4 Stray Katz: March fly massacre at Membinup

As we were still loaded up with supplies for the proposed, but non-eventual, fortnight bush camping in Cape Arid we decided to try another free beach camping spot on our way back to Esperance. Membinup offered secluded camping spots behind the dunes of a large sweeping bay. Only half of it had weed on it so there was plenty of beach to enjoy. Alas the fierce March flys we had encountered at Cape Arid had followed us out and were even more vicious. Not sure if it is just a coincidence that it is the month of March and the March flies are the worst they have been since coming to WA. There are heaps of them and once they decide they want to bite you they are very persistent. We have all become very skilled at killing them with a swift slap. Jackson actually stalks them if they try to fly away and both kids rejoice in killing one, usually proudly carrying it by its wings to show either Daniel or I. Repellent works but as soon as you have a swim the 'Marchies' attacked you on the walk back to camp. We all did some funny slapping runs back to camp to try to get away from them.

Anyway other than the March flies it was a great spot and we stayed four nights. In that time we:

- went to the nearby Condingup pub for lunch on a cloudy miserable day.

- drove on the beach to a nearby inlet and played in the warmer water.

- feasted on large green lip abalone that Daniel collected.

- explored the many rock pools on the way to a secluded bay west of camp.

- spent an hilarious afternoon running from the waves then swimming in the clear turquoise water (Emilia is getting very confident in the waves and kept playing even after a quite a few dunkings).

There were some great tea-trees to climb in near camp and the kids enjoyed playing 'house' in the scrub. After so many busy days it was lovely to relax for a few days. We then headed to Esperance again as we all needed a shower!