AUSTRALIA...PART 3 OF MANY.

28.2.08.
7.00AM...ALARM...DIDN'T NEED IT...DIDN'T SLEEP WELL.
7.20AM...CUPPA TEA.
7.45AM...SHOWER.
8.10AM...ANOTHER CUPPA TEA/CORNFLAKES.
9.00AM...TIDING VAN...GOTTA BE OFF SITE BY 10.00AM.
9.45AM...WE ARE ON OUR WAY...MARGERET RIVER NEXT.
10.30AM...STOPPED AT DUNSBOROUGH...NEEDA COLD DRINK..
11.45AM...JUST OUTSIDE THE VILLAGE OF MARGERET.
11.50AM...IN A LAYBY...BOILING A PACKET OF CHEESE AND BACON IN RICE...AWFUL!
1.00PM...MARGERET RIVER EAGLE AND OWL RESCUE CENTRE.
1.30PM...LADY GUIDE VERY WELL SPOKEN AND VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE...AN INTERESTING PLACE...WORTH A VISIT.
4.00PM...BACK IN VAN FOR DIVE TO HAMLIN BAY...WHERE WE ARE GONNA STOP FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.
5.10PM...BOOKED TWO NIGHTS STAY...PARKED UP ABOUT HUNDRED YARDS FROM BEACH.
5.50PM...NU SWIMMING.
6.35PM...BAKED BEANS/BREAD BUN/CUPPA TEA.
7.00PM...A FEW DROPS OF RAIN...FEELING TIRED...NO SIGNAL ON MOB PHONE.


29.2.08.
9.00AM...FEEL STICKY...NEED SHOWER.
9.15AM...KETTLE ON.
9.25AM...QUICK SHOWER.
9.40AM...CUPPA TEA.
10.15AM...BACON SANDWICH.
10.40AM...SEEMED TO HAVE DONE EVERYTHING IN A HURRY...NO NEED...NOT GOING ANYWHERE TODAY...APART FROM SUPERMARKET.
12.20PM...SUPERMARKET...GOT TWO PIECES OF STEAK...GONNA TRY MY NEW GRILL OUT!
1.30PM...CHEESE/PICKLED ONION COB...NOT SURE...GOOD CHEESE IS HARD TO FIND...GOT SOME BOTTLES OF BEER...BUT THE TASTE NOT SO GOOD.
2.15PM...READING NEWSPAPER...RERADING EVERY SNIPPET...WHEN IT COST 2 QUID...GOTTA GET MY MONEYS WORTH.
4.30PM...SET MY NEW GRILL IN POSITION...GOTTA GET IT RIGHT...LOOKING FORWARD TO STEAK...GOT PEAS AND NEW POTS TO DO TOO.
5.20PM...STEAK WAS TO GOOD TO BE TRUE...POTS OK...PEAS TASTELESS!
8.00PM...HAVING A WHISKEY...NU ON BRANDY...GOT AN EARLY START TOMORROW...SO ONLY GONNA HAVE A COUPLE.
9.35PM...BETTER HAVE ONE MORE...THAT COKE NEEDS FINISHING.


1.3.08.
7.30AM...TIME TO RISE...GOTTA BE OFF SITE BY 10.00AM.
7.50AM...SHOWER.
8.20AM...CUPPA TEA...I DIDN'T FEEL HUNGRY...NU HAD CORNFLAKES.
9.00AM...PACKING EVERYTHING IN...DON'T WANT ANYTHING FALLING OR RATTLING.
9.40AM...WE ARE ON OUR WAY.
10.20AM...LEEUWIN[I USUALLY DO]...THIS IS A LIGHTHOUSE...THE POINT WHERE THE INDIAN OCEON MEETS THE SOUTH OCEON...CHANCE BROTHERS OF BIRMINGHAM,ENGLAND MADE THE MECHANISM/WORKINGS OF THE LIGHTHOUSE IN 1889...NU BOUGHT SOME POSTCARDS.
11.30AM...I WAS HUNGRY BY NOW...COOKING BACON IN LAYBY/CUPPA COFFEE...GOT BIT BY A MARCH FLY...OUCH.
12.10PM...ON OUR WAY TO PEMBERTON...ABOUT 100 MILES.
1.50PM...PEMBERTON...THEY CALL IT A TOWN...I WOULD CALL IT A VILLAGE...CYCLISTS EVERYWHERE...SOME CYCLE EVENT GOING ON...COULD'VE WON A BIKE...DROVE ON TO SHANNON NATIONAL PARK.
2.40PM...STANDING NEXT TO THE DAVE EVANS BICENTENIAL TREE...OK ITS A TREE...QUITE A TALL TREE...BUT I'M NOT TO SURE WHY WE CAME...NEITHER IS NU!
3.10PM...WENT AND HAD A LOOK AT SHANNON CAMPSITE...NOT FOR US...WE LIKE QUIET...BUT THIS WAS DESOLETE.
3.40PM...DROVE ON TOWARDS WALPOLE...SAW A KANGEROO OR TWO.
5.30PM...CAMPSITE BY LAKE...5K FROM WALPOLE...22 DOLLARS A NIGHT...IT'LL DO.
6.35PM...VEGETABLE SOUP/BREAD.
8.00PM...WHISKEY...STARTING TO RAIN...EVERYTHING IN VAN...FEEL QUASHED...CAN'T RELAX.
9.00PM...HEAD ON PILLOW...I WANT TO BE TIRED...GOSH THIS IS HARD GOING!


2.3.08.
8.30AM...TRIED TO PHONE WILLIAM[11.30PM IN ENGLAND]...CAMPSITE PHONE NOT WORKING.
9.10AM...WE ARE NOT HAPPY BUNNIES...WE ARE NOT COMFY IN OUR VAN
9.30AM...CUPPA TEA.
10.00AM...ANOTHER CUPPA/BACON SANDWICH.
11.40AM...ANOTHER CUPPA TEA...GOT MY THINKING CAP ON...GOTTA SORT THIS VAN...NU IN LAUNDRETTE.
12.05PM...STILL IN THOUGHT...BASICALLY THE BED TAKES UP TO MUCH ROOM AND IS IN THE WRONG PLACE...PLUS ITS TO HIGH OF THE FLOOR...NEED TO LOWER IT FOR MORE HEAD SPACE...GOTTA MAKE ROOM AT REAR OF VAN FOR TABLE FOR WHEN ITS TOO WINDY TO SIT OUTSIDE...ALSO WHEN IT RAINS.
3.00PM...DECIDE TO DRIVE INTO WALPOLE...NEED SOMETHING TO EAT.
3.40PM...STEAK/MUSHROOM PIE AND CHIPS...AWFUL.
4.30PM...PUB.
6.00PM...TRIED TO PHONE WILLIAM AGAIN[9.00AM IN ENGLAND]...THIS PHONE ISN'T WORKING EITHER!
6.20PM...WE DRIVE TO COALMINER BEACH...10K OUTA TOWN...THAT ONE BETTER WORK!
6.40PM...EVENTUALLY...AND I MEAN EVENTUALLY WE MAKE CONTACT...ONLY FOR THE LINE TO GO DEAD AFTER ABOUT 90 SECONDS!
6.50PM...I WAS DETERMINED TO GET THRU...BECAUSE TOM HAD MADE THE EFFORT TO BE AT WILLIAMS SO HE COULD HAVE A CHAT WITH ME...THINK HE'S MISSING ME...BLESS!
6.55PM...PERSEVERENCE WON THE DAY...THOUGH I HAVE TO SAY THE OZ PHONE SITUATION NEEDS IMPROVING.
7.50PM...BACK AT OUR CAMPSITE...STILL THOUGHTFUL ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH VAN.


