he is not about to move from that position and we decide we don't think we have actually seen him quite so terrified!!!    It is a magnificent view from the top and the girls love it. The tour was very informative and most enjoyable.  Anyway, feet back on the ground, after spending some pocket money in the gift shop, that has been burning a hole in the kids pockets since we left home, a "heaven" ice-cream calms the nerves and puts everyone in a good mood!!!!!

Day three - 10th January - Augusta

It was just great to have good catch up with Shane and Sue.  We pack up feeling very happy that we have sorted out those small issues and we don't need to make a trip back into Busso.  Augusta is only about 100km away, so we are in "go slow" mode.  It is such a lovely drive and we are in no rush.  We spot the places we will come back to on a day trip to Margaret River.  The van is towing well and we are very happy to have invested in a reversing camera, as visibility behind "Big Bertha" is nil.

We arrive in Augusta a bit early to check into the park so.....nothing to do but head to the bakery for an early lunch!!!  Always a winner with the whole family!!! Later we check into the Turner Caravan Park which is located right on the Blackwood River.  It has a small playground but lots of kids on bikes so the children are very excited.  The site we are given is on a real slope and in an awkward position, remembering  that we have a 24ft van, so it is our first test in "set up" in not such ideal circumstances.  So about 2 hours, 10 blocks of wood, a bit of shovelling, a few terse words and 3 grumpy kids later, we are finally "level"....................phew, maybe  unpacking a camper trailer would have been easier after all!!!

Later.........a walk along the Blackwood River, which is bustling with other families with fishing rods, kids on bikes and parents with a drink in hand, we breath a sigh of relief and soak up the beauty of Augusta where the river meets the sea.  What a beautiful spot.

Day two - 9th Jan - Busselton

Today we are treated to a sleep in and a casual morning then, as you do in Busso, we head for the beach.  Shane and Sue have a jet ski and all the toys you can imagine, to go behind it, so we pack up the eskies and all the gear and settle in at the beach for the day.  What a paradise they live in.  The girls just love riding behind the jet ski with all the gear, they have no fear, our little man on the other hand is very happy in his solitude building sand castles.  It is great to see the kids enjoying spending some time with their cousins Zachery and Skye.  They are all very happy together. At the end of day we are joined by other friends of Shane and Sue's who are also staying the night. So we head home for pizza and showers, and yes, a few more quiet ales!!!.

Day one - 8th January 2011 - Busselton

We head to Shane and Sue's backyard (my brother and sister-in-law).  We are so glad to be on the road and finally away.  We are looking forward to catching up with Shane and Sue for a belated chrissy celebration.  They aren't too fussed with our, later than anticipated, arrival and we are treated to fish on the Weber and prawns.  We 'park up' on the front lawn and settle in for a couple of days.  So nice to catch up with my brother and his family.  And we have a few caravan issues to sort out.   Why aren't the electric brakes working?? Why isn't the fridge working?  Why won't the door shut properly?  And why won't our water pump work?  Oh no...what have we done!!!!  But after a relaxing couple of ales, a chat and a phone call, we manage to have everything sorted by the next day so that is a relief....."teething problems"!!!

Our Three Week Trial - South West

So this is the plan.....we have a three week trial over the chrissy holidays in January.  We hope to sort out all the teething problems to ensure a smooth trip come the real thing.  We never knew the van had so many teeth!!!!  We practise putting up the annexe before we leave, in the searing heat, Dad standing with hands on his hips giving advice!!!!   He says it is in preparation for when the Grey nomads offer to help when you arrive at a caravan park at 4pm, tinny in hand and full of suggestions!!!!!

Most things are well organised and ready for departure, however, even the best laid plans and advanced orders can't compete with the delays over chrissy and new year and our custom made tool box, that requires mounting on the A frame, arrives the day before departure.  So, this means Glen spends most of the 24 hours prior to departure, welding in the shed......just to add a little stress to the equation.  However we manage to keep it together, just!!!!........and depart on the day we planned to, even though a little later than anticipated!!! 

I keep a handwritten diary for the trip, because I haven't worked out this "bloggy thing", but as you can see I have now learnt and I am determined to keep you all posted with our travels, probably not on a daily basis however.  Please excuse my spelling and grammatical errors as I don't plan to spend too long proof reading entries. 

So....here we go, here we go, here we go..........!!!!!!

Our journey begins...

Well, where do I start?  What began as a dream that Glen and I shared, while changing nappies and watching our children's first steps....  "One day, when the kids are old enough, we're going to buy a caravan and travel around Australia", well that day has finally come and we really can't believe it.  The journey so far, researching and making plans, has been a fun experience already.  Please follows us and as we explore our amazing country.