Our Australia trip

On the second day at Alexandra Bridge a fellow camper notices our soft tyre. Indeed there doesn’t seem much air left in one of our back tyres and it seems that the inner tube has sprung a leak. We decide to go back to Margaret River, which is only 40 km away to get it fixed.

We are pleased to see that the council has thought about almost everyone visiting the region, even lion handlers from The Netherlands. Suppose you’re traveling with your animals through this region and you are in dire need of boarding your lioness. Well, Margaret River has a solution:

Note: Leeuwin is Dutch for Lioness.

After spending most of our morning getting the tyre fixed and meanwhile doing some shopping, we head for another bush camping. Apart from facilities for Dutch lion handlers, this area also caters very well for bush campers.

We keep the dogs on a lead as Western Australia is very fond of the 1080 poison to kill wild dogs and feral cats. We would not like our dogs to eat the bates.

The dogs and we like this region, pity the weather is quite fresh (around 20 degrees Celsius).

Leaving Augusta without kiting seems such a waste. The wind has not been good for kiting on the river and the beach is too full with rocks or too wild with waves. Also the weather has turned colder and overcast.

We pump up the kite and I gear up and wait along the shore of the river to see if the wind is strong enough. Because the winds from east and has to go over land before reaching the river, it just won’t work. We all get a bit frustrated, so decide to go to the doggie beach. Here the wind blows straight onshore and is powerful. So are the waves but we are too determined to let that bother us.

The wind is so hard that even Dotti tries to hide from the sand blasting.

Satisfied that I actually could ride the waves in this wind, be it that most of it was down wind, we pack up.

Cold but satisfied we feel in a kind of Christmas spirit and our wishes get fulfilled.

We then arrive at a nice bush camping where we stay for two days. A bit because the weather is not great but also to do some chores in and around the bus.

We also go for walks to enjoy the scenery, play guitar and just enjoy.

Posted from Alexandra Bridge, Western Australia, Australia.

From Canebreak pool we move past Margaret River, a quite touristic place. We have been here before and although we look around and stop at some places, there’s not too much to take pictures of (or of course we could have forgotten to take the camera with us once or twice).

We stop at a shell museum and thank heaven that they didn’t allow visitors to take any shells, as they had shells the size of bath tubs.

Then we come to Augusta, where preparations are underway for the Anaconda event. Not that we care too much as we have only kiting on our mind (well, some of us).
The camp ground that we ideally want because of its location doesn’t allow dogs. So we decide to go to the other camping at Flinders Bay that welcomes Dotti and Nossi.
Marjo is ecstatic, as her favourite bird is here plentiful and easy to photograph.

For kiting this beach has way too many rocks.

So we use the available props and our talented crew for a photo shoot.

Nossi must not have liked the smell of that because first he acts as if he doesn’t know Marjo.

And then tries to push her off the rock into the water.

Soon they’re friends again though.

The rocks and Marjo make a cute couple.

And Dotti thinks, I can do that too.

Nossi is very impressed.

Then Marjo tries the view from higher up.

Then it’s time to go back to the camping and Marjo shows Nossi how to get down the rocks.

Nossi shows little interest, so she helps him to focus.

Then he pays attention.

And follows suit.

On the way back to the bus we spot some more nice wild flowers.

Another glorious day.

Posted from Alexandra Bridge, Western Australia, Australia.

From Marybrook we do a loop back towards Cape Naturaliste. The coastline seems to be spectacular. Our first stop in Eagle Bay seems alright, we have seen nicer.

And it is always great for a family picture. With dogs it usually takes a few tries.

Following the Meelup road along the National Park gives some very nice spots. Not for the dogs though.

Marjo does the honours and scopes out the view from the lighthouse. Who knew it was a 3 km walk…..

Because the view was not so spectacular, she was happy to find plenty of wild flowers.

From here we made a loop past Yallingup, if not for kiting then for a look. The beach is a real surf beach, not good for kiting. Still a nice view.

Then it gets later in the afternoon, about time to find our nest for the night. We selected Canebreak Pool, another bush camping.

The pool is swimmable, but we limit ourselves to wet feet and paws.

Marjo gets a stiff neck and shoulders from trying to capture one of the black cockatoos on camera. Already at Jarrah Park we saw and heard them fly over and again here there are many. They are just too fast and too high above the tree tops.

At this bush camping cooking on wood fire is promoted with firewood provided. So we oblige and Marjo lights a fire. If there’s no wood chopping involved, I tend to lose interest.

It might also to have something to do with the copious amount of flies and other flying creatures around the place. They also loved our bush pan.

They seem to be very nutritious and to complete the meal we add some ham, veggies and batter for a nice thick pancake.

Dotti meanwhile stood guard, or she could have been waiting for some of the ingredients to drop.

The result was very nice:

Another fabulous day.

Posted from Alexandra Bridge, Western Australia, Australia.

We have now seen some of the beautiful inland of the Margaret River area and start to move away from the hilly countryside.

Still we pass many wild flowers; spring is the right season for those.

Then we go back to the beach, near Dunsborough. Before committing to the camping (we need to get a shower as although bush camping is nice, you can only wash so much with a washcloth) we want to check out the beach opposite.

We get approval from the dogs, who don’t want to leave. After repeated calling only Nossi eventually comes. Dotti we have to help along 🙂

The camping is roomy and for unpowered sites they have a nice bushy part.

We all want to go back to the beach and enjoy the (not so very) warm water.

Once you’re in it is actually quite nice.
Dotti tries to get the ball from Nossi but is not fast enough.

There’s a lot of sea grass on the beach and only a narrow strip of free beach, but with Marjo so beautiful, who cares.

Then we soak up some sun, Dotti in my shade.

If not in art, tree bark, rocks or shells, Marjo finds new displays of love.

And then to realise Nossi has been standing on that the whole time.

Later that afternoon we have our showers and instead of using the overpriced doggie bath put the hose on them too. Then it’s time for one of those yummie Marjo bus cooked dinners.

Another beautiful day.

Posted from Alexandra Bridge, Western Australia, Australia.

The Ironstone gully rest area doesn’t feel right, whether it’s the tent that seems deserted or not, the greasy benches and gas BBQ (operating for free!), the buzzing blowflies, or just some eerie feeling, I don’t know but we decide to leave. Nossi says goodbye to his friend-for-one-night and we move on.

Our first stop is Donnybrook, city of a particular fruit but it’s kinda hard to work out what it is.

Marjo browses through a store with vintage and peculiar things and you can trust her to find something pretty.

And then she shows me the picture of what she didn’t choose instead of the rocks (the hat of course, not the other garment). Not sure if I agree with her choice.

After leaving Donnybrook we drive on to Balingup (75% of all places here end with ‘up’ for some reason) past nice scenery of flowers and trees.

Near the trees Nossi did a strange kind of dance until we worked out that he had been standing on an ant hill.

Then we arrive at Bridgetown for lunch.

And of course we need to check out why this place is called so and end up at the river. And what would a river be without a kayak!

I played with the dogs and they particularly liked my guitar play, so you can imagine that they were quite glad to see Marjo back, Nossi in particular and he did a jump in the water when she got closer. He actually tried to climb onto the kayak.

From Bridgetown we drive on through the Margaret River area hilly countryside.

After some unplanned detour thanks to our navigator and the bridge detour we drive at around 5 pm to the bush camp site in Jarrah Park. Although our book says you can camp here, the signs say something else. We played dumb and were the only campers.

The location is stunning but being the law-abiding citizens that we are, we leave quite early the next day.

Posted from Marybrook, Western Australia, Australia.

We figure that, if the wind doesn’t work in our favour, there are more clouds around with the cold front (days of around 24 and nights 14 degrees) and soon we will be forced to use paid campings along the Margaret River area, we might as well explore more inland.

We leave Australind / Leschenault and drive to Bunbury to visit a bank, the Information centre to learn about free bush camping in South Western Australia and visit the beach. The beach is not special but the dogs enjoyed the stop nevertheless.

There’s already a dog there…..oh no, just rocks with some resemblance,

Marjo buys some organic produce from a stall and then we move onto Peppermint beach. The road takes us along nice places which allows for nice pictures.

Then we come to the sleepy town of Peppermint beach and have lunch on a deserted beach.

There is no wind at all, so we drive more inland to look at the first bush site. It’s alright but not far from a busy road. The first step outside results in a giant mosquito on Marjo which shows that the sign with Medium Mosquito danger is true. We decide to move onto the road between Capel and Donnybrook. It is a nice bushy road that takes us first past, then – after a u-turn – to the Ironstone gully rest area.

It is named after the water that flows over the Ironstone into a gully and looks quite good. After opening the door we hear a swarm type buzzing but can’t see any flying nasties. When we’re settled though it seems there are many many large flies around. Not that they disturb us really (or the other way around) so we stay.

Posted from Capel River, Western Australia, Australia.

With kiting on our mind our next stop is Leschenault where the estuary seems a good place. It is big, facing the same way as the ocean (good for the prevailing south westerly wind) and you can walk everywhere.

The camping is 80% permanents and it seems it has Christine on its mind.

The bush camping along Leschenault doesn’t accept dogs so we go to Leschenault camping across the road from the estuary. The wind is straight west which makes it (for me) too hard to leave the shore and a storm’s brewing with gusty wind spikes. So we have some healthy lunch (some have more healthy bits than others) and go for a walk, play some guitar and the like.

That night another downpour wets the bus which keeps us and the chairs under the awning nice dry.

The next day the wind has turned to south west and several times I walk out to the estuary to see if the wind is strong enough for kiting. Not sure what it is but the wind is very gusty again. From perfect one moment, to nothing the next.
We go to the estuary anyway and rig up but stand there like idiots (well, I was. Marjo was her beautiful self). We ended up playing with the dogs instead.

Then Marjo caught dinner, a nice blue swimmer crab.

Unfortunately the dogs didn’t like it so we left it at the estuary.

That evening we watched a movie and slept deep under the doona. The nights have gotten colder again (14 degrees) and it’s almost time to wear socks to bed.

Posted from Leschenault, Western Australia, Australia.

Mandurah is a pretty busy place. There’s a lot of development and traffic.
The caravan park is nestled behind a shopping village, and although handy to have that in walking distance, we anticipate a lot of noise. Nothing could be further from the truth. The caravan park is stretched over a kilometer, starting behind the shops and continuing until the estuary.

We get a spot halfway down on a large grassy field. Too enthusiastic I run out, bare feet, only to call out some expletives and carefully get back to the bus. The green grass is littered with bindies so we just wear our thongs (the footwear kind). For the picture Marjo was so kind to take them off.

Then we go and explore the estuary. Not great for kiting but nice birds.

We have nice neighbours, a couple (Eric and Melissa) our age with younger children. They have been on the road for 4 years, home schooling the kids and are now back from where they started. They were keen to move into their home the next day and had their caravan for sale. Eric is a lot like me, he kites and plays guitar. We exchange some songs and he gets so excited that he snaps a string on his guitar.
The wind is not suitable for kiting so he explains where, around Mandurah, we can go for kiting.

That evening we eat our healthy food from the Dutch shop: broodje frikadel met friet!

Being the healthy cook she is, Marjo assured that I also point out the nice green salad.

The next day we decide to stay and tour the area. We leave the trailer behind and take the kite. Our first destination is Rockingham. Because there’s a big cycling tournament that morning, we do some unplanned sightseeing following detour signs. Our first stop is Safety Bay and can see that there will to be any kiting today. He maximum wind here is only 12 knots.

Marjo thinks I need to study marine signs instead of making silly remarks.

We drive further along the beach towards penguin island. Of course dogs can’t come near so we make our own fun with a tennis bal.

And end up with sand everywhere.

Then we leave the touristy area and look around in the hinterland and visit the dam.
We drive along a bush environment with little streams and stop for some bus made lunch (doesn’t sound the same as home made, but that’s what it was).

There are nice wild flowers along the way.

We come to the dam that supplies Perth with drinking water and feel a bit sorry. The dam is already quite a way down and summer hasn’t started as yet.

On the way back to Miami we see Thrombolites which are kind of baby Stromatolites although I might have misunderstood that.

That night a cold front comes through, dumping the first sizeable rain. Lucky for us, in the morning, the sun is out again. It feels crisper but still nice.

Posted from Leschenault, Western Australia, Australia.

We had earmarked this site in Perth quite a while ago as we wanted to catch up with Peter Lehtonen and also used his place as a mail drop and for a few reviews such as the best baby running prams one, published here.. Joran has been so kind to collect our mail and act as photo backup that we snail mail. So when we know we will be at a certain location he sends the memory cards and other stuff there. This time Peter’s place.
From Moore River the Burns Beach camping is only 45 minutes so we arrive quite early (9.15 am), plenty of time to explore the ‘hood’. It seems that this is a busy place. Or we are not used to anything over 3 cars in sight. We get a bit claustrophobic (I know, how spoilt are we) and the rules on the beach seem excessive. There is literally no one on the beach and dogs are not allowed there. Everyone seems to use the bitumen foot/bicycle/skate/dogwalk path that follows the coast. It is not possible to get off the path and if you managed to scale the 5 foot fence, signs tell you that a ranger would be ready to fine you for $400. On the spot.
It is a friendly camping though, but feels restrictive to us. The view is nice.

The primary reason we stay is to have breakfast with Peter and a possible kiting spot. There’s no wind enough so we just do some work around the bus (cleaning and stuff), play guitar and go for walks over the foot/bicycle/skate/dogwalk path.

There is a reason why people have NO dog campings as we found out that evening. Our neighbours (5 people and a dog in a tent) go out that evening and leave the dog in the tent. The poor little animal must have been lonely as he was barking almost non stop from 7 till 10.30 pm.

The next day we meet Peter for breakfast, do a quick guided tour in the bus for him and get new tyres for the trailer. Then we do Perth in a flash. Marjo’s not big on busy cities and I have been to Perth many times before. So we do the essentials: the Dutch shop.

Where we stock up on essentials such as speculaas, boerenkool, hagelslag, Maggi and of course for Marjo a cinnamon stick.

Then, on a Saturday morning, we run into a traffic jam. Haven’t seen that in a while.

Of course, this being Perth, there are people who take the median strip (notice the dust) and even trucks who get themselves in trouble by trying to cross to the oncoming lanes through very soft sand. I wonder how the driver will explain this to his boss.

Then we go on our way to Miami caravan park in Mandurah. We stop somewhere for lunch and look on the map for a nice spot. There’s a lake close to the road as you can see in the picture.

Yeah, I know, somewhere the water got lost. Also the road along the missing lake was somewhat eerie, with cars sitting on the side and single older men in them. Waiting for? Not one of those places I hope?
We don’t wait to find out and drive on to Mandurah.

Posted from Macleod, Western Australia, Australia.