3.3.08.
9.10AM...ANOTHER MISERABLE SQUASHED UP NIGHT...GOTTA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT TODAY.
9.40AM...CUPPA TEA.
10.15AM...ANOTHER CUPPA TEA/CORNFLAKES.
11.00AM...SHAVE/SHOWER.
11.40AM...WE HAVE NEW NIEGHBOURS...HE'S RATHER PROUD OF HIS CARAVAN AND WANTS TO TELL US ALL ABOUT IT...PLUS HIS LIFE STORY TOO!
12.20PM...I ASKED HIM IF HE HAD A SAW...HE SAID NO BUT HE KNOWS A MAN WHO MIGHT...ACTUALLY JOHN AND HIS WIFE TURNED OUT TO BE REALLY NICE PEOPLE.
2.00PM...JOHN APPEARS WITH A SAW...NU'S FACE WAS 'OH MY GOD'.
2.15PM...WE START MOVING EVERYTHING OUT OF THE VAN SO WE CAN GET THE BED OUT...NU'S FACE IS ONE OF DISBELIEF.
2.40PM...A CHAP NAMED IVOR LENTS ME HIS TAPE MEASURE...NU SLURPING BEER READILY...FACE LOOKING A LITTLE WRY...DREADING THE OUTCOME OF MY SOLUTION...HAVE FAITH IN YOUR HUBBY DEAREST...HAVE A BRANDY!
2.55PM...I'M SAWING!...NU WATCHING!
3.10PM...ROSS APPEARS...HE IS EAGER TO ASSIST[HELP]...PLUS HE KNOWS HOW TO USE A SAW...PLUS HE AS A WONDERFUL CHUBBY LITTLE DOG CALLED GYPSY...QUITE A FEW PEOPLE CAME TO WATCH...WELL ITS NOT EVERYDAY YOU SEE SOMEONE CUTTING THERE BED IN HALF!
5.00PM...WE HAVE A NEW BED...NU'S AMAZED...I'M NOT...I BELIEVE IN MYSELF...MY MEASUREMENTS WERE SPOT ON.
5.30PM...HAVING A BEER...GOTTA BE QUICK ELSE THEY DISAPPEAR RATHER RAPIDLY WITH NU AROUND!...LOADS STILL TO DO...THE BOXES WE HAVE NOW ARE TO BIG TO FIT UNDER THE BED...SO ALTHOUGH WE HAVE MADE MORE ROOM...UNTIL WE HAVE NEW SMALLER BOXES THE ROOM WE HAVE MADE IS BEING TAKEN UP BY THE BOXES...DOES ALL THAT MAKE SENSE!?
6.50PM...EVERYTHING KINDA BACK IN VAN...ROSS AND HIS WIFE HAVE ASKED US ROUND FOR DRINKS.
8.00PM...I'M A PRETTY HAPPY CHAP...FOUR WHISKEY'S LATER...ROSS LIKES HIS WHISKEY TOO.
9.00PM...BACK IN VAN.
9.20PM...ASLEEP.


4.3.08.
7.30AM...SLEPT WELL...WAS IT THE WHISKEY OR MY NEWLY DESIGNED BED?
7.50AM...CUPPA TEA/ORANGE JUICE...FEELING A BIT DRY.
8.10AM...CUPPA TEA/CORNFLAKES.
8.40AM...SHAVE/SHOWER.
9.10AM...PACKING UP...GOTTA DEPART CAMPSITE BY 10.00AM.
9.55AM...OFF WE GO.
11.00AM...DENMARK...BUYING NEW BOXES THAT'LL FIT UNDER OUR NEW BED...ALSO GOT POWER CABLE AND LAMP...AND CURTAIN WIRES.
1.30PM...BACK ON ROAD...NEXT STOP ALBANY.
3.15PM...EMU POINT CAMPSITE,ALBANY...NU PUTS HER MOB PHONE ON...IT HADN'T HAD A SIGNAL FOR THE LAST FEW DAYS...SHE GOT MESSAGES FROM HER CHILDREN...IT WAS MOTHERS DAY ON SUNDAY...I DIDN'T KNOW...QUICKILY PHONE JEANIE.
4.00PM...SETTING UP CAMP...BOXES TO SORT...I'LL HAVE A BEER FIRST.
5.00PM...WATCHING QE2 SAIL BY...APPARENTLY ITS THE LAST VOYAGE BEFORE ITS SOLD TO SOMEONE WHO'S TURNING IT INTO A HOTEL IN DUBAI.
5.40PM...SALMON/TOMATO SANDWICH.
6.15PM...STILL SORTING VAN...MY NEW OUTSIDE LAMP WORKING WELL.
7.40PM...THINK WE ARE KINDA SORTED.
8.15PM...SPOTTED A BANDIKUTE...A RATTY LOOKING ANIMAL...WHAT EVER FLOATS YOUR BOAT...LOTTA PEOPLE INTERESTED...IT DOESN'T INTEREST ME.
9.00PM...SNUGGLING DOWN...FEEL TIRED TONIGHT.


5.3.08.
8.00AM...SNUG AS A BUG...BUT NEED LOO.
8.20AM...CUPPA TEA/CORNFLAKES.
8.50AM...SHOWER.
9.30AM...PACKED AND 'RARING TO GO'?
10.10AM...CENTRE OF ALBANY...KMART[A SORT OF C AND A]...CURTAINS LIGHT BLUE...THEY'LL DO...REDUCED TOO!...BOUGHT A SWEAT SHIRT AS WELL...NU GOT SOME CHEAP SPECS.
11.30AM...ON THE ROAD AGAIN.
1.30PM...STOPPED OFF AT JERRAMUNGUP...NEEDED A DRINK...GOT NEWSPAPER TOO...ENQUIRED ABOUT REGISTERING VAN...I'D BEEN TOLD IT WAS BEST TO DO IT IN SMALL TOWNS...POSTOFFICE TOLD ME TO GO TO ADMIN BUILDING.
2.00PM...WE HAVE REGISTERED...WE HAVE NEW STICKER ON WINDOW TILL JAN 08...WITH VERY FEW QUESTIONS ASKED...THE REASON I HAD TO GET THIS DONE...AFTER WE LEAVE THE STATE OF WEST OZ...THE VAN WOULD NEED A MOT OF SORTS...BUT AS LONG AS I HAVE THIS STICKER ON MY WINDSCREEN THE VAN IS EXEMPT...I'M NOT SAYING THE VAN WOULDN'T PASS AN MOT!...TODAY I FOUND OUT THE HORN DOESN'T WORK!...ANYWAY WE ARE SORTED TILL THE NEW YEAR...BY WHICH TIME WE SHALL BE BACK IN WEST OZ...PHEW!
2.30PM...ON WE GO...RAVENSTHORPE NEXT.
4.10PM...RAVENSTHORPE AT LAST...LIQOUR STORE...AS LONG AS NU'S HAPPY!
4.30PM...CAMPSITE...CHEAPEST YET...VERY COLOURFUL.
5.10PM...VEG SOUP/BREAD/BEER.
5.40PM...NU SORTING CURTAINS...I HAVE MY NEWSPAPER.
6.45PM...NU GETTING FRUSTRATED...ME HAPPILY READING.
7.10PM...NU SWEARING...I'D BETTER DO SOMETHING.
8.00PM...NEARLY SORTED...NO SIGNAL ON MOB PHONE...KINDA HAPPY ABOUT THAT...GET TO MANY TEXTS SOMETIMES.


6.3.08.
8.50AM...GOTTA MOVE...GOTTA BE OFF CAMPSITE BY 10.00AM.
9.00AM...SHOWER.
9.20AM...CUPPA TEA/GINGER BISCUITS.
9.50AM...VAN STILL A MESS.
10.20AM...THROW IT ALL IN...WE'LL SORT IT LATER!
10.40AM...OFF WE GO.
11.40AM...A DULL DRIVE...A FAIRLY STRAIGHT ROAD.
1.30PM...ESPERANCE...NEED FOOD...NEED DRINK.
1.50PM...NU SPOTS CAMERA SHOP...CALLED THE CAMERA SHOP...SHE STILL NEEDS TO GET HER CAMERA DEVIRUSED.
2.15PM...LEFT CAMERA AT SHOP...THEY SAID COME BACK IN HALF AN HOUR.
2.35PM...SUPERMARKET...NEED LOADS...SETTING UP CAMP FOR THREE DAYS.
3.50PM...BACK AT CAMERA SHOP...CAMERA DEVIRUSED...ITS AMAZING HOW SOME SHOPS CAN HELP AND OTHERS JUST DON'T HAVE A CLUE...GUESS WE GOT LUCKY...NU HAPPY.
4.30PM...CAMPSITE.
4.50PM...NEED BULB FOR INSIDE LIGHT...OFF I TROT TO BUNNINGS...A BIG DO IT YOURSELF PLACE.
5.40PM...RETURN WITH BULBS AND A BUCKET...PLUS I GOT A GAZEBO!...WELL IT WAS ON OFFER!
6.35PM...OUR GAZEBO IS ERECT AND LOOKING WONDERFUL.
7.00PM...BACON/TOMATO SANDWICH/CUPPA TEA...SOMEHOW I MANAGED TO STAVE OF MY HUNGER TILL NOW.
8.30PM...RELAXING...COMFORTABLE IN OUR GAZEBO...HAVING A FEW BEERS.


7.3.08.
8.30AM...NU HADN'T SLEPT WELL...LOTTA NOISE.
8.45AM...UP I GET...GAZEBO STILL STANDING...NU GOES FOR SHOWER.
9.30AM...CUPPA TEA/BACON SANDWICH.
10.10AM...ANOTHER CUPPA TEA...MILK DON'T LOOK OR SMELL TO GOOD...BETTER HAVE COFFEE...WE'VE GOT POWDERED MILK.
10.40AM...NU GOES TO DO WASHING.
10.50AM...A GUST OF WIND...GAZEBO NEARLY TAKES FLIGHT...TABLE AND ALLSORTS GO TUMBLING.
11.55AM...DISCUSSING WHATS BEST TO DO WITH OUR GAZEBO.
12.05PM...ANOTHER GUST GIVES US OUR ANSWER...TIME TO DISMANTLE GAZEBO.
12.35PM...THREW EVERYTHING INTO BACK OF VAN.
1.10PM...WALKING INTO TOWN...I'VE BEEN TO A LOT OF HOT COUNTRIES...BUT BELIEVE ME THIS IS HOT...EXTREME HEAT.
1.30PM...NU THOUGHT SHE WAS GONNA FAINT...TOOK SHELTER.
2.10PM...MADE IT TO CAFE ON SEA FRONT...SWEAT DRIPPING INTO MY EYES...FOUND OUT IT WAS 42 GOING ON 45!
2.50PM...STEAK/CHIPS/SALAD/MILKSHAKE...BLUE OCEON CAFE...RECOMMEND IF YOU ARE EVER IN ESPERANCE.
4.00PM...WALKING INTO TOWN.
4.25PM...PUB.
6.10PM...3 PINTS LATER...VERY PLEASANT BUT TIME TO WADDLE BACK TO OUR VAN.
7.00PM...BACK ON CAMPSITE...OUR CRUMPLED GAZEBO STILL LYING ON THE GROUND...I WAS HOPING SOMEONE MIGHT HAVE TAKEN A SHINE TO IT AND TAKEN IT.
7.40PM...CHEESE AND BISCUITS.
8.50PM...I'VE BEEN TO A LOTTA PLACES[GUESS I'M LUCKY]...BUT BELIEVE ME TODAY AS GOTTA BE ONE OF THE HOTTEST DAYS I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED...TO MUCH...OH TO MUCH...EVEN THE BREEZE IS HOT!


GAZEBO FOR SALE!

BYE FOR NOWZ.