blog.sickdovel.net

A journal of our adventures

Day 31 – Coral Bay

Aug 8

Posted by Anthony in Big Lap 2011, Caravanning | Comments off

Yet another day of excitement in Coral Bay today.  Coral Bay Eco Tours are really getting a good wad of our cash, but it’s all been well spent.

Kel flipped out when she learnt I’d booked it.  She was ‘not happy’.  Didn’t think she could do it.  “And what about the kids! … they can’t do that!!!”.  This has lead to a sleepless night and much reassurance on my part.  My doubting family has rubbed off on me a bit though and I got little sleep last night too.

But now, it’s morning and we’re resigned to our fate.  Except Kel … she’s still looking for an excuse to try and swap to a different tour… something sedate, like a glass bottom boat in about a metre of water …

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: ,

Day 30 – Coral Bay

Aug 7

Posted by Anthony in Big Lap 2011, Caravanning | Comments off

Today Kel surprised herself.  We were booked in on a 3 hour quad bike snorkelling tour.  Kel hadn’t ridden a quad bike before, so took Blake along for moral support.  Hannah came with me figuring she’d be somewhat safer.  We were the only people on the tour.

Once we left the confines of Coral Bay and engaged 4wd and started heading up a few dunes it was all going well.  Well … that was until we lost Kel …

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: ,

Day 29 – Coral Bay

Aug 6

Posted by Anthony in Big Lap 2011, Caravanning | Comments off


A sleep in was had, since we couldn’t really do much, other than pack up and move to our new site.  Around 9am we were packed up and moved the 100m to our new home for the next 3 nights.  A full van setup was done for the first time ever this trip.  Ground cloth, shade cloth, clothesline … you name it, it was unpacked.  Kel also took the opportunity to pack away the winter clothes and break out the summer clothes.  The roof top box is now full of the ‘too many’ winter clothes we’d packed.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags:

Day 28 – Coral Bay

Aug 5

Posted by Anthony in Big Lap 2011, Caravanning | Comments off

We woke up at 8am, such was the sleep. We’d planned on staying here another day since we weren’t booked in anywhere else, but upon looking out at the water we started pondering another location. Where had the water gone? I grabbed the GPS and went for a walk … from the high tide mark to where the water currently was, was 550m … and it was still receding at a rapid rate, crabs and octopusses scrambling to keep up with it.

There’s a caravan on the shore way back there somewhere

After my kilometre round trip I grabbed the free camps book and found slim pickings between us and Coral Bay. There were a few roadside stops and also Warroorra Station. The decision made, we did a late packup and got underway.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , ,

Day 27 – New Beach

Aug 4

Posted by Anthony in Big Lap 2011, Caravanning | Comments off

We reluctantly left Monkey Mia this morning.  There wasn’t much more to do particularly, but we were kinda in need of doing absolutely nothing. It’s been go go go so far, after all.

Driving all the way back South to rejoin the main highway only to drive North again just as far … and further is a bit disheartening.  At least at the highway intersection there is a roadhouse.  There you are tempted by the prospect of a morning coffee, since Monkey Mia is on bore water … a morning coffee is something to only dream of.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags:

Day 26 – Monkey Mia

Aug 3

Posted by Anthony in Big Lap 2011, Caravanning | 1 Comment

Kel & I woke up at 5:30 as usual, just before the alarm goes off.  Kel had a look outside and discovered that overnight the wind had changed and the various anchorages that were holding down the washing were now successfully holding the washing on the ground.  Not all of it, but enough.  So … there we are, in our dressing gowns at sunrise, rehanging the washing.  All my fault, naturally.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , ,

Day 25 – Monkey Mia

Aug 2

Posted by Anthony in Big Lap 2011, Caravanning, Geocaching | 1 Comment

The day started out at our usual time of 6am.  A stress free packup saw us on the road at 8am.

The main gorge road out to Nature’s Window was still closed … no surprise.  So, we kept on truckin’ out to the main highway.  There is a short drive out to two parking areas: Hawk’s Head & Ross Graham.  Hawk’s head is so named for the rock formation that looks a bit like a hawk’s head … provided they give you enough beer.  And the other is named after the first school teacher of the area … no beer required.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , ,

Day 24 – Kalbarri

Aug 1

Posted by Anthony in Big Lap 2011, Caravanning | 2 Comments

We got up bright and early, as usual, even though we didn’t have very far to go today.  It was only 160kms and the plan was to get there, drop the van and go and explore Kalbarri National Park.

That was the plan anyway …

Nearly forgot … Go Cats!!!!!!

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags:

Day 23 – Coronation Beach

Jul 31

Posted by Anthony in Big Lap 2011, Caravanning, Geocaching | 2 Comments

Today started out early, with a quick packup … punctuated by rain … and then we were off … almost.

First issue was that the reverse camera screen wouldn’t power up.  Looks like the new one has died too … grrr.  I’ve checked out all the signals with a meter and everything looks OK … but it won’t power up.  A short detour to the shop … but they’re closed.  Something to post off for refund/replacement.  More annoying is not having any rear view of the van.  It makes it a bit tough.

So, minor detour aside we headed off down the freeway out of town.  Only to have the car lose all power crossing an uphill intersection.  I mean, all power.  Dead in the water.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , ,

Day 22 – Perth

Jul 30

Posted by Anthony in Big Lap 2011, Caravanning | Comments off


Today we went to the Fremantle Maritime Museum and had a good look around there.

They’ve got plenty to see including the Australia II and a retired Ovens class submarine.

Now that’s what I call a winged keel !

The submarine tour is the highlight of the day as they take you through all areas of it explaining it all as you go.

After the submarine tour the weather turned nasty again.  So far, everywhere we’ve been has had far more changeable weather than Melbourne … and we’re famous for it.  Perth has been the most changeable so far.  There’s been intense tropical storms followed by sunshine … luckily the sunshine parts have coincided mostly with the activities we’ve wanted to do.  Our luck was about to run out though.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , ,