Taine and Riley playing on the roof of the car
As usual the time since i last made an entry in our Blog has just flown!
Already three months have pasted and we only find ourselves back in Perth. We have so much more to see and do and some big distances to travel.
The SW of Western Australia is absolutely beautiful and we have really enjoyed the giant green forests, rivers with water in them, cool weather and beautiful scenery.
From Fontys Pool Caravan Park we headed out to a bush camp at St John Brook Conservation Park - Barrabup Pool. The first section of the park was packed with caravans, so we travelled around to the other campground and found ourselves a wonderful spot only a short walk to the pools. The campsite is really only for tents but hey we are getting pretty good at getting our 'little' van into them. Our only problem at this site was trying to get the van levelled. After putting the ramps under the rear wheels, we still felt like we were walking up a slight hill - but hey all it meant was i woke up hanging off the edge of the bed with Kym rolling on top of me. When we were set up we all went down to the pools so the kids could have a swim. The pools are beautiful and if it wasnt too busy i think you could even get away with parking for the night in the carpark right on the edge of the pools and that would be magnificent. Anyway the kids spent the rest of the afternoon swimming in the freezing water and jumping off the landing. Taine even got into the act this time and jumped!
Barrabup Pool - SW Western Australia
5th April 2009
We collected fire wood (actually we got it from the wood pile left by the Rangers) after the swim as we again planned to cook dinner on the open fire - Spag Bol. As the light faded we went to use the lights but we had nothing!!!!! Kym tried to find out what the problem was but could not fix it so that meant we had no 12v for the evening. We had the fire and a gas light so all of us were fine really, except Kym who was very p----- off (as we had spent alot of money before we left making sure everything had the capacity to let us bush camp and now it wasnt working). Anyway we enjoyed the Spag Bol and then spent the night spotlighting the possums that were everywhere. For school DArcy had to do a report on an animal that included sitting and observing them in their natural environment if possible. With so many possums around we all observed them for a couple of hours as well as getting some photos.
Western Ringtail Possum or the Pseudocheirus occidentalis as we now know it
The problem with the 12v and Solar Panel system meant that we needed to head into a larger town to find an Auto Electrician to help us. We travelled back into Bussellton, found an auto sparky and proceeded to spend the next four and a half hours in the car park having alot of work done to the system and repairing some of the work previously done. The kids were wonderful. The boys kept themselves busy by 'helping' with the van and car repairs and Riley too was kept busy reading, listening to music and doing craft in the car. $2000.00 later we headed to find a caravan for a nights stay. The caravan park was across the road from a park and playground so we sent the kids across for a play as they had been sssssoooooo good for so long. Kym and i had a drink then a shower after we had set up camp and already it was close to 7pm. The day at the workshop had messed up our plans so we decided to head out for Chinese for dinner. Just before dessert i realised it was the 6th April - our 13th Wedding Anniversary - so as it turned out it was a good reason to be out for a meal together as well.
The Tuesday morning (Happy Birthday - Vicki) was a school day so we packed up the van - drove 20 metres across the road, set up the computers and had our online lessons. We then headed down the coast to a campground called Big Valley near Margaret River. The coastal views were ok but still not as spectacular as we had seen further down South. We stopped for lunch at Smith Beach then drove on to Big Valley for the night. Big Valley is just a big open space on a working sheep farm, where you can pretty much park where you want to and connect up to the power. The facilities are pretty basic but clean and the camp caters mostly for the seasonal workers that come to the area. DArcy and i had some school work to finish off and Kym set up the van only to discover that he had left our jockey wheel at Smith Beach where we had stopped for lunch. To cut a long story short we decided that it may still be there the next morning so we stayed the night with plans to head off early on Wednesday.
We were up early - actually very early as it was my birthday and the kids had snuck around and put balloons up in the caravan while i was 'asleep' then showered me with home made presents and others. It was a wonderful start to my day. As we were set to go (7.30am) the people from the van next door came over to chat. Believe it or not, they are from Clarendon in SA and they have a daughter Georgia who is in DArcys open access class. They knew we were in the same area as them, but we never expected that we would end up camped next to them. Well our early morning turned into a 9am departure and of course by the time we got back to Smith Beach the jockey wheel was no where to be seen. The saga of chasing down a replacement meant backtracking to Bussellton again. Again Kym was P----- Off!!! Anyway as part of my birthday present i had booked myself in for a hair cut and colour down in Augusta - so from Bussellton we had to make a mad dash to be their by 1pm. We made it by a whisker so Kym and the kids dropped me off on the way through and went on to set up our camp for Easter.
My birthday cake that the kids made as a surprise for me- please note the lovely Milo icing and the streamers for decoration.
We were booked in for seven nights and had a fantastic time catching up with all my Western Australian family and of course spending more time with Sheridan, Kelly and family. In summary we spent the time chatting and did some sightseeing and had the most relaxing of time. There were 12 kids ranging in age from 3 - 15 and from 7am until 9pm they played and entertained eachother without any major issues.
Some of us went caving over Easter - Giants Caves
Looking good arent we!
Marnie and DArcy handfeeding the big stingrays near Hamlin Bay - Easter 2009
Augusta is on the banks of the Blackwood River and right on the coast so is beautiful spot and we just had a fantastic time. 
Canoeing on the Blackwood River - Easter 2009
From Augusta we headed through the very beautiful Sues Bridge where we stopped for lunch and the kids had a swim . It is a beautiful place to bush camp and we spent a good two hours there by the clear river.
Sues Bridge on the Blackwood River
We stayed for the next couple of nights with my cousin and her family in Capel. We saw the sights, Kym saw the pub and the little boys got to ride the motorbikes. 
DArcy on the motorbike at Capel
Taine on the little motorbike - Capel WA
They live on a one acre block so it gives then the space they want without the work of a large 'farm'. They are in the middle of renovations so we thank them for having us to stay. While in Capel we also visited my cousin and family in Donnybrook and the kids spent a good couple of hours playing at the Apple Fun Park - playground.
Girl Darcee, Tahnee and Boy DArcy
Apple Fun Park - Donnybrook WA
The kids playing at the Apple Fun Park - Donnybrook WA
From Capel we went North to Bunbury and caught up with another cousin and her family and had homemade scones for morning tea then onto Bunbury Port where the kids had a play on the beach, lunch and then inland to Ninga Mill for our final bush camp before heading into Perth for a couple of weeks while Kym works.
Marnie, DArcy and Taine fishing in the creek at Ninga Mill
We are staying in a differnt caravan park this time - it is nice and still close to Sheridan and the kids but more suited to the Grey Nomads i think!
The school books for next term have arrived and we are ready to get back into it next week! Actually i dont think the kids really are that keen, but they know that it has to be done and being settle for at least the first week of school makes it a bit easier for us all.
Again sorry for taking so long to update our blog but time passes so quickly and im so busy with all the housework..... i never seem to have the time it takes to sit down and do it!
Hope this finds you all well. We would love to hear from you all.
We continue to travel safely and happily.
Love Themitchellsonthmove.
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