Well, we used to love her, but it's all over now. He he he...ahhh, Rhona and I sadly handed Bertha back to her place of hiring this afternoon. It was kind of sad to say goodbye to her after spending so much time together over the last week and a half. We worked out that we clocked up around 3,700km in her. As with most trips and jaunts, it's always great to get home though.
It was around 9:45am or so when we left Kalbarri on Wednesday morning. We knew we had a decent drive in front of us, and tried to hit the road as quick as we could. There was a bit of buzz in Bertha, as all the Bolgies were looking forward to getting back to Maddington, and our own beds! We grabbed one last $6.50 coffee for the road, and were disappointed once again. It was like bad airplane coffee; such bitterness! Not to worry, Kalbarri. Your views are gorgeous and your pizza and your fish n' chips are fantastic. I'm sure we'll return one day.
We headed towards Northampton taking in the delightful coastal scenery. It was a beautifully clear day and the sea was shimmering with colours. After getting to Dongara around 1pm or so, we parked Bertha, went in search of lunch and found a playground for the kids to burn some pent-up energy. We decided to pass through Geraldton and get a little further up the road before stopping. We enjoyed the most expensive lunch of our entire trip and much climbing and swinging was done.
Turning off the Brand Highway, we took Indian Ocean Drive for a more scenic drive home. We planned to stop in Wanneroo to fuel up Bertha, and ourselves, before heading home. The sun was starting to set as we approached the northern suburbs and after we had all been filled with the right sustenance we took off for Maddington, arriving around 7pm. When Rhona walked Zappa into our backyard he went absolutely crazy; he was finally back home and able to pee and poop without being on a lead. He excitedly ran up to Eddie and Pauline's granny flat, where he was rewarded with some cheese and the proceeded to bog lap the grass.
All that was left to do was unpack and get Bertha ready to go home the next day. It had not been the most relaxing of holidays, but it was certainly fun. Once we reached Carnarvon on the Friday, the speed certainly slowed down. We'd only stayed at each destination overnight, so it was nice to have a two nights in Carnarvon and then three in Kalbarri. Bizarrely enough, the last day of our holiday was possibly the most enjoyable. We got to do the things we'd really wanted to, but never got the chance due to either hot weather or lack of time. When we pulled into a parking bay near the beach on Tuesday morning, we rolled out Bertha's annex and sat in the shade of a lovely day, with just the hint of summer breeze. I cooked up pancakes on the gas stove-top for lunch while Rhona and Zappa took in the view. After we had eaten, we walked down to the beach where kids played in the waves and Zappa enjoyed some off-leash time. Later that afternoon, we found ourselves relaxing in the caravan park with some drinks, snacks and tunes. It was a great day.
I think the holiday has driven a few points home. Firstly, we all have an understanding of just how big Western Australia is. We really only drove around the middle third of it; there's so much more out there. Secondly, we confirmed that are bigger fans of the south than the north. He he he...us polar bear Bolgies function much better in cooler weather. It was great seeing some of the scenery up there, particularly when we were on the edge of the Karajini, but we're not fans of the heat. I think our next road trip involving a campervan will be south bound.
We also have a new appreciation for our house and our own space. After ten days crammed together our little home feels huge. The first night we all returned to our own beds (and bedrooms!) was a glorious one. That being said, we didn't really get on each other's nerves, much. He he he...it was mainly little things like tripping over each other or banging heads on cupboard doors. It was more the limitations of the small living area, rather than having to spend so much time together.
I'm a big fan of driving, so clocking up all those kilometres sat well with me. Out on the open road, music blaring, family relaxing in the campervan and enjoying the odd snack from the fridge...it was just great. We all have our own highlights and favourite experiences, but I think it will be a holiday we all remember for a long, long time. That's what it's all about, isn't it?
Team Bolgies out!
Thursday 25 September 2014
Tuesday 23 September 2014
Day Nine
Clay's just gone to get us a pizza for dinner and I'm sitting here thinking about all the amazing moments we've had over the last week and half...this trip has been a long time coming! We've spoken about a campervan holiday for as long as I can remember...and it has lived up to everything that we'd hoped it would!
Our goal has always been to show the kids as much of Australia as we can, before we plan on really exploring the rest of the globe...we will definitely take the kids to Ireland & England sometime in the next few years, to introduce them to all of my family, but apart from that, we want them to appreciate this incredible country that we are fortunate enough to call home.
We have seen so much and I truly believe that the kids have learnt a lot about the north west and Western Australian history. Holidays like these are also a great chance for Clay and I to monitor how effective the kids therapy is, in terms of applying self regulation strategies to different situations. It has been wonderful having Zappa with us too! He has been hard at work keeping the kids calm and helping to settle them when things got a bit overwhelming. All in all, it has been a magic trip!! We love being on the road and we certainly clocked up some kilometres this trip!
We spent our last day in Kalbarri at the beach, as requested by the kids! We found a great little spot, parked Bertha, and set up for lunch. Clay cooked up some tasty pancakes, brewed a couple of cups of fresh coffee (the kids had juice!) and we sat outside Bertha, soaking up the view, while enjoying our lunch. Once we'd cleaned up and the kids got into their bathers, we headed down to the beach for a dip. The kids had a ball!! They love the feel of the sand between their toes and the rush of the water over their bodies :) (Clay and I are still trying to figure out how the two of us ended up with beach loving kids! We are so not beach people!!) Zappa had a blast running up and down the beach too! He hasn't been off his lead very much lately, because of all the rules and regulations of bringing pets into caravan parks and common areas, so he went crazy at the beach!! :) such a happy dog today.
As we packed up and headed back to Bertha, we got to see a baby white crab running along the beach...it was the cutest little thing! Zappa was a bit weary of it, but the kids watched it for a while and loved how it moved through the sand. Then we headed back to the caravan park and just relaxed for the rest of the day...it has been the perfect last day of an incredible trip!
Alyssa says
"I loved being at the beach today...I also loved when dad got stuck in the sand! It was really funny!!"
Lachlan says
"I loved the beach too! The beach was so awesome. I also loved playing connect four with Dad and dancing with Mum!"
Zappa says
"Pant pant pant pant pant....slobber slobber...hurumph...snore"
Bolgie adventurers out!
Our goal has always been to show the kids as much of Australia as we can, before we plan on really exploring the rest of the globe...we will definitely take the kids to Ireland & England sometime in the next few years, to introduce them to all of my family, but apart from that, we want them to appreciate this incredible country that we are fortunate enough to call home.
We have seen so much and I truly believe that the kids have learnt a lot about the north west and Western Australian history. Holidays like these are also a great chance for Clay and I to monitor how effective the kids therapy is, in terms of applying self regulation strategies to different situations. It has been wonderful having Zappa with us too! He has been hard at work keeping the kids calm and helping to settle them when things got a bit overwhelming. All in all, it has been a magic trip!! We love being on the road and we certainly clocked up some kilometres this trip!
We spent our last day in Kalbarri at the beach, as requested by the kids! We found a great little spot, parked Bertha, and set up for lunch. Clay cooked up some tasty pancakes, brewed a couple of cups of fresh coffee (the kids had juice!) and we sat outside Bertha, soaking up the view, while enjoying our lunch. Once we'd cleaned up and the kids got into their bathers, we headed down to the beach for a dip. The kids had a ball!! They love the feel of the sand between their toes and the rush of the water over their bodies :) (Clay and I are still trying to figure out how the two of us ended up with beach loving kids! We are so not beach people!!) Zappa had a blast running up and down the beach too! He hasn't been off his lead very much lately, because of all the rules and regulations of bringing pets into caravan parks and common areas, so he went crazy at the beach!! :) such a happy dog today.
As we packed up and headed back to Bertha, we got to see a baby white crab running along the beach...it was the cutest little thing! Zappa was a bit weary of it, but the kids watched it for a while and loved how it moved through the sand. Then we headed back to the caravan park and just relaxed for the rest of the day...it has been the perfect last day of an incredible trip!
Alyssa says
"I loved being at the beach today...I also loved when dad got stuck in the sand! It was really funny!!"
Lachlan says
"I loved the beach too! The beach was so awesome. I also loved playing connect four with Dad and dancing with Mum!"
Zappa says
"Pant pant pant pant pant....slobber slobber...hurumph...snore"
Bolgie adventurers out!
Monday 22 September 2014
Day Eight
When we were planning this trip we decided to make our Kalbarri stay a relaxing one, especially when Rhona's parents suggested meeting us there. So, today has been a fairly lazy day, but an enjoyable one...mostly. Thankfully last night's storm didn't knock Bertha around too much and this morning the clouds and the sun were still fighting for supremacy.
When Granny and Grandad returned from their morning walk, they offered to stay with the grandkids while we took Zappa for a stroll. We quickly accepted, grabbed the dog and headed to the beach. It started to rain when we arrived so we spent a few grey minutes sheltering in a gazebo on the foreshore. After the sun briefly returned we found a few green Ingress portals near the town's war memorial, which we soon turned blue. Rhona also found the name of her late godmother immortalised on one of the plaques commemorating the members of the local ANZAC committee; they had been responsible for installing the memorial.
Before we headed back to the caravan park, we thought we'd indulge in a coffee and some cake from one the local cafés. I handed Rhones $20 and waited with Zappa for our elevenses. She came out with two large cappuccinos and a piece of cookies n' cream cheesecake...and 5c change. Wow. It wasn't even very good coffee either, but the cheesecake was nice. Eddie had told us earlier that they had also bought some caffeine-infused beverages from the same place. Pauline usually takes a weak or half-strength cappuccino when she has a coffee, but when Eddie ordered a "half-capp" something went awry. Rather than a half shot of coffee, she was given half a cappuccino...with a whole heap of milky foam on top. He he he, apparently she had to dig through the foam for a while before she found the coffee!
The kids started to get a little bit of cabin fever, so after lunch we took them and Zappa down to the playground on the foreshore while Eddie and Pauline drove off to take in some of the scenic sights. The sun had started to come out and despite a bit of a cool wind, it was quite pleasant. When we all met up down there again, I tried to snap a sneaky pic of everybody, with mixed results. Lachlan was not believing my protests that I was just checking my emails on my iPhone. He did not want his photo taken! He he he...
We were treated to a wonderful BBQ dinner as the sun set in Kalbarri. Pauline and Eddie had brought up everything from Perth especially, including a freshly homemade cheesecake. While we ate, Pauline complained that her shandy didn't taste very good. After realising that she'd mistaken a bottle of water for lemonade, we all took great delight in ribbing her. The night ended with us all having full bellies and big smiles. It will be sad for us to wave goodbye to Granny and Grandad in the morning, but we'll only be a day behind them. As much as we've enjoyed our trip, I think we're all looking forward to getting back to our little patch of ground in Maddington.
Alyssa says
"I liked playing on the swings and the dome at the playground. And I loved the ice cream that Grandad got me."
Lachlan says
"I loved the cheesecake that Granny made for me. I also loved watching my new SpongeBob DVD."
Zappa says
"Woof woof...*contented sigh*...sniff."
Bolgies out!
When Granny and Grandad returned from their morning walk, they offered to stay with the grandkids while we took Zappa for a stroll. We quickly accepted, grabbed the dog and headed to the beach. It started to rain when we arrived so we spent a few grey minutes sheltering in a gazebo on the foreshore. After the sun briefly returned we found a few green Ingress portals near the town's war memorial, which we soon turned blue. Rhona also found the name of her late godmother immortalised on one of the plaques commemorating the members of the local ANZAC committee; they had been responsible for installing the memorial.
Before we headed back to the caravan park, we thought we'd indulge in a coffee and some cake from one the local cafés. I handed Rhones $20 and waited with Zappa for our elevenses. She came out with two large cappuccinos and a piece of cookies n' cream cheesecake...and 5c change. Wow. It wasn't even very good coffee either, but the cheesecake was nice. Eddie had told us earlier that they had also bought some caffeine-infused beverages from the same place. Pauline usually takes a weak or half-strength cappuccino when she has a coffee, but when Eddie ordered a "half-capp" something went awry. Rather than a half shot of coffee, she was given half a cappuccino...with a whole heap of milky foam on top. He he he, apparently she had to dig through the foam for a while before she found the coffee!
The kids started to get a little bit of cabin fever, so after lunch we took them and Zappa down to the playground on the foreshore while Eddie and Pauline drove off to take in some of the scenic sights. The sun had started to come out and despite a bit of a cool wind, it was quite pleasant. When we all met up down there again, I tried to snap a sneaky pic of everybody, with mixed results. Lachlan was not believing my protests that I was just checking my emails on my iPhone. He did not want his photo taken! He he he...
We were treated to a wonderful BBQ dinner as the sun set in Kalbarri. Pauline and Eddie had brought up everything from Perth especially, including a freshly homemade cheesecake. While we ate, Pauline complained that her shandy didn't taste very good. After realising that she'd mistaken a bottle of water for lemonade, we all took great delight in ribbing her. The night ended with us all having full bellies and big smiles. It will be sad for us to wave goodbye to Granny and Grandad in the morning, but we'll only be a day behind them. As much as we've enjoyed our trip, I think we're all looking forward to getting back to our little patch of ground in Maddington.
Alyssa says
"I liked playing on the swings and the dome at the playground. And I loved the ice cream that Grandad got me."
Lachlan says
"I loved the cheesecake that Granny made for me. I also loved watching my new SpongeBob DVD."
Zappa says
"Woof woof...*contented sigh*...sniff."
Bolgies out!
Sunday 21 September 2014
Day Seven
After a return visit to the awesome play ground and a quick dip in the beach for the kids, we waved goodbye to Carnarvon and headed back down highway number 1, towards Kalbarri. The kids were a bit out of sorts today, especially poor little Lochie who has come down with a cold...he's not himself at all :( we knew we had about 5 hours of traveling to do today, so we all agreed that we'd drive as long as we could, before stopping for lunch. Lochie and Zappa got to snuggling at the back of Bertha while Alyssa grabbed her Lego and set herself up at the dining table...everyone was happy and ready to drive!
The weather caused some interesting conditions for driving today...we went through dust storms, rain storms and very windy patches that made Bertha dance around the road a bit! Clay took it all in his stride, while I quietly panicked next to him! I have to say, that apart from the odd idiot, the majority of open road travellers are very safe and courteous drivers. I love the hand waves from each driver (each one a little different from the last one) as we pass by, and the road train drivers that slow down and indicate for you when it's safe to overtake...there is a real sense of camaraderie between open road travellers! We're really loving it! :)
We stopped at the 'Overlander' roadhouse for lunch, along with a load of grey nomads! There were caravans everywhere!...It was pretty cold and wet outside so we sheltered inside Bertha, and enjoyed our hot lunch...we went from sweltering heat, to grabbing jumpers and trackies within the space of about 24 hours! And us Polar Bear Bolgies were loving it!! :)
We hit the road again and after driving through the Kalbarri National Park (and finally seeing some beautiful wildflowers) we arrived in Kalbarri to be greeted by my Mum and Dad!! :) they travelled up from perth to spend our last few days of holidays together, before we all head home again. We've only been in Kalbarri for a few hours, but this place already has a great feel about it. The colder weather is really making us happier! Although, I think we're in for a thunderstorm tonight so let's hope Bertha doesn't float away!!
Alyssa says
"I loved playing in the ocean today...and I also loved playing 'Guess Who' with Dad tonight, I won the first game and Dad won the second game. It was fun! I'm also so happy to see Granny and Grandad because I really missed them!"
Lachlan says
"I don't feel very well today, it's made me feel a bit sad...but I did love that Granny brought me cheesecake!"
Zappa says
"slobber slobber...yawn...woof woof"
Bolgie Adventurers Out!
The weather caused some interesting conditions for driving today...we went through dust storms, rain storms and very windy patches that made Bertha dance around the road a bit! Clay took it all in his stride, while I quietly panicked next to him! I have to say, that apart from the odd idiot, the majority of open road travellers are very safe and courteous drivers. I love the hand waves from each driver (each one a little different from the last one) as we pass by, and the road train drivers that slow down and indicate for you when it's safe to overtake...there is a real sense of camaraderie between open road travellers! We're really loving it! :)
We stopped at the 'Overlander' roadhouse for lunch, along with a load of grey nomads! There were caravans everywhere!...It was pretty cold and wet outside so we sheltered inside Bertha, and enjoyed our hot lunch...we went from sweltering heat, to grabbing jumpers and trackies within the space of about 24 hours! And us Polar Bear Bolgies were loving it!! :)
We hit the road again and after driving through the Kalbarri National Park (and finally seeing some beautiful wildflowers) we arrived in Kalbarri to be greeted by my Mum and Dad!! :) they travelled up from perth to spend our last few days of holidays together, before we all head home again. We've only been in Kalbarri for a few hours, but this place already has a great feel about it. The colder weather is really making us happier! Although, I think we're in for a thunderstorm tonight so let's hope Bertha doesn't float away!!
Alyssa says
"I loved playing in the ocean today...and I also loved playing 'Guess Who' with Dad tonight, I won the first game and Dad won the second game. It was fun! I'm also so happy to see Granny and Grandad because I really missed them!"
Lachlan says
"I don't feel very well today, it's made me feel a bit sad...but I did love that Granny brought me cheesecake!"
Zappa says
"slobber slobber...yawn...woof woof"
Bolgie Adventurers Out!
Saturday 20 September 2014
Day Six
Today has been a big change of pace from the rest of our trip so far. We decided to stay another night in Carnarvon and just kick back. Bertha stayed parked all day and we only left the caravan park once. We needed a few supplies and Zappa hadn't had a decent walk for a few days, so we trekked up to the IGA on foot. Amidst much whining from one family member and a fairly warm sun we made it there and back with everything we needed for another day or two.
Since we left Perth each day has greeted us with maximums of 32 degrees or more, so we all felt relived when Carnarvon was only going to reach 27. We all felt sorry for our family and friends in Perth when we learned that today was the hottest day in September on record. After we got back the shop we pretty much shut ourselves in Bertha, cranked the A/C and simply lounged about. It was nice to have a day that wasn't so rushed and schedule-driven. We've travelled quite a distance in our time on the road, but it's going to make the next few days even better. Our next stop is Kalbarri where we'll remain for the rest of our trip. Rhona's parents will be meeting us there too, and we're all looking forward to seeing each other again.
There was talk of going back into the pool or checking out a playground in the morning, but after lunch we were all happy just chilling in the campervan. Alyssa potted about with some LEGO and reread the Marvel storybook we'd finished the night before. Rhona and I got out some Trivia Pursuit questions, which Lachlan decided he wanted to cut in on too. Numerous episodes of the Upside Down Show were thrown about as well.
After getting the necessary provisions a coupla days back we finally had our first BBQ meal this evening. We rolled out Bertha's annex and enjoyed a meal as the sun set on the banana plantations around us. It had been such a relaxing day, and something we all needed. I think life on the road was getting to Zappa a bit too, and today's downtime has had a fairly calming effect on him. Onward to Kalbarri in the morning!
Alyssa says
"I liked playing with my LEGO today, and playing games with Lachlan on his iPad. Trying to find all the objects in the Where's Elvis? book was fun too."
Lachlan says
Although he wasn't feeling very good today, he enjoyed playing with his iPad and snuggling with Zappa.
Zappa says
"Yawn...woof woof."
Bolgies out!
Since we left Perth each day has greeted us with maximums of 32 degrees or more, so we all felt relived when Carnarvon was only going to reach 27. We all felt sorry for our family and friends in Perth when we learned that today was the hottest day in September on record. After we got back the shop we pretty much shut ourselves in Bertha, cranked the A/C and simply lounged about. It was nice to have a day that wasn't so rushed and schedule-driven. We've travelled quite a distance in our time on the road, but it's going to make the next few days even better. Our next stop is Kalbarri where we'll remain for the rest of our trip. Rhona's parents will be meeting us there too, and we're all looking forward to seeing each other again.
There was talk of going back into the pool or checking out a playground in the morning, but after lunch we were all happy just chilling in the campervan. Alyssa potted about with some LEGO and reread the Marvel storybook we'd finished the night before. Rhona and I got out some Trivia Pursuit questions, which Lachlan decided he wanted to cut in on too. Numerous episodes of the Upside Down Show were thrown about as well.
After getting the necessary provisions a coupla days back we finally had our first BBQ meal this evening. We rolled out Bertha's annex and enjoyed a meal as the sun set on the banana plantations around us. It had been such a relaxing day, and something we all needed. I think life on the road was getting to Zappa a bit too, and today's downtime has had a fairly calming effect on him. Onward to Kalbarri in the morning!
Alyssa says
"I liked playing with my LEGO today, and playing games with Lachlan on his iPad. Trying to find all the objects in the Where's Elvis? book was fun too."
Lachlan says
Although he wasn't feeling very good today, he enjoyed playing with his iPad and snuggling with Zappa.
Zappa says
"Yawn...woof woof."
Bolgies out!
Friday 19 September 2014
Day Five
Some of my favourite childhood memories, are sitting next to my Dad, in the cab of his truck, travelling the state as his 'off-sider'! I was (and still am) a very proud trucker's daughter! Dad would bring me along on as many trips as he could, until the year I turned 6 and that silly old school stuff got in the way! (oops...Maybe a teacher shouldn't write stuff like that!). I can remember talking non-stop for hours, asking question after question, and poor old Dad would answer every question! We'd hassle each other about silly things and I can remember looking up to see Dad's big smiling face looking back at me. He'd say, "I love you my little sparring partner!" to which I'd pause for a second to say, "I love you too"...and then continue on babbling about god knows what! I could also 'drive' a truck by the time I was 5!! And no-one could tell me that I was not the one in control of that truck!...even though I couldn't reach the pedals!! :)
These memories have been so vivid for me today, as I drove Bertha down highway number 1, with my kids taking turns to sit next to me...Bertha is not quite the big truck that my Dad drove, but it was certainly the same feeling, just this time, I'm the parent and it's my big smile looking down at my little man and my little princess :) such a great feeling!! :)
So after a cooked breaky this morning, we hit the road again heading towards Carnarvon...we were lucky enough to see quite a few eagles flying around today...they are such majestic looking birds. We also saw a lot of cows and one kangaroo...still haven't seen any wild emus yet! This game of spotto is getting a little tough to complete!
We stopped along the side of the road (in the middle of nowhere) to make lunch...Clay snapped a gorgeous photo, so have a look at his Instagram if you haven't seen it...it does look a little 'Breaking Bad', but I promise we were only 'cooking' lunch! ;)
We hit the road again and arrived in Carnarvon in the late afternoon...the kids wanted to go for a swim, so we jumped into the coldest swimming pool that I have ever experienced!! It took my breath away! The kids turned an interesting shade of blue, but refused to get out! I think it's the first time they've felt cold in days, and our little polar bear Bolgies were enjoying that feeling again! :)
After the swim, we went and got some take away and headed down to the 'town beach playground' for a picnic dinner...it was such a beautiful spot! We met a lovely family down there who had been traveling around Australia for the past 3 months...they had some great stories to share with us while all our kids played happily together. It was such a lovely way to end the day :)
Alyssa says
"My favourite thing about today was when Dad got stuck going the slide at the playground! I just laughed and laughed!"
Lachlan says
"My favourite thing was when mum and dad went on the flying fox in the playground...dad bounced on the ground and then Zappa jumped on him! It was so funny!!"
Zappa says
"Woof woof...slobber slobber...snort"
Bolgie Adventurers out
These memories have been so vivid for me today, as I drove Bertha down highway number 1, with my kids taking turns to sit next to me...Bertha is not quite the big truck that my Dad drove, but it was certainly the same feeling, just this time, I'm the parent and it's my big smile looking down at my little man and my little princess :) such a great feeling!! :)
So after a cooked breaky this morning, we hit the road again heading towards Carnarvon...we were lucky enough to see quite a few eagles flying around today...they are such majestic looking birds. We also saw a lot of cows and one kangaroo...still haven't seen any wild emus yet! This game of spotto is getting a little tough to complete!
We stopped along the side of the road (in the middle of nowhere) to make lunch...Clay snapped a gorgeous photo, so have a look at his Instagram if you haven't seen it...it does look a little 'Breaking Bad', but I promise we were only 'cooking' lunch! ;)
We hit the road again and arrived in Carnarvon in the late afternoon...the kids wanted to go for a swim, so we jumped into the coldest swimming pool that I have ever experienced!! It took my breath away! The kids turned an interesting shade of blue, but refused to get out! I think it's the first time they've felt cold in days, and our little polar bear Bolgies were enjoying that feeling again! :)
After the swim, we went and got some take away and headed down to the 'town beach playground' for a picnic dinner...it was such a beautiful spot! We met a lovely family down there who had been traveling around Australia for the past 3 months...they had some great stories to share with us while all our kids played happily together. It was such a lovely way to end the day :)
Alyssa says
"My favourite thing about today was when Dad got stuck going the slide at the playground! I just laughed and laughed!"
Lachlan says
"My favourite thing was when mum and dad went on the flying fox in the playground...dad bounced on the ground and then Zappa jumped on him! It was so funny!!"
Zappa says
"Woof woof...slobber slobber...snort"
Bolgie Adventurers out
Thursday 18 September 2014
Day Four
After an absolutely terrific night with AJ and Amy in Port Hedland, we packed up Bertha and headed towards Karratha. We were grateful to have spent the night in a house, which also happened to have industrial strength A/C! It also had rooms with doors and stuff, it was great. A change is as good as a holiday, and we'll get back to holidayin'! I have to say that AJ can grill a mean steak, and Amy's potato salad was nothing short of sensational...even with bits of apple in it!
Right, so we pottered around South Hedland for a bit so that Lachlan could spend some cold, hard birthday cash. The Kmart there happened to have the very DVDs he sought. We also treated ourselves to a cheeky second breakfast from Macca's. We hit the open road again, stopping for a quick bite to eat in the town of Roebourne, a mere 34 degrees at 1pm. The campervan has A/C, but only in the front cab. The back section does have it too, but only when we're connected to power at a caravan park. So, it can get fairly toasty. The two schmos in the front lap up the cool air, while the other two try to keep cool in the back. Zappa tends to oscillate between the two areas, but tends to dig lying under the feet of the Bolgie riding shotgun.
I have to say that driving is my favourite part of trips like these. I get a big kick out of driving anyway, as it's a great excuse to listen to music and take in some scenery. Our tour of Tasmania in January this year was just wonderful, and I ate up the kilometres like a starved hyena. When Rhona and I picked up Bertha on Sunday we noticed that the CD player was fairly basic, so we'd need to bring some CDs with us, and not mp3 discs either. I had the idea of bringing a heap of my old CD compilations, some dating back to when we got out first CD burner in 2000. Of course, some stuff turns up that would be on my iPod, but every now and then a nugget or two slips into the mix. It's been fun listening to tracks from particular albums show up as they turned up in our collection. Oh yes, I'm listening to them in chronological order; does that surprise you? Got through the first twenty or so already. Only another forty or so to get through.
Rhona took the Roebourne to Karratha shift and once we arrived, we fuelled up (again!) and got a few supplies before meeting our friend Kelly and her two boys, Jace and Nathan. Kelly is our good friend Shaun's sister and she's lived up there for years. It was nice to see her on her home turf. She took us to a great park called the Mara Guthurra Adventure Playground, where the kids got to burn a little energy. Lachlan and Jace took a shine to the flying fox setup and spent a bit of time riding together.
Back on the road once more, we headed towards Carnavon. We knew we wouldn't reach the town by a reasonable hour, so we were going to check out a few roadhouses along the way, because we knew they had powered sites available. Luckily for us, we were able to set up camp at the first stop we came to, Fortescue Roadhouse. It's quite a pretty stop, in spite of the FIFO populated dongers bordering the back of the area. The dusk time lit up the sky with a lovely mix of oranges, reds and purples, bouncing off the hills surrounding the roadhouse.
After a suitably expensive roadhouse meal, we washed the kids (and ourselves) and then finished the day with a game of Trivial Pursuit for Kids. Lachlan won. Kinda. Both he and Alyssa answered some great questions without any help. Alyssa in particular was showing a broad range of knowledge. Tomorrow we'll head to Carnavon. Hopefully it'll be a little cooler as we head down the coast. We're currently 1433km away from Perth.
Alyssa says
"I loved getting Hot Cakes from McDonald's this morning. I also really liked watching the Upside Down Show DVD in our campervan."
Lachlan says
"I enjoyed spending my birthday money. Oh, and the flying fox at the park. I liked winning Trival Pursuit too."
Zappa says
"Woof woof woof woof...yawn...snort."
Bolgies out!
Right, so we pottered around South Hedland for a bit so that Lachlan could spend some cold, hard birthday cash. The Kmart there happened to have the very DVDs he sought. We also treated ourselves to a cheeky second breakfast from Macca's. We hit the open road again, stopping for a quick bite to eat in the town of Roebourne, a mere 34 degrees at 1pm. The campervan has A/C, but only in the front cab. The back section does have it too, but only when we're connected to power at a caravan park. So, it can get fairly toasty. The two schmos in the front lap up the cool air, while the other two try to keep cool in the back. Zappa tends to oscillate between the two areas, but tends to dig lying under the feet of the Bolgie riding shotgun.
I have to say that driving is my favourite part of trips like these. I get a big kick out of driving anyway, as it's a great excuse to listen to music and take in some scenery. Our tour of Tasmania in January this year was just wonderful, and I ate up the kilometres like a starved hyena. When Rhona and I picked up Bertha on Sunday we noticed that the CD player was fairly basic, so we'd need to bring some CDs with us, and not mp3 discs either. I had the idea of bringing a heap of my old CD compilations, some dating back to when we got out first CD burner in 2000. Of course, some stuff turns up that would be on my iPod, but every now and then a nugget or two slips into the mix. It's been fun listening to tracks from particular albums show up as they turned up in our collection. Oh yes, I'm listening to them in chronological order; does that surprise you? Got through the first twenty or so already. Only another forty or so to get through.
Rhona took the Roebourne to Karratha shift and once we arrived, we fuelled up (again!) and got a few supplies before meeting our friend Kelly and her two boys, Jace and Nathan. Kelly is our good friend Shaun's sister and she's lived up there for years. It was nice to see her on her home turf. She took us to a great park called the Mara Guthurra Adventure Playground, where the kids got to burn a little energy. Lachlan and Jace took a shine to the flying fox setup and spent a bit of time riding together.
Back on the road once more, we headed towards Carnavon. We knew we wouldn't reach the town by a reasonable hour, so we were going to check out a few roadhouses along the way, because we knew they had powered sites available. Luckily for us, we were able to set up camp at the first stop we came to, Fortescue Roadhouse. It's quite a pretty stop, in spite of the FIFO populated dongers bordering the back of the area. The dusk time lit up the sky with a lovely mix of oranges, reds and purples, bouncing off the hills surrounding the roadhouse.
After a suitably expensive roadhouse meal, we washed the kids (and ourselves) and then finished the day with a game of Trivial Pursuit for Kids. Lachlan won. Kinda. Both he and Alyssa answered some great questions without any help. Alyssa in particular was showing a broad range of knowledge. Tomorrow we'll head to Carnavon. Hopefully it'll be a little cooler as we head down the coast. We're currently 1433km away from Perth.
Alyssa says
"I loved getting Hot Cakes from McDonald's this morning. I also really liked watching the Upside Down Show DVD in our campervan."
Lachlan says
"I enjoyed spending my birthday money. Oh, and the flying fox at the park. I liked winning Trival Pursuit too."
Zappa says
"Woof woof woof woof...yawn...snort."
Bolgies out!
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