YALLINGUP W.A.TUESDAY 7 FEB 2012

Hi to all, hope this finds you all OK. Well we have moved on from Perth. It was great to spend time with David, Karen & Mitch and many thanks to them for all they did for us over the past 4weeks. So lets get back into it......MONDAY 30 JAN.....We headed off travelling south stopping at Pinjarra, a nice town. Here we caught up with the others and all travelled together again, as the last time was late October. We continued on to Herron Point, a cheap camping area on the Lake. Sites here weren't marked but the volunteer caretaker lady, Chris showed us where to park.....well after setting up catching up on things and just getting into Happy Hr, Chris comes down & tells Terry he is parked in the wrong spot & that he will have to move!!! Now, we look around there are heaps of areas for vans etc, there is no one else in, so you can imagine Terry's answers/words!!! So they pack everything up & move, but then, they are not sure if it is a site, so they go & get Chris who supposely helps them...... she kept putting them somewhere, then says.....no thats not right then moves them again...2 hrs later !! they have their site. (Meanwhile only 1 other van came in) Boy did  we other 4 laugh yes!.....did Terry & Di....NO!!! Anyway Chris dropped down 3 crab scoops & bucket for us to go crabbing, so the 3 boys head out into the lake with Carol sitting on the shore, the mossies here are bad so its cover up. The water is pleasant but we didn't have  strong enough torches, we saw 4 crabs but its a bit like our fishing....home with nothing except a good laugh with Terry's comments.

TUESDAY 31 JAN.....The 5 of us went for a drive today firstly into Mandurah...well the homes of the rich & famous, so many homes on canals which are mansions. Areas looked like we were in Venice with canals & stone bridges, but the colours of the homes are gastly. We then went for a walk around the foreshore of the town with a nice War Memorial & tree coverings, then drove back through Pinjarra out to Dwellingup and into the Reserve where we have a picnic lunch beside Lane Pool, a small river/lake.

Then made our way back for a nice meal before heading back out into the lake for more crabbing with Carol & Di coming as well. Di had a underwater torch so it made it so much better whilst the boys had a scoop each. All of us caught crabs except Di, who's excellent sighting made it so much easier. It was a good nite with laughs as one scooped up a crab it fell out, but someone else's scoop caught them. This was so when Carol had a go and she caught one who had escaped, even Terry caught one with a backhand scoop. We caught approx 8 crabs and cooked them that night putting them on ice overnight.

WEDNESDAY 1 FEB....We all headed off south looking for a free camping spot eventually finding one at Ironstone Falls Gully. We set up camp with only one other camper there. No water in the creek and the shot gun blasts for bats & birds for the fruit trees went off every few minutes but it was OK. We had the crabs for lunch which were so so nice & sweet. In the arvo Sand, John & us went for a drive into Donnybrook, a nice little country town, where they grow apples. After s look around we headed back for arvo drinks. Here we sat around a table trying to have nibblies & drinks but we spent more time killing March flies which were green in colour & HUGE, so we had to hit & stomp them...we had a new dance after an hr of killing. Just before tea it started to sprinkle rain..yes "rain" so we had tea in the van. On dark we had two more vehicles come, just as we were going to have our outdoor shower...in the nude but it was dark enough...we hope. We needed to shower as our feet & shins were covered in red brown dirt...it looked like a good suntan. THURSDAY 2 FEB..It rained overnight in patches but it was raining whilst we packed up. Sandy, John & us headed off south towards Busselton whilst Di & Terry headed into Bunbury as they were waiting on mail. We made our way to a place on the coast, Yallingup a surfers paradise, as you come over the hill you see these great waves breaking onto the reef. The sites we were given are good and big but the road and the turning areas are quite small but we succeeded in setting up with John doing a good job..firstly not hitting another car or post & secondly reversing back onto site. After lunch we went for a drive to find Hyundai as we are having trouble with overheating up hills so after a nice tour of the industrial/residential/commercial areas of Busselton we found the place only to be sent somewhere else and then somewhere else, so we know the streets of Busselton. Anyway we have the car booked in for Monday. We then went for a walk down along the foreshore & Jetty area, before going for a drive to Cape Natraliste Lighthouse & Dunsborough and then heading back for arvo cheeses (which were made locally & was yummy) & drinks. The weather has become cooler with drizzle so an early nite.

 FRIDAY 3 FEB......Today we headed back into Busselton to do a few minor things. We then took a drive to the Old Cheese Factory where we purchased bigger packets of the cheeses we tried yesterday..they are very very tasty. We then headed back to Ngilgi Caves which is a part self guided tour. The caves were fantastic with different chambers & one called the Amphitheatre, where you lay down on your back and look up at the stalactites, where you can also sing... which Rans did.....pretty awefully.

We then took a drive to Smiths Beach & Canal Rocks, which were picturesque, then returned for more Cheese & bikkies, but it got cold quickly so it was an early nite (a week ago we were having 42 degree days!)  SATURDAY 4 FEB 12.....A good nites sleep as the wind had died down, Rans went for an early morn swim, the water was nice & warm. After breakie the 4 of us went on a guided tour of the Yallingup Lighthouse which was informative, but very windy up top, we then took a 4km walk around the coastline which was good but would be better when Whales are around as they all come past here.

The flies were real bad with us wearing our fly nets...we could have sold them to other walkers for a good price!! We then drove to Bunker Beach & Shelley Cove near Pt Merchant a beautiful area, but again windy, plus also overcast. There are only a few houses here on the water & a Resort. We then returned for lunch, & in the arvo Di & Terry who are at a nearby Park came around for drinks & chat. SUNDAY 5 FEB 12....This morning we all headed out for a drive Sth towards Margaret River, stopping at surfing places like Moses Rock & Gracetown. We then continued on to Prevelly a small coast town on the mouth of the Margaret River.

This is where the fires swept through back late last year and you can see the remnants of the disaster with rubble from houses burnt down, the scrub completely gone with only sand left and how close it came to the foreshore where people had to gather on the beach. It must have been very scary. We can also see why this area is so good for surfing with left & right breaks, with hundreds of surfers out in the water. The coastline & water here is beautiful. We then made our way into the town of Margaret River where we had lunch in the local park, then had a walk through the township with the girls only buying small items....we boys think??? We then drove out to a home that has the biggest shell collection in Aus & it was FREE....or so we thought....someone didn't read the fine print with his glasses on, it said FEE not FREE...but we won't pick on the big fella with the goatee!!! We then slowly made our way back stopping at a couple of other seaside spots.

 On returning John & Rans went for a snorkel with them seeing lots of fish. Then it was a couple of drinks with Rans having his first beer in a week !!! it must have been to do with that FEE??? MONDAY 6 FEB...Rans takes the car into Busselton for the radiator to be repaired and is picked up by John. On returning we get ready as we head out on a Wine Tour today. We were picked up in a mini bus along with 16 others and headed out stopping at a number of wineries with us purchasing a few bottles (more than a few !) and sampling heaps, even Di got into it & she doesn't drink !! We had lunch at Notting Hill winery with us having Crocodile & Kangaroo, yes... even Carol had some..she thought it was Corned Beef.... HA   One place we stopped at was The Grove Vineyard where we sampled different liquors, but the bloke serving us, Steve Hughes was very funny with him putting shit on anyone & everyone, the Americans, the NZ's & us NSW people. We stopped at a brewery with us getting dropped back off home around 5.30pm, so it was a long & Fantastic day, well worth it.

TUESDAY 7 FEB...The wind is up again, drove into Busselton to pick up car & shop. Rans & I have lunch down on the waterfront under the Pine Trees looking out over beautiful blue waters. We then went to Dunsborough shops & we meet a lady who's husband was the first person to sail on Lake Eyre & we tell her that we saw him in his Catamaran 2yrs ago when we fly over the Lake.

We then headed out to Meelup Beach which is a beautiful, wonderful, coloured beach, with grassed shaded areas down to the sand, Rans has a swim & then we head back for arvo cheeses & drinks with the other 4. After tea we head down to see the sunset and at the same time the full moon rising.

This is a nice area with so much to see & do & we will return. So bye until the next blog & wishing Happy Birthday to Aunty Joan, Ernie, Di & John , Brownie & Congrats on Liam on getting his Drivers Licence..well done Red Light Liam!!!!