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Facts for the Rimmer trip
*km's travelled 7980
*best pie was in Denmark
*worst town was Snowtown
*best spot was Esperance, Cape Le Grand National park but cold
*highest fuel price was $1.485 paid
*best meal was lobster from Dongara
*Kiera's new word: gooster
*Kiera's new addition to her own toilet bag is her 'Mum" deodorant (4 going on 16)
*fish count - Duane 9 to Graeme's 3
*Duane's commitment to distance education is great
*Scariest moment is Graeme at the blowholes
Day 27 - Saturday 29 April
Jurien Bay to Dongara
We drove to Dongara which was only a short drive approximately 60 km’s. What another beautiful place and the weather is fine. We chose a lovely caravan park which was on Port Denison right on the waterfront. A bit expensive but well worth it. This is where they bring in lobsters. Yummo! We walked down to the jetty where all the cray boats come in. To buy a fresh lobster you have to ask the captain of the boat if he will sell any before it goes on the conveyor belt to the James Bowe(a company that exports most of their live lobster to overseas). We asked
Lobsters
Yummo!!! the first boat that came in. We bought two live that had just been caught, right out of the crate. We payed $28.00 for two. Cheap compared to restaurant prices. Whilst we were there we saw about 5 boats come in and the biggest load was 22 crates that they caught for the day. We also went for a tour of the James Bowe operation to show us how they export live lobster from go to woe. This was amazing. They are not allowed to catch any females with eggs and they grade them into sizes, make them docile by spraying them with fresh water and then put them back into salt water until grading them into sizes and packing them in containers for live export. We borrowed a pot from the caravan park to cook ours up. We cooked them in boiling water for 7 minutes, they don’t scream only kicked around a bit. Graeme said next time he would put them in fresh water to put them to sleep and then put them in boiling water - he felt cruel. We made up a thermidor sauce and ate them for tea. Beautiful with a nice glass of white.
Even Duane tried it but he said he didn’t like it.
Day 28 - Sunday 30 April
Jurien Bay to Geraldton
Only another short trip today. Drove to Ellendale Pool (a free campsite) but we didn’t stay as not much to do and we arrived here at 11am. So we thought a waste of a day so we drove on to Geraldton to pick up some supplies although we found out nothing is open on Sunday so we couldn’t get any.
Day 29 - Monday 1 May
Geraldton
Just a day to pick up supplies as Geraldton is a big country town (probably the size of Geelong) so everything open. We had to fix a few things that needed maintaining. Bunnings was here so of course Graeme had to visit. He has been having withdrawls. Apparently not another one until Darwin. Duane and Graeme went fishing. The port is absolutely huge.
Day 30 - Tuesday 2 May
Geraldton to Kalbarri
It was only approximately 150 km’s today. We drove via Ellendale Pool which is a free spot but didn’t stay as only 11am. We visited a wind farm (Allinta Energy) that has 72 windmills that generate
power for 80000 homes. They are huge. We decided to drive through to Geraldton. We went via the coast road through Port Gregory which is a sleepy seaside village. Only a general store here. We watched another cray boat come in and Graeme couldn’t resist to buy another two lobsters. We met up with this couple from Rutherglen who had done this trip before so gave us some pointers. Port Gregory has a pink lake nearby that looked lilac when we drove by it. Amazing!! We arrived at Kalbarri about lunchtime and have decided to stay here for 4 nights. It is another beautiful spot. The temperature is approximately 27 degrees and not a sign of rain. We are so happy as we haven’t had rain for over a week now and don’t expect to. It gets very windy here late afternoon and in the night. The mornings are absolutely divine.
Day 31 - Wednesday 3 May
Kalbarri
Today we decided to go through the Kalbarri National park and see the Murchison river. You have to drive out 30 km’s from Kalbarri. We saw Murphy’s Head and Ross Graham lookout which was all on sealed roads. Then we had
to drive on 30 km’s of unsealed road which was a shocker (very corrugated). It said in the book suitable for all cars but I wouldn’t have liked to bring my sedan in. It would have been shaken to bits. We were even worried about our car. We kept losing nuts off the boat to attach it to the roof rack. Lots of walking today and Graