A taste of reality, complete with our own bathroom!

After the disastrous time I had last year whilst Daniel worked at a shutdown in Karratha (and stayed at camp), we decided to all stay together in Karratha where the kids and I could enjoy all the family friendly facilities the town has to offer. We also decided on an ensuite site and wow what a luxury it is having your own bathroom. I am certainly not missing traipsing back and forth to the toilet or showering whilst others are going to the toilet! So nice to have some privacy and be able to leave our toiletries in the shower. It's the small things that can make all the difference.

Anyway we decided to get Emilia into kinder whilst we were here as she has completely missed out. As it turned out she is actually compulsory school age in WA and they school closest to the caravan park (which happens to be the newest and best school in Karratha) had a space in a preprimary class. She awoke at 5.30am on her first day, full of excitement and anxious to get into her uniform and get to school. She has fitted in well and after a few days of angst (after the initial excitement she realised how long she would be away from me for and decided she was missing me too much) she now enjoys school a lot, has made lots of friends (we had her school friends birthday party on Sunday) and relishes in telling me all the things she has done each day. We do homework each night and she is very pleased (as are we) with the development in her reading and writing after only a few weeks. I am finding it very weird being the parent instead of the teacher  though and it has taken all my self control not to try to take over in the classroom in the morning!

Anyway with Emilia at school Jackson wanted to go too! Instead we have found a great 3 year old kinder next to Emilia's school and he also goes several times a week to the 'kinder' (crèche) at the gym. He loves it and actually hides when I come to pick him up as he doesn't want to go. He wore a stripy t-shirt on his first day and decided this was his uniform and would not wear anything else. I now have a few stripy t-shirts that we rotate so he can wear his 'oooniform' every time he goes to kinder. It is very cute to see how excited they are and also makes me realise they will enjoy a bit of 'normal' life when we return to Vic.

I have joined the gym and am loving the Pilates and yoga classes, especially knowing Jackson is happy with the lovely staff in the crèche. Jackson and I also go the library several times a week and enjoy rhyme and story time (and the air conditioning).

Daniel is working extremely hard and his feet are struggling to get used to wearing work boots for 14+ hours a day in 35deg heat after a year in thongs. He has to soak them in Epsom salts each night before bed as he can hardly walk by the time he gets home. He is certainly earning his money on this job but hopefully it will make it easier for us when we get home as we still want to buy in Mansfield. 

It is another experience to add to the list and as a friend said the other day Emilia will certainly have a story to tell next year when she starts school properly in Vic about the time she went to school in Karratha, where the aircon blasts all day, where classrooms have fridges to store the kids lunches and where the uniform is only shorts and a t-shirt (no jumpers needed or available)!

We should be here for around another 2 weeks before touring the centre of Australia then heading back to Vic (although we are a bit apprehensive about coming home and ending our trip we are also excited to see everyone, especially Rascal).

Here are some pics of our big school and kinder kids.

Our big school girl.

Ready for Kinder (this is the stripy tshirt he decided was his uniform)

Mother's Day (and Daniel's first day of work). Daniel took the kids shopping the day before to make sure it was special for me.

Mother's Day smiles

I'm so proud of my big sister!!

His first day at 3 year old kinder (wearing another stripy t-shirt)

At Lucy's birthday party (first party of another child they have been to in 18 months - party bags were a huge novelty).

Bring on the cake!!!

Batman enjoyed being included in the party as well.

Blown from Ningaloo Reef to the red, dusty Pilbara.

Literally blown away by the 40+km southerly winds belting the coastline. The wind began a day after we'd left Ningaloo Station, it continued for several nights in Coral Bay and kept going whilst we were at Cape Range NP. It finally gave up the morning we had finally given up and decided to move on!

