Jan 1st - 14th
1st January
Awoke this morning after the New Year’s Party at Lis and Nath’s in Bunbury. Left Perth last night at 8pm and arrived in Bunbury at 10pm. Extremely busy day yesterday of finishing the bus and then packing everything in the bus. The bus drove really well on the way down fully loaded. Saw some kangaroos and two sheep on the Old Bunbury Road, nearly hit the sheep but scared the shit out of one with our high beams and it ran straight into a tree. Better than the bulbar!
Spent New Year’s Day @ Lis and Naths nursing a hangover! Scored a kilo of king prawns from a girl at the party so I cooked them on the BBQ for dinner - Yum!
Did a little work on the bus - Trims bathroom etc.
2nd January
Again at Lisa and Naths today.
Worked on the bus - finished the bathroom and floor trims. Finished the big list from Bec, but still no treat!
Went to the Prince Hotel in Bunbury for lunch - Nath and I had the 'Super Rump' - at least 700 grams - a big eat!
Had the bus inspected today for rego, it weighs in at 5280kg. Passed inspection except dipsticks at Dept Planning didn't change the body type.
Bec used the toilet tonight for the first time! She was a bit worried she would get a wet hand like she did when using the pump on the old boat toilet!
3rd January
Awoke at Lis and Nath’s. Worked on the bus again and finished floor trims - wired up TV and finished shower door.
Went to Bunnings for some final bits.
Left Lisa, Nath and Corey John! I'm sure he will have grown a little next time we see him!
Drove to Busso and saw Kerry & Yvonne on the way near the turnoff to Capel, was good to see them before we leave.
Got to Busso at 7 and had dinner with Mum and Dad at the caravan. Booz and Bree (Booz's new GF) came over for a drink and desert.
Had our first night of free camping at Monohams Boat Ramp!
Bec had a restless night as Charlie was sick.
I had the first shower on Board! All went really well - Water nice and hot!
4th January
Mum and Dad came around for breakfast - Mum brought pancake mix which we cooked on the bus!
Had our first busy body today - Old lady checking out bus and commenting on the good camp spot we had.
Booz and Bree visited to check out the bus. They both like it - Bree said a bit smaller than the one she had but really nice.
Did some shopping today then made lunch at Busso jetty on bus. Had dinner at "Nard" with Mick and Dell. Showed them through Bus, Mick really liked it.
Stayed night at Monohams again.
5th January
Charlie and I awoke early and watched sunrise over Jetty, got some nice shots.
Went to get Charlie groomed and vet after him eating Kirby's food!
Got some food shopping done so we can cook our first meal.
Had lunch with Mum, Dad and Booz.
Said goodbye to Mum and Dad at Amblin - felt funny saying goodbye to them with us being the ones leaving.
Left Busso at 3pm and headed for Pemberton. Got held up in traffic jam for South Bound Concert.
Got to Pembi at 5.30 went into town then to Big Brook Dam campsite for the night. Really nice spot in bush with a few other campers.
6th January
Got up and packed up after bush walk with Charlie.
Met our first holiday travelers - Jeff and Maria from Sydney. Jeff is a diver and a builder and Maria is an interior designer and they are thinking of building a bus also but not before the birth of their first child in 4 months. We will look them up in Sydney as they offered Bec a relaxing spa bath which by then she won't be able to refuse!
Went to timber Gallery and had morning tea.
Left Pemberton and headed towards Walpole. Stopped in Walpole for lunch then continued to the tree top walk.
Snuck into National Park with Charlie - Bec and I did the Tree Top Walk. What an experience - Don't think Bec enjoyed it as much as I did as she was really scared! The whole structure moves round a lot, especially when I started jumping on it!
Continued driving to Albany - Went to Nadine and Wayne's and had Pizza for dinner.
Sat out the back and shared a few beers and some laughs with Wayne and his bro Brent.
7th January
Made everyone pancakes for breakfast - Mums banana and walnut recipe!
Nadine and Wayne took us four wheel driving. Went to Mutton Bird Beach then to Dingoes Beach - very boggy 4WD track to an amazing beach. Saw about 20 dolphins surfing the waves - absolutely amazing site.
Don't know that we will ever need a 4WD as Bec defiantly isn't the off-road sort of girl! But she did better than Brent - His Cruiser only made it 30 meters on the sand - blown transfer case!
I cooked BBQ steak sandwich and Bec made a fantastic potato salad which Brent really enjoyed!
8th January
I awoke knowing I had a full day’s computer work ahead on the computer as Bec has laid down the law and told me it needs to be finished. Nadine came home for lunch and after a couple of hours of Bec watching me she decided to bumb a lift with Deaney and head into town for some 'window shopping'!
Bec and Deaney walked the dogs - what a sight, a huge Bullmastif and a tiny Chiaua!
Sampled some of Albany's finest country hospitality at the aptly named 'Country Manor' if the 30 minute wait at the "please wait here to be seated" sign wasn't an indication of what was to come the frozen fish and luke warm beers (because they were sitting on the bar for 30 minutes) certainly were! But when the mains arrived they weren't too bad, but Bec and Deaney ensured that Wayne didn't have to pay for his frozen fish!
9th January
Finally the list for completion of Bec's Hilton is getting shorter.
Very productive day, sorted out water tanks, completed installation of PC and tested screens.
In the late afternoon Jeff (Wayne), Dutchy (Deaney), Paris (Bec) and Earl (Mike) using our alias's we went to Albany's premiere ten pin bowling alley so that Jeff could display his fantastic bowling skills only to be matched and then outdone by Earl by a mere 1 pin! Though that may have been due to Jeff's excess bowling juice consumption. Other highlights included Bec's mid alley bowling style and Deaney showing us how the 'cheese making flower picking dutchies' do it with a one off strike.
All round fun day and night:)
10th January
After yesterdays belt dramas Mike sorted some issues out in the morning, then we all had lunch with Dutchy.
After lunch Jeff decided to show us his first family home - The Albany Gaol! An incredibly interesting display, lots of Albany's history to see, certainly not a place that you would have liked to of called home.
As this was to be our last night with access to an oven Dutchy suggested a nice roast so Mike did his usual and took over the kitchen, producing yet another feast:)
11th January
Today will be our last day in Albany so we shared lunch with the Smiths and said our good-byes but not before we were presented with a some very touristy stubby holders and our first fridge magnet to remind us of Albany. We will certainly miss the Smiths and their hospitality (even if Mike was wearing it out!!)
Travelled around the corner to visit some old Mullins friends, Warren and Miss Jane. Had a great afternoon checked out the peat bog and picked some fresh beans (much to the Kiwi's disgust as he could have got $8 kg for those!) What a fantastic set up, Bec even commented that she thinks she could live on a farm in Albany one day.
Drove to Bremer Bay, Bec had a go at driving the bus for about 20kms she did really well just needs to learn she is driving a 5 tonne bus and maintaining speed is a little different to a car.
On arrival in Bremer we found another beach side camping spot overlooking the back beach bombie. We all enjoyed (including Charlie) an afternoon walk on the beach followed by dinner with a panoramic view of Bremer Bay.
12th January
Enjoyed breakfast with the same panoramic view of the Bay. Then headed to the local museum for another look back in time. Mike found a tractor that reminded him of the old Fordson tractor he used to ride on with his Grandpop.
Left Bremer with the intention to head to Hopetoun but on arrival in Ravensthorpe we were told that the road to Esperance was open today so we decided to press on though after 80kms of gravel Mike was starting to question if this was a good idea, but eventually we arrived in Esperance and checked into the Bathers Paradise Caravan Park. A nice little park that welcomed Charlie. Ouch our first night in almost 2 weeks that we've had to pay for only because the local council will fine you $100 for trying to camp as we have been previously.
Cooked dinner in the bus and enjoyed a quick walk searching for chocolate.
13th January
Got woken up this morning by our new neighbor banging away at his stuck tow hitch at 7.30am! Mike cooked pancakes (this sure is starting to feel like the Hilton - well I'm sure it is for Bec anyway!).
Went into town to sort out antenna for internet and to clean the bus after the gravel tracks and locusts (spelling?) then some food shopping for our upcoming Nullabour crossing!
Went to the beach, Charlie thought collecting seaweed was a game so Bec ended up with a pile of it under her seat. After much encouragement from Mike, Bec relieved herself in the water, providing Mike with a beach side spectacle.
Came back to the campsite after the beach to find Bec's playmates had returned to attempt to chew off her remaining leg in almost true Wendy style except she was only 7 years old but when told she was shorter than her 6 year old cousin she exclaimed "that's just how life is sometimes isn't it!" Bec got very frustrated and is rethinking motherhood!
Enjoyed our first meal under the awning on our new outdoor table, hardly roughing it - gourmet sausages with homemade potato salad, Evans and Tate wine and relaxing ipod tunes.
14th January
Bec's best friends from next door woke us this morning screaming their heads off!!
Took Charlie for a walk at the front beach then headed to the towns market sort of expected to see Wendy there - but didn’t - got Bec her new belly button ring as hers has lost a ball!
Went to see Twilight beach but was packed as it was a Sunday! So went back to West beach which has a small barrier reef protecting it from the swell. Had a swim though water was extremely cold! Had Lunch in a park in town then headed back to camp for an afternoon drink!
Bec went wave surfing in the afternoon while mike consumed a few beverages! Mike cooked his infamous chicken kebabs on the BBQ for dinner. Watched DVD's in the cool of the night.
After yesterdays belt dramas Mike sorted some issues out in the morning, then we all had lunch with Dutchy.
After lunch Jeff decided to show us his first family home - The Albany Gaol! An incredibly interesting display, lots of Albany's history to see, certainly not a place that you would have liked to of called home.
As this was to be our last night with access to an oven Dutchy suggested a nice roast so Mike did his usual and took over the kitchen, producing yet another feast:)
11th January
Today will be our last day in Albany so we shared lunch with the Smiths and said our good-byes but not before we were presented with a some very touristy stubby holders and our first fridge magnet to remind us of Albany. We will certainly miss the Smiths and their hospitality (even if Mike was wearing it out!!)
Travelled around the corner to visit some old Mullins friends, Warren and Miss Jane. Had a great afternoon checked out the peat bog and picked some fresh beans (much to the Kiwi's disgust as he could have got $8 kg for those!) What a fantastic set up, Bec even commented that she thinks she could live on a farm in Albany one day.
Drove to Bremer Bay, Bec had a go at driving the bus for about 20kms she did really well just needs to learn she is driving a 5 tonne bus and maintaining speed is a little different to a car.
On arrival in Bremer we found another beach side camping spot overlooking the back beach bombie. We all enjoyed (including Charlie) an afternoon walk on the beach followed by dinner with a panoramic view of Bremer Bay.
12th January
Enjoyed breakfast with the same panoramic view of the Bay. Then headed to the local museum for another look back in time. Mike found a tractor that reminded him of the old Fordson tractor he used to ride on with his Grandpop.
Left Bremer with the intention to head to Hopetoun but on arrival in Ravensthorpe we were told that the road to Esperance was open today so we decided to press on though after 80kms of gravel Mike was starting to question if this was a good idea, but eventually we arrived in Esperance and checked into the Bathers Paradise Caravan Park. A nice little park that welcomed Charlie. Ouch our first night in almost 2 weeks that we've had to pay for only because the local council will fine you $100 for trying to camp as we have been previously.
Cooked dinner in the bus and enjoyed a quick walk searching for chocolate.
13th January
Got woken up this morning by our new neighbor banging away at his stuck tow hitch at 7.30am! Mike cooked pancakes (this sure is starting to feel like the Hilton - well I'm sure it is for Bec anyway!).
Went into town to sort out antenna for internet and to clean the bus after the gravel tracks and locusts (spelling?) then some food shopping for our upcoming Nullabour crossing!
Went to the beach, Charlie thought collecting seaweed was a game so Bec ended up with a pile of it under her seat. After much encouragement from Mike, Bec relieved herself in the water, providing Mike with a beach side spectacle.
Came back to the campsite after the beach to find Bec's playmates had returned to attempt to chew off her remaining leg in almost true Wendy style except she was only 7 years old but when told she was shorter than her 6 year old cousin she exclaimed "that's just how life is sometimes isn't it!" Bec got very frustrated and is rethinking motherhood!
Enjoyed our first meal under the awning on our new outdoor table, hardly roughing it - gourmet sausages with homemade potato salad, Evans and Tate wine and relaxing ipod tunes.
14th January
Bec's best friends from next door woke us this morning screaming their heads off!!
Took Charlie for a walk at the front beach then headed to the towns market sort of expected to see Wendy there - but didn’t - got Bec her new belly button ring as hers has lost a ball!
Went to see Twilight beach but was packed as it was a Sunday! So went back to West beach which has a small barrier reef protecting it from the swell. Had a swim though water was extremely cold! Had Lunch in a park in town then headed back to camp for an afternoon drink!
Bec went wave surfing in the afternoon while mike consumed a few beverages! Mike cooked his infamous chicken kebabs on the BBQ for dinner. Watched DVD's in the cool of the night.