Another super time with friends in the S.W.

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Hi all
We've had an enjoyable week with Rick and Sue, exploring more of the south west area. They travelled with us in our car, and stayed in cabins in the caravan parks, which worked out very well. We spent 2 nights at Busselton, unfortunately the weather was not great, apparently the wettest 24 hour period for this time of the year for 20 years, but it did not stop us too much! (Breaking us in for NZ next week!) We visited yet another lighthouse - Cape Naturaliste - and we all did the personal conducted tour (no one else there at the time we were doing it). Rick was very interested too. We saw some whales off shore, but because it was quite rough and windy, they were not so easy to spot. After visiting nearby Bunker Bay and Sugarloaf Rock, we headed down towards Margaret River and the vineyards. We did some tastings (Chris had none as he won't drink when driving), and had lunch at one of the vineyards - Driftwood Estate. We drove on to others, some we just stopped and walked through. Many of them are very upmarket, with beautiful gardens, tasting areas and restaurants. At Margaret River township we did the walk through, before heading back up to Busselton via the Candy Cow , a lolly and chocolate shop. After drinks, Chris and Rick headed off to find us takeaways for dinner - but they had a lot of difficulty finding anything open after 6pm. Eventually they tracked down some nice fish and chips. It's amazing how everything closes down here at 5pm at night and Saturday afternoons and Sundays. After a wet and windy night, we packed up between showers and headed back up the coast road to Mandurah for a night. We were parked opposite Rick and Sue's cabin on grass - very handy. We explored the city (only one hour south of Perth), with it's many canals and waterways, and high rises. Mandurah is apparently Australia's fastest growing city, with 40% of realestate owned by visitors from other parts of Australia and overseas. We could see why it's so popular.
The next day we arranged to leave the van at the caravan park (instead of checking it out by 10am), and went into the city for an excellent canal and waterways cruise. Some of the houses were amazing. We were told they all compete to dress their million dollar + homes with Xmas lights, and the night time cruises in December are so popular many nights are already booked out. Most houses have boats at their jetties, including some with "champagne cruisers", and enjoy the Peel - Harvey Estuary which is 2 1/2 times larger than Sydney Harbour, or can go out to sea to Rottnest Island and up the coast.
After collecting our van from the very friendly staffed caravan park, we drove back up the new freeway (opened last month), and motorway to within a couple of kms of Burns Beach. We had a very windy night back there by the beach. That night we dined with Rick and Sue's relations, Laurie , Christine and Joey at an Indian Restaurant nearby. After saying our farewells, we headed back yesterday to Forrestfield and our same spot. Here we have nice friendly neighbours, 2 lots are having new houses built, another couple from Victoria have a daughter very ill with cancer and are helping look after her and their 14 month old grand daughter.
Tomorrow we are driving to Beverley , south east of York, and a country fair. Should be different! Monday the van goes in for it's service nearby. It is "schoolies week" in Australia this next week when all the school leavers party up big time, so we will give Rottness Island a miss till we come back. That is one of the places lots of young ones head for the week, and the boats are booked out. Not a good time to go.
Cheers Lynne and Chris

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Photos

time for a cuppa
all set up at Busselton for a couple of days

sewn fish display
at Busselton wharf museum

drinks on the deck
Rick and Sue's cabin

tasting time!
at Clairvault Margaret River winery

Margaret River sign
we explored north of Margaret River town with Rick and Sue, south with Linds and Harv.

Mandurah canal homes
champagne cruiser out front

$300,000 bronze statue
to the left in garden is a French bronze boar statue

bridge with footpath
steps lead to a fishing platform

Comments

[jenny]

What a time you are having!
Love all your photos and comments lynne. Sorry I havent replied but no doubt you get a lot but i have seen your photos. They are amazing.This last 9 months have been horrendous for me. I have had knee surgery and had to wait ages for that through ACC and then recuperation - no golf for 5 months. Went on trip to Queenstown in the winter with full brace!! No skiing! However Bryan and I just got back from 2 week quick trip and memory lane for me, to India. - Delhi and Rajasthan. Amazing. Have lots of photos and will go again. Enjoy the rest of your trip. Not sure when it ends but i expect you dont want it to. How will you ever lead a normal life again!! Cheers, Jenny L

[Rick Larcombe]

handbag
Lynne - the final photo of me pointing to Mandurah waterway map also shows me carrying a handbag.....I thought that was our little secret, and not for general publication! We had a great time regards ....Rick and Sue

[cam]

Wet Weather
Glad to hear you are climatizing to the rain..You will need to...Shitty in PN at present..Two earthquakes last week.We head north permanently on the 18th Dec YAH!!!Catch you soon Cheers C and R

[Kirsti (Tony&Brendas Friend)]

Hi - good to read your blog about the SW. We have been "living" in Perth at Cottesloe Beach for the last 6-7 weeks, loving it. Beach 50m one way and Victoria St train station (just before Freo) a few hundred the other! Glen and I are both doing Ironman In Busselton Sat week, yes, we swim out and round that pier!! So moving to the campground cabins at Beachlands on Friday for 10 nights before checking into something more luxurious in Yallingup for a few nights after the race before heading back to NZ! Wish we had more time to see all that you guys have seen, but as the temps are more consistently in the mid-thirties maybe a good time to head home?! Enjoy your last few days in WA!!

[Linda and Den]

South West
Hi guys, good to hear you are enjoying the South West together with Rick and Sue. We will look forward to hearing all the gossip when you arrive home. Have a good flight. See you at the airport.