A House - what a strange and exciting experience.

We'd planned on beginning our exploration of south west WA and our quest to find a perfect camp spot for Christmas but we only made it as far as Mandurah, south of Perth. We were taken with the grassy foreshore where we watched dolphins frolic in the estuary whilst the kids enjoyed the playground. It has great walking tracks and the marina area was lovely. It was actually the first place in WA that both Daniel and I said we could live at. It also had all the shops Daniel needed for the lighting upgrade he was planning for the outside of the van so we ended up staying for four nights to enjoy the place and get a few jobs done (the lights turned out amazing - thanks to my very handy man!) On our last day, Sunday, we were excited to be visiting friends we had met in Coral Bay and Exmouth. Nathan, Bec and their 3 lovely girls (Steph, Ashley & Nikki) live in nearby Pinjarra, a lovely town on a large river with a real bush feel even though it's only 45 min from Perth.
Our afternoon on Sunday was memorable not just for the delicious lunch Bec and Nathan served us, the wonderful time the kids had playing with their girls in the pool or the great conversation but because it was the first time we had stepped into a house since we began on our trip (9.5 months ago)! It was such a strange feeling being in a house again and we both commented several times how lovely (and spacious) it was. The kids had such a great time playing with the girls in their cubby house, trampoline, slippery slide and pool that time slipped by so quickly and we didn't leave until around 6.30pm, a very long lunch! We just managed to get them back and fed before they completely crashed. We are really looking forward to visiting Nathan and Bec again for a few nights in December. 

Ice cream (and dairy free mango sorbet) on the foreshore

It was just so good they made it last for nearly half and hour.

My deprived son finally enjoying a ice cream from an icecream shop

Zoned after a hard day of play with Steph, Ashley & Nikki.

Sandy Cape Cubby

We had been to Sandy Cape on our way up the coast last March but it was insanely windy and we didn't stay. We decided to give it another go and followed a track away from the main camping area hoping for a secluded spot. The track got narrower and narrower and each spot we check out was already full (it was Friday and expected to be a very hot weekend so heaps of people had come up from Perth). We finally found a great spot with our own little beach and a reasonably sheltered spot. We ended up staying for 4 nights swimming, exploring the rocky caves nearby looking for crabs, playing in the sand and having a couple of sneaky campfires so we could sit out on the cool nights and star gaze. Daniel got a couple of Sweetlip so we had a lovely dinner one night. He tried several times for a lobster but unfortunately they were all undersize. 

We spent a day in nearby Jurien Bay where the kids enjoyed the foreshore playground and Daniel and I enjoyed a shower (cold but still good). On our way back we visited our friends, Jen & Matt, who were camped in the main area at Sandy Cape, nearby an amazing tree which their girls had turned into a cubby. The kids had so much fun playing on the tyre swing and climbing with Jaida and Mia that we decided to move up and stay near them for a few days. Other friends joined us and for one day there were 11 kids (ranging from 2.5 to 11yo) playing within the tree. Emilia practiced her climbing and at one stage called out to us from the very top of the tree where she was very proud of herself for making it up as far as the big kids!  The boys made a few more swings out of fishing rope, wood scraps and fishing buoys we had collected off the beach (it is incredible the stuff you find on remote beaches). The kids then made a pretend campfire and used the 2 frypans we found on the beach (very random!) to play with. It was awesome to watch their pretend play and they all had such a great time. The kids also spent a fun afternoon sandboarding. All was great until Jackson absolutely ate it during a big tumble, being the good mother I am I made sure I got photographic evidence of the carnage before cleaning him up (such a great 21st photo!). After 2 nights the kids were so worn out from constant play. Even though they were devastated we decided to move on with promises to catch up with our friends further south. 

On our own private beach.

Playing with the fishing net we found.

Baked beans and sunset view - Priceless.

Watching the sunset.

The track in was super tight and we gained a lot of scratches.

Squeezing through

Up a very sandy steep part of the track.

The tiger snake that slithered through our camp.

Running down the sand dunes, the big kids were so fast there were a lot of stacks.

Zooming down the dune.

Enjoying himself before his stack.

You can't help but laugh at this one. That night he kept picking sand out of his ears!

Beginning her climb up the cubby tree.

Peek a boo

The awesome cubby tree complete with homemade swings.

First hair cut for my 'Funky Monkey'.

After Kalbarri we popped into Geraldton for a few nights to restock. Saw a hair salon called Funky Monkeys and, after nagging, cajoling and bribing her to get a hair cut to no avail for the whole trip, Emilia took one look at the cool sign and decided she wanted her hair cut! The place was designed for kids and the hairdressing seat was actually a ride on car mounted on a stand, it was very cool. There were toys and mobiles and heaps of interesting things to look at. The hairdresser, Cassie, was great with Emilia and even braided her hair at the end. Both kids got lollypops and it only cost $15, bargain. It was such a great first haircut experience and so much better than the tears and tantrums I was expecting when it came time to cut off her 'Rupenzel' locks which were only a few centimetres from her bum crack- way too long to maintain!

Jackson decided he didn't need a haircut and did a few poses to show me how cool he is looking!

I had my hair cut by a friend we met on the road, Megan, who is a hairdresser.

Daniel decided to trim his own hair using the clippers but surprised me by leaving a chunk of fringe at the front. He thought he looked cool and was rocking a 'Last of the Mohicans' haircut. I thought he looked so terribly bogan and I was mortified when he decided to keep it. He kept it for a few days but finally decided to shave it off before we saw too many other people!!

Hanging with my Bro (aka Daaamo)

We arrived in Kalbarri a few days early to prepare for the arrival of Mel and Damo. They got up to Kalbarri from Perth in 6.5 hours with the help of copious bags of lollies. We managed to set up their roof top tent then all had a good laugh at their camp chairs (tiny folding stools) and camp table (that was 10cm high). The kids played the shy card for a while but Damo and Mel won them over with the gifts Mum had sent (so many gifts that poor Damo couldn't even fit in his sleeping bag!). From then on Mel and Unca Daaamo (as Jackson called him) became the kids besties and poor Damo couldn't sit down without one, or both, of the kids trying to tackle him or drag him across to the jumping pillow.

Unfortunately the weather wasn't as great as it could have been, with a few windy days, but we still managed some swimming and Mel got her fill of sunbaking.

The highlights from their stay with us included:

-Taking their Wicked car 4wding on the sand to Lucky Bay. They felt like the car was actually touching the sand and it was making some interesting noises. We spent a few hours there exploring the rockpools and spotting crabs while Daniel went spear fishing for dinner. On the way back we all did a rescue of a car and trailer that was slowly bogging into the wet sand as the tide came in. The owner had got stuck when his JetSki got a cray pot rope caught in it, so he was stuck trying to swim his JetSki in while he watched his car and trailer getting covered in salt water.

- Daniel getting several lobster and Mel trying lobster for the first time.

- Watching the sunset from the Red Bluff lookout.

- Flying kites at the footy oval and watching Jackson run as fast as possible trying to keep his kite up.

- Exploring several beaches and having a huge pelican sneak up on us while we were having a snack. Mel took the kids to have a closer look and the pelican spread its enormous wings and started running towards them. The squeals and facial expressions were priceless but unfortunately I didn't have my camera out quick enough.

- Eating fresh fish several nights in a row (thanks to Daniels spear fishing). Damo wanted to go out but he couldn't get a snorkelling mask over his Ned Kelly beard!

- Walking down to Mushroom Rock on the cliffs of Kalbarri National Park and watching tremendous waves crash against the rocks whilst the sun set.

- The funniest incident of their visit happened when we took the kids to pelican feeding on the foreshore. Volunteers feed them every day so they know to come at a particular time, however the seagulls also know to some. Anyway after the lady fed each one she got all the kids up to have a go. Both kids threw their fish to the same pushy pelican who was getting a huge feed. After all the kids had a go she asked if anyone else would like a turn and we all persuaded (forced) Mel to have a go. As she raised the fish to throw it to some of the pelicans at the back of the group several seagulls came in on the attack. Poor Mel was flailing her arms around trying to shoo the persistent birds away but she still had the fish in her hand so they they kept swooping near her hand. After the lady and several other people helped shoo them away Mel finally got to feed the pelicans! We were all in hysterics and thankfully Mel was a good sport about it. I had the camera on sports mode and so got the whole incident, including her loving boyfriend Damo laughing his head off whilst filming her on his phone!

Mel and Damo also did one of the hikes in the National Park and then we all spent a bit of time chilling at the caravan park which had a great playground, jumping pillow and pool.  It was great to have them visit and the kids thoroughly enjoyed their company. Unfortunately it poured rain the night before they left and they had to pack up in the rain but at least they had a night in a nice hotel in Perth before heading back to Melbourne to show off their newly acquired tan lines!

After they left we spent some time with a couple of families we met. There were 8 kids in total and they all had a great time in the playground and at the beaches we went to together. We kept extending our stay in Kalbarri as the wind was bearable in the sheltered caravan park and we were reticent to move down the coast any further and be stuck in more wind. However after 2 weeks we finally decided it was time to go and we headed south to Geraldton.

Mel and Damo's Wicked van at Lucky Bay.

BMX Bandit at the Kalbarri Skate Park

He is such a daredevil!

So is she....

And this is where they get their behaviour from ....Dangerous Daredevil Daddy as he is affectionately known!

Sunset at Red Bluff.

Emilia was much more interested in the cupcakes than the sunset.

Mel and Damo and the beautiful dusk sky.

Emilia showing us she was ready to go!

Two cheeky monkeys!!

Approaching the pelican more carefully second time around.

Want a kiss from the Sweetlip Mel?

Making the most of a windy day.

Emilia throwing the kite up.

Posing at the pelican feeding.

They get vicious when food is involved.

Emilia getting ready to throw her fish.

Jackson feeding the pelicans.

Mel being attacked by seagulls whilst trying to feed the pelicans - notice Damo sniggering instead of saving her!

My turn.....

Strutting his stuff for the audience.

Mmmm Lobster feast again!

Island Rock from the costal cliff lookout.

Extreme lookout.

The pounding waves along the rocky coast.

Crab spotting near Mushroom Rock.

Waiting for a crab to come out of hiding.

Daniel attempted fishing but check out those waves!

Sunset Lovers

Cuddles with Uncle Damo

I love Mel and Uncle Damo this much.

Wind and salt water = wild hair.

The waves crashed ferociously on the rocks.