Monday 13th March
Bidding a tearful farewell to Jimmy it was back to the caravanning life for Steve & Di. Having become used to eating off a stable table first stop BCF to pick up a new table. Then it was on to the Cheddar Cheese Factory to get something to eat off the stable table. Pleasantly surprised how reasonable the cheeses were but even more pleasantly surprised by how tasty they were. Couldn't manage to fit the entire range into the fridge but picked up a reasonable selection to be going on with.
In what is becoming boring repetition the weather is blue skies and high 20's low 30's. Again. Will this hell never end :-)
Stopped for lunch in MM at Cape Naturaliste and while the view and the climate were welocming the flies were less than welcome. But extremely persistent. Even Paradise has the odd hiccup.
After discussions with Maree over the weekend about her time running an olive oil grove we decided to stop off at the Olive Oil Soap Factory to check out their wares before checking in at Yallingup.
Our luck prevailed and the site at Yallingup was one of the better ones and it didn't take us long to set up the new table, break out the new table, the cheeses, a couple of adult beverages and settle in to watch the sunset. Good news, we seem to have left the flies back at Cape Naturaliste.
Tuesday 15th March
Another beautiful day dawns. Apparently. While the dawn was dawning we were sleeping the sleep of the contented.
Once we did arise though it was worth the effort, took the opportunity to work on “the plan” whilst sitting outside taking in the serenity.
Plan action 1: Booked into the Fremantle Village caravan park
Plan action 2: Booked day trip to Rotto (that's Rottnest Island to you Eastern staters)
Plan action 3: Booked into Broome for one week starting the 12th June
Editors note: Finally succumbed to the pressure. For the last couple of weeks every time we mention that we are planning on visiting Broome people say “Phwoo, have you booked yet.” “You'll never get in for July or August now.” “You might manage June, but you will have to be quick.” As it happens when we rang the park in Broome the lady only had one week available. Sometimes you just have to listen to what the Universe is telling you.
With all the planning out of the way we headed to the beach for a walk. Lovely beach but very soft sand made it very hard for us very soft walkers so we didn't get far. But hey we made the effort to get out.
Later in the afternoon headed back down to the beach to watch the sunset – very romantic.
Continuing the romantic trend, Steve headed off to the camp BBQ to cook the steak and mushrooms for tea.
Lesson 1 for today: just because two German tourists are cooking their dinner by the light of LED headlamps does NOT mean there is no light ofr the BBQ. Nonetheless this time I fell for it and headed back to MM for the torch. It was the next morning when I realised that there was a massive light pole right next to the BBQ. With a massive on/off switch.
Lesson 2 for today: whilst the magic spreadsheet was pretty lean on extravagances others are doing it tougher. Two English backpackers rocked up to the BBQ with 25 frozen fish fingers. Granted they too could have been doing it tougher, because twelve and half fish fingers each is quite a lot. But then again maybe there were more of them back at their camp.
Lesson 3 for today: Movie piracy does not pay. Settled in to watch Ghost Writer and all was going well, although we had to calm Di down after the scene featuring Ewan McGregor's bare bottom. Then just as the plot thickened (as they say) the movie stopped. Finished. There was no more. Bugga.
Wednesday 16th March
Touristy day around Margaret River, drove back to Margaret River Info Centre and had a look at the wine exhibits and bits and pieces. Followed the Caves Road again (including some bits we hadn't been down before).
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| Two different ways to tour the Margaret River |
After a quick lunch in MM at the Apex Park on the edge of town it was off to Leeuwin Estate.
Lesson for today: When the sign says 2 km's to the winery it means to the front gate. Leeuwin Estate has a 2.8 km driveway, with a very big hill in the middle. Explains why the neighbours looked so flushed after their bike ride out there last week.
(Another) Lesson for today: If you have an art gallery in your winery don't let parents take their feral kids in there. Guy who was there at the same time as us was blissfully wandering around looking at the furniture and art works while his kids ran around putting their hands all over the paintings. Remind me to document my system for child parent control one day.
Stopped off somewhere to pick up a birthday present for Elke. Can't give any more details in case she reads this before she gets the present.
After a day choc full of touristing it was back to the park and straight down the beach for a swim. For once the water was quite warm and the swim was just sensational.
After that it was a struggle to squeeze in wine o'clock before dinner. But don't worry, we managed.
Very uneventful at the BBQ tonight; found the light switch; normal people with normal food.
Weather was so nice and the bugs so noticeable by their absence that we ate outside.
In a tragic turn of events we watched our last two NCIS episodes tonight and as feared we may have to resort to talking to each other for awhile until we get our next lot of efisodes.
Thursday 17th March
Woke at 7:15 to phone ringing, didn't wake in time to find out who the call was from and it came through as a private number. So if it was you – WA is 3 hours behind the Eastern States !
Since I was awake, I headed down to the beach for a walk. Di has more will power, she just went back to sleep. Meanwhile at the beach, it was all so nice I dived in for a swim. What a way to start the day and to top it all off a pod of dolphins cruised by, chasing a school of little fish. Good point Flipper, time to head back to MM for breakfast.
Another relatively lazy day around MM with Di do some Financial Planning study and Steve blogging.
But all that laziness was just pacing ourselves for a big night at the Dunsboro Street Fiesta! 4:30 pm off we went to engage in the festivities, live music, wine tasting and local restaurants and takeaways. The plan was to try the white wines, grab a bite and then go back for the reds. Unfortunately we peaked a bit early and didn't get back for the reds. We did get to eat although the fishermans basket was a little disappointing. Not bad, just disappointing. We did manage to duck into the video hire store and pick up a copy of the Ghost Writer – the suspense was killing me.
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