We had booked for 6 nights at the lovely Cape Range National Park where we'd had such a wonderful time last year, snorkelling several times a day. However, this time it was not to be. In our 3 nights there we still managed a snorkel at Osprey, Turquoise Bay and Lakeside and, although the conditions were less than ideal, we did enjoy ourselves. Daniel came out from his snorkel at Turquoise Bay very excited as he had seen a huge potato cod, the first time he'd seen one even though he has snorkelled so many times on this trip. He was then even more surprised to see another huge one at Lakeside! Two in a day was pretty impressive. I resigned to the fact that I wouldn't see it as they hide under rocks and I don't like snorkelling down under rocks. As luck would have it, as I attempted a snorkel at Lakeside, whilst the wind increased and the usually calm, clear after was churning up whitecaps, I saw the potato cod out of it usual rock hideout. I am sure it thought no-one would be silly enough to snorkel in the washing machine the ocean had now been reduced to, and felt safe coming out. I think I got just as much a shock as it did, but WOW the sheer girth of the fish was very impressive. 

Emilia did a snorkel at both Coral Bay and Turquoise Bay but Jackson decided he had seen all the fish he needed to on his snorkels at Ningaloo Station and he didn't want to snorkel anymore. He just wanted to fish so we spent a lovely evening at the Coral Bay boat ramp fishing and watching the sun set. We only caught a few little fish and a stingray that the kids had fun reeling in before Daniel released them. At lot of our time at Coral Bay was spent in the swimming pool, jumping pillow and playground as the kids hadn't had a pool for about a month and wanted to make the most of it.

So after 3 night at Coral Bay and 3 nights at Cape Range we were sick of the wind and we did not want to spend the last week before Daniel started work confined to the caravan whiling the time away until the wind subsided. 

A haircut for Daddy at Coral Bay.

It was a family affair as I had a go after Emilia too!

An afternoon nap with his daughter - she even let him borrow her teddy.

The jumping pillow at Coral Bay was a hit, particularly when it was inflating.

We had missed Millstream Chichester National Park both times we passed it last year so decided it was our next destination. After a gorgeous remote free stop in the red Pilbara dirt (which the kids covered themselves in) we arrived at Millstream homestead on an extremely hot Monday morning. Thankfully one of the highlights of Millstream NP is Deep Reach Pool, an large expanse of water from an underground aquifer which is around 2000km squared in size. It is actually the water supply for Karratha and surrounding regions (so we encouraged the kids not to wee in it as we'd be drinking it in a few days!) We spent the afternoon enjoying the fresh water, such a welcome change after so long the coast. We also enjoyed exploring the old homestead and meeting the resident kangaroos. The next day was just as hot and humid as well so, after an early morning cliff top walk and an exploration of the wetlands (complete with clear, flowing streams and lagoons brimming with lily pads, not what you would expect to find in the hot dusty Pilbara) we headed back to Deep Reach Pool. This time we came prepared with the kayak, noodle and blow up thong so we spent several hours floating around keeping cool, it was lovely. That night we had dinner on the clifftop watching the sunset. Unfortunately the beauty of the sunset was overshadowed by the swarms of mozzies that attacked us just as we were packing up to leave. It was amazing how many bites we got in such a short time.

On our way out the next day we enjoyed the cool water of Python Pool, a deep pool at the base of a cliff. We had really enjoyed our unplanned stay at Millstream Chichester but it was time to head to Karratha for a bit of normality (and to prepare us for life OFF the road in a few months time when we return home).

The beauty of the red dirt contrasted with the grasses (they made great hiding places but were very prickly).

Don't think that t-shirt will ever be the same!

Neither will our feet!!!

Collecting firewood.

Our lovely overnight stop just out of Pannawonica.

Gotta love a bush shower when no-one else is around.

Prince Jackson the Bush Warrior (these were pretend spears and if we got to close he threatened to kill us - am hoping this type of play is typical for a boy!)

The spear has now turned into a gun and he is trying to shoot me......Hmmmm, not sure where he is getting the inspiration for his imaginative games???

And my lovely boy is back.

Getting ready for a swim at Deep Reach Pool.

The cliff top walk looking over Deep Reach Pool.

Why did you do my hair like a girl Mum?

On our way to watch the sunset from the cliff top - the colours were already starting.

Nice spot for a meal (until the mozzies started that is).

Our lovely sunset dinner spot.

The wetlands near Millstream Homestead.

The old homestead at Millstream NP.

The ants were prolific - this is one of their many straight tracks all over the roads and paths.

Dirty- minded Daniel thought the rock in the distance looked like a nipple so he had to pretend to squeeze it (too hazy in the photo to tell properly though).

Python Pool.

Testing the water at Python Pool (it was great).

Bobbing along under the cliffs.

One on the massive iron ore trains we drove next to on our way to Karratha - they are soooo long.

They just kept going and going.

Ningaloo Take 2

Day 1- 39 deg, 25 km winds, 8 dead mice

Arrived as the temperature peaked at 39deg, sand burnt our feet during set up. The rough road in had shaken the fridge open and it was beginning to defrost. Sweat poured down us as we set up, with Daniel ending up a sweaty, sandy mess after putting all the pegs in. Spent the afternoon drifting in the current to stay cool. Dinner on our laps watching a gorgeous sunset. Realised our camp area is just behind a sand mound where you get phone reception so had a slew of strangers sharing their phone conversations with us!

Some of the haul from the first night - Jackson was very interested!

Emilia didn't want to touch them but wanted to be in the photo (Daniel took all these photos by the way, I stayed inside each morning until all the traps were cleared and the mice disposed of).

Day 2- 35 deg, 35 km winds, 8 dead mice, 1 sand storm, 1 early morning snorkel, 1 massive shell.

Snorkelled, swam, walked, buried the kids in the sand and walked up the beach then floated back in the current many times. Gave up sweeping the mat and accepted the sand swirling around the front of the van. Kicked the footy on the beach at dusk and Jackson proudly showed off the dead sheep he had found - delightful! Spent the night listening to the crazy wind make unexplained noises on the van whilst wishing I had opted for the earplugs instead of Daniel.

The awesomely big shell Daniel found while diving.

The sand strewn campsite we awoke to (all the table and shelf tops were covered).

Day 3 - 33 deg, 25 km winds, 1 golden trevally, 1 sweetlip, 1 chinamans cod, 1 improvised, yet surprisingly effective, sand/wind break, 11 dead mice.

Had a lovely snorkel with Emilia while Jackson and Daniel fished off the bank, they were the talk of the camp area when Daniel pulled in a 60cm golden trevally. Whilst the kids rested Daniel went for a spearfish and came back with a huge sweetlip and a silver trevally then that afternoon Jackson reeled in a Chinamans cod. Emilia also reeled in a fish but we didn't know what it was so she threw it back.

Mr Fisherman with his cod.

The Golden Trevally Daniel and Jackson caught

Day 4 - 38 deg, minimal wind (so very hot), 1 huge painted lobster, 1 swim with a turtle, 9 dead mice.

Woke up to a glorious day, with supremely calm waters. Super hot though so we opted to get into the water asap. I went for a snorkel in a different area and found some great coral bombes so went back to shore, where Daniel was fishing and the kids were playing, and got Emilia. On our way to the coral we saw a turtle!. It let us swim with it for ages, it was incredible. Tried to rest but it was 38deg in the van with no breeze- stifling. In the afternoon Jackson impressed us all with his request to snorkel and he had a successful first try with Daniel. He was very pleased with himself. Daniel spotted a lobster while out with Jackson and, once he'd grabbed his snare, managed to get it. After more swims, sandcastle building and snorkels we feasted on lobster tail at dusk followed by the delicious sweet lip Daniel got yesterday. 

Just before we got to snorkel with a turtle.

Jackson getting ready for his first snorkel.

All set and ready to go.

Getting his first snorkelling lesson (and building up the courage to put his head in).

The painted rock lobster Daniel got not far from shore - what a find!

Very impressive.

Day 5 - 35 deg, morning - 40km wind, afternoon - no wind, 1 slithering sea-snake, 11 mice (6 mice before we even went to bed!), 1 full moon.

We awoke to strong easterly wind that ended up blowing sand through the windows and coating our beds. After a morning spent cleaning up we went for a drive to explore some other beaches in the hope of one protected from the fierce wind. We ended up at Boat Harbour, a place we'd stayed last October. It was calm so we spent the afternoon snorkelling, swimming and shell collecting. Got back late afternoon and the wind had completely stopped. Dusk was spent on the shore watching a lovely sunset while the kids swam and Daniel (unsuccessfully) fished. We got back and had our nightly rinse off with the 12V shower and a little water in a bucket. As I am in the shower out the front of the van a MOUSE scurries across the mat and into gazebo. I am trying hard not to scream (did not want to draw attention to myself showering nude in the dark at the front of the van). (Nikki if you are reading DO NOT READ ON). Daniel becomes Super Mouse Slayer and actually kills the mouse with a swift flick of Emilia's flippers (the first thing he could lay his hands on). That kids look on in awe whilst I try to block my senses and forget what is happening (all the while still trying to shower). Another weird experience to add to our travel memories!!

Our campsite with the full moon rising.

Feasting on lobster tail (the kids love it now).

Counting the morning's catch.

He was always very pleased with the catch.

It was so hot at Boat Harbour the kangaroos were sheltering in the toilet.

Day 6 - 33 deg, 10km breeze, 1 sweetlip, 1 super high tide, 3 pushy sharks, 6 dead mice (and one native bush mouse released early morning)

Daniel and Jackson took advantage of the perfect morning and went fishing in the kayak, but, as Jackson put it when he returned, 'No luck for us Mum, no fishes'. Spent the rest of the morning at the beach where Daniel and I took turns snorkelling over an impressive coral bombe (a new one he found). The kids enjoyed playing in the channels of water the super high tide had created in the sand and Daniel dug them a huge hole which quickly filled up. While the kids rested (and I cooked) Daniel went out spearfishing, conditions had worsened, the current was strong and visibility was poor. After much effort he managed to spear a lovely Sweetlip and he began making his way to shore when he noticed several reef sharks following him. He now has the fish he catches attached to a float which is about 5m away from him so the sharks weren't technically after him, they were after the sweetlip. Daniel worked hard for that fish so he was not giving a freebie to some lazy sharks. In order to protect his fish Daniel had to turn around and swim at the sharks with his spear gun poised which would scare them off for a few minutes. In that time he would swim frantically trying to get back to shore. Then he would repeat his attack on the sharks then try to swim to shore when they retreated. This went on and on and the sharks stayed with him until he was a few meters from shore. It took him so long to get back but he very proudly (and exhaustedly) presented his fish when he returned to camp (several hours after he left) then collapsed into a chair for a well earned drink. 

Watching the sunset while eating ice-cream.

A gorgeous evening for a sunset swim.

Day 7 - 35 deg, slight breeze, 3 sweetlip, no mice as mouse traps packed away after Daniel had to release another native mouse in the evening (we're happy to get rid of the feral ones but not the native ones).

After breakfast we took the kids out to the coral bombe we both snorkelled over yesterday. I took Jackson around in the boogie board and it was wonderful listening to his enthusiastic noises as he spotted different fish, huge blue star fish and giant clams. He had to keep clearing out his snorkel as he kept trying to talk underwater! After a decent snorkel Emilia and Daniel headed back in (she was exhausted after swimming the whole way). Jackson refused to go and wanted to keep snorkelling. After another 15 minutes or so I had to call time as he was shivering, though he still wanted to stay out there! We are so proud of both the kids efforts snorkelling and can't wait to do more with them in Coral Bay and Cape Range NP. In the afternoon Daniel went spear fishing and got 3 sweetlip which he promptly deposited in the kayak as the sharks had got the scent of blood and were beginning to converge on him! 

It was a great week at Ningaloo Station, such a beautiful part of Australia.