LAST WEEK ON THE ROAD BEFORE PERTH

12^th of March = We drove from Albany to Margret river. We drove through some very nice hard wood forests on the main roads and called into to do the tree top walk. The tree top walk was a good chance to get out of the car but the kids were a bit tired to enjoy walking. They did get scared walking up at tree height as the walk way did move a bit making it hard for them to walk straight. We got a bit of a scare today, when a tree branch broke off it was about 6metres long and about 4” round but lucky for us landed mainly on the other side of the road just missing us as I pulled to the left a little bit (woke me up that’s for sure). We had lunch at a nice national park camp site to have lunch and check out to see if we could stay the night but a large number of march flies freaked the kids out and meant we moved onto Margret river. We ended up camping at Big Valley caravan park which is based on a farm. The farm had a great camp kitchen and a large green grassed area the girls loved it.

13^th of March = Drove down to Augusta to the look at the light house and town while following the coast rd. On the way back to Margret River we called in and had a look at a recommended winey as it had nice gardens. We enjoyed a pub lunch in Margret river after walking around town. Spent the afternoon on the farm the girls wanted to feed the sheep so the farmer was more than happy to let me do one of his many jobs. We enjoyed camp fires both nights while staying at the farm and free already chopped fire wood was provided.

14^th of March = We planned on heading further north and found a free camp about 150km south of Perth in the camps 6 book. We called into Busselton and had lunch in the park while the kids had ball playing in the oversized park. Upon arriving at the camp site which we were thinking would be nice there were signs warning to the risk of ross river fever. After driving around the camp site I asked a couple who were relaxing in their chairs under a tree if the mozzies were bad the guy smiled and pulled up his bushman’s friend and said apply and re-apply well that was enough Quick call to our friends in Perth to let them know we were heading to Perth early. In hindsight should have just stayed at the farm as it was so nice. But now will be around Perth for 2 months.

15^th of March = Went to the shops and enjoying hanging out in a normal house while at our friends house we will only be sleeping in the van for next the couple of months not cooking, eating and living in it. Spent the afternoon cleaning the truck and did some repairs to one of the doors on the canopy.

16^th of March = Had a haircut and trimmed my beard today after getting sick off it. Serviced the truck changing all filters and oil.

17^th of march = The boys all headed into the caravan and camping show while the girls went shopping and swimming at Hilary’s boat harbor for a swim .

18^th of March = We headed down to Mullaloo beach for a Swim, BBQ in the afternoon and watched a sunset on the water.

This will most likely be the last full week entry for a month or 2 as we are in Perth now to have another Baby at Joondalup Hospital.

 Jessica has being put into Pre-school 2 days a week, as the Lady at the pre-school suggested it to our friend when Jessica tagged along with our friend while she was dropping her kids off. The best part for up to 3 months if we stay that long and 2days a week at pre-school  I had to donate 2kg of flour for payment. I will most likely still update anything major that happens.

Cost for 10th week

Fuel = $348.62

Food = $167.65

Camping= $156

Tourist stuff and others = $388.88

On the road between Albany and Margret River

 Jess Playing in the big pretend car (back in the old days people drove there cars inside the bigger trees for a picture now they have a fake tree and car setup)

 Tree top walk

 Big Valley caravan park

 On the way down to Augusta

 At the Winerys

 South of Augusta

 camp

 Sheep feeding

 Bussellton park

 warning no thanks

 4wd show

 Hillary Harbor

11th week on the road 5th - 11th of March

 

Was a quiet week seemed to spend more time relaxing then any thing.

5^th of March = was meant to leave Esperance today but decided to stay a few more nights as I couldn’t be bothered packing up we spent the day just relaxing at the park and not doing to much.

6^th of March = Spent the morning at the shops stocking up. I returned to the caravan park to be approached to do some plumbing work on a caravan which took me about an hour and paid for some beer. We just spent the afternoon lazing around while the Kids spent some time at the park.

7^th of March = Today is my birthday so we went out for lunch and a walk around the town of Esperance. Spent the afternoon with friends eating birthday cake.

8^th of March = packed up today and headed to Albany this was a long drive we spent the afternoon setting up camp followed by  the kids playing in the park. We made use of the great camp kitchen here and cooked dinner and watched some tv

9^th of March = Went to the info centre, then spent some time in the caravan park swimming pool, followed by some time at the local library.

10^th of March = We went out to Torndirrup National park and had a swim at Frenchman bay and enjoyed some lunch.

11^th of March went to go to the shops guest what shops don’t open on a Sunday so we headed back to the park to have a swim and socialize in the caravan park.    

Cost for 10th week

Fuel = $176.16

Food = $414.51

Camping= $191

Tourist stuff and others = $134.95

10th week gone. 27th Feb - 4th of March

27^nd of February = Today we spent another day in Ceduna I filled up the truck and all the jerry cans ready for a Nullarbor crossing tomorrow. We called in to the fish Munga and purchased some flat head and some crab bait. We returned to the caravan park where we I borrowed the caravan parks crab nets and headed off to the jetty. The kids enjoyed it almost too much we ended up catching 9 crabs. We headed back to the caravan park where the park had great cleaning and cooking setup. As I entered the park a gentleman parked near the gate wondered how much I caught and offered to clean and cook them for me.  Well after our afternoon tea I gave a couple of beers to old mate for his efforts and I went back out with the fishing rod and caught some squid. Old mate cleaned them up for me again and I cooked dinner that night with some homemade chips, fish and calamari.

28^th 0f February = On the road for one of the biggest drives of the trip the Nullarbor. When we were planning the trip everyone told me don’t go clockwise as you will get a head wind crossing the Nullarbor. I was thinking how crazy people thinking wind can only blow one way and there is no way I was heading up to the top end in summer, well they were wrong I had 50kph tail winds and the temps didn’t get over 23 degrees for the whole trip. The patrol did it easy up and down hills. I sat on about 102km the whole way so I didn’t have to deal with trucks over taking me all the time. We had a few stops at lookouts over the bight with us struggling to stand and made it all the way to the border for quarantine seems weird having to hand over some potatoes and a jar of honey when we live in the same country. The kids were starting to become tired of being in the car so we pulled into Eucla and camped the night behind the roadhouse.

29^th Of February = Eucla to where ever I can make it before the kids crack it. Almost uneventful day expect for a truck coming towards me who drifted off on his side of the road flicking up a rock the size of a fist hitting the windscreen first chip for the trip surprised it didn’t punch through must have hit at close to 200km made a huge noise. Today we completed the longest straight road in Oz and almost missed the end when all of a sudden there is a bend I started questioning is this the end or have I already gone around another bend but it was the end. We were trying to make it to Norseman But gave up when about 80km out we found a real nice free camp there must have been 20 cars parked there by night fall.

1st of March =  We were going to go to Kalgoorlie but couldn’t put the kids through the 450km round trip to show them a big hole in the ground even though I would have liked to seen it I was also looking forward to relaxing by the beach. We Fuelled up at Norseman and headed south to Esperance   where we booked ourselves into the local caravan park, picked some groceries and did some relaxing while the kids had some fun in the park.

2^nd of March = Checked out the tourist info centre purchased a national park pass. I caught up with a couple that live near us that we met on the Nullarbor who got there a day early then us and he told us about a few things that he had done like 4wd down the beach and Sammy the seal at the jetty. We spent the afternoon walking down to the jetty and seeing Sammy the seal.

3^rd of March = Headed off to see the national parks heading down to Cape Le grand. There is 2 ways down, 22km on the beach or 65km by tarmac so I went down and back by the beach this is an awesome place with crystal clear waves, with multiple islands in the back ground that look like something out of the world’s best tourist mags and some awesome rock for mason. We all enjoyed a swim before driving back where the girls both fell asleep so Kate and I enjoyed the peace and did the great ocean drive loop to the west of Esperance.

4^th of March = Public Holiday weekend in Western Australia so Esperance had markets and a car show. We all walked down to the markets for a look around with Kate buying her usual bits and pieces before walking back to camp for some lunch where I left the Girls and headed to the local car show and shine to Look at a few old cars and new ones.   

  

Cost for 10th week

Fuel = $559.67

Food = $340

Camping= $163

Tourist stuff and others = $197

The big Oyster Ceduna

 Blue swimmers crabs

 trying to catch squid

 Just Left Ceduna

 Heading on to the Nullarbor Plain

 Parked next to my dream truck and a guy that lives 15mins from my house

 Girls having lunch and a break from driving

 On the Nullarbor Plain

 Don't fall in

 My rig is small

 bit windy Jess

 Eucla $15 a night camp spot

 Leaving Eucla and dropping down

 Girls Playing at our free camp 80km east of Norsman

 camp site

 Esperance

 see the hole

 Whispering wall you could hear the waves bounce of the wall

 Great ocean drive