All of Us - Natures Living Window - Kalbarri National Park - May 14th 2009
As usual ive taken too long to get to updating our blog again so im going to keep it short but catch you all up on what we have been up to.
Kym was back in Adelaide again working so we set ourselves up in a nice park in Perth - close to Sheridan ready to hang out for two weeks.
Green and grassed site in Perth WA
As ive mentioned, i was sick over Easter and after doctors visits, ultrasounds and a visit to the surgeon i was booked in for surgery to have my gallbladder removed 2nd May - at a private hospital in Perth. We had a couple of options but none of them were very good ie wait and see if i got sick again or go on the public list and wait for 10 - 12 months for a public place. $6000 later and an over night stay in hospital and i was fixed!
It cost us a couple of extra days in Perth but in some ways it was good as we had the chance to have a family birthday party at Sheridans and Kellys house with pizza and ice cream cake.
Taines 7th Birthday (7th May) along with Sheridans (15th ), Kyms and Jaelas (18th)
We left Perth on the 6th May all looking forward to getting on the road again. I was still feeling a little sore around the middle but other than a few of the heavier jobs i was fine to travel. Naturally our first night we were all keen to bush camp so we headed north to the Cervanties and pulled over with a few other campers for our first night under the stars in ages.
The next day was spent slowly cruising the magnificent coast through the fishing towns stopping often to enjoy the views and walk on the jetties.
Cervanties-WA
Jurien Bay - WAPeople along the way had recommended that we stay at Ellendale Pools so we headed inland for the next two nights camped on a river overlooking beautiful cliffs. The kids tried their hands at yabbying and fishing but settled on swimming in the freezing water as well as swinging off a rope swing. At $5.00 (if someone from council comes and collects it) a night with toilets, bins and a good playground it was great.
Ellendale Pools - WA
After a couple of nights in the bush we headed into the major town of Geraldton - set up camp and went to explore.
HMAS Sydney memorial Geraldton - WAWith Kyms birthday coming up an only small towns in between the kids and i did some sneeky shopping, stocked up on groceries then headed back to the park. Sunday was Mothers Day so after bacon and eggs and pressies we headed back to the foreshore for the kids to play at the water park before heading of to watch a local game of AFL the Hawks v the Demons. The skill level was interesting, the ages of the players was mixed but the kids loved sitting on top or the car to watch the game as well having a kick at quarter and half time. We spent sunset again at the foreshore eating Gelati, before heading back to the van for toasted sandwiches for dinner. It was a fun day for all of us i think.
Mothers Day - Geraldton Foreshore - WAOur plan after Geraldton was to cruise the coast North and check out the free spots along the way. We saw and left a couple before heading into Port Gregory about 100km north. There were fish off the jetty and the locals were friendly and the caravan was cheap so we stayed. We liked it so much we stayed two nights in fact.
Pt Gregory Jetty - WAAt the caravan park in Pt Gregory we could not get internet and phone service but we could in the carpark of the jetty, so we packed up and had ourselves ready by 9.30am for online lessons. DArcys lesson is usually at 10.30am WA time but it was only him and Georgia Brooksby (from Clarendon) online so they had a chat and found out that they were in a caravan park in Kalbarri so we made tentative plans to catch up with them again.
Kalbarri was our next destination - only 70 kms north. We went and had a look at the parks in town and by far the Tudor was the pick for us - which also happened to be the one Georgia (and Deb and Andrew) were staying at so the kids were delighted. We spent the afternoon chatting and the early evening fishing together under a beautiful sunset. No big fish, lots of snags, but we had a good time.
Fishing off the jetty at the River mouth - Kalbarri WA
The plans for the following day were to head off early to walk and climb the gorges of the Kalbarri National Park before it got too hot - but Kym and DArcy were over at the Brooksby van until 11pm - chatting so our early day turned into a mid morning start. That is the luxury or not being in too much of a hurry !!!
Murchison River - Kalbarri National Park WA
Taine and a coastal view - Kalbarri WA
Leaving Kalbarri we again headed for a free camp - at Galena Bridge only one hour (at the most) down the road. Again it was by a river and the kids entertained themselves in the water and mud as well as collecting firewood for the evening. When we got there there was only 5 other vans, but by night fall there was closer to 25 vans and motorhomes.
Kym supervising the kids playing in the mud. Galena Bridge - WA
Riley and DArcy getting the campfire ready
A beautiful sunset - Galena Bridge - nb all the vans
The drive further north towards Denham, Shark Bay and Monkey Mia was next after finishing the weeks school work at the river. There wasnt alot to see so we made Hamiln Bay our lunch spot before driving west out to Denham, camping on the waters edge at Whalebone Bay about 25kms from town. We really know that we are travellers now because as we pulled up we said hello to at least three other groups that we have met previously at other stops and are travelling the same direction as us. It was a beautiful site - the kids tried fishing and the boys went snorkelling in the shallow water but Riley has decided that they did not call it Shark Bay for nothing and is not going near the water around here.
Today 17th May we came into town - Denham as we had loads of washing to do so we headed to the only park with a pool- and settled in. The boys and i went into town to grab a few things and saw an emu in the main street as you do!
Foreshore - Denham WAWe then spent the afternoon at the Denham Speedway watching the locals slide around the dirt track. The kids sat on the roof of the car and loved the crashes. You have to try these things while you are travelling dont you!
Denham Speedway WAHOPE THIS HELPS YOU WORK OUT WHERE WE ARE!
Thanks again for reading and especially to those that keep in touch via email as the kids - especially Riley love to hear news from home.
Tomorrow (Kyms and Jaelas birthday) we head off to see the dolphins of Monkey Mia.
Love to you all
Stay safe and enjoy the rain you have been getting.
Themitchellsonthemove
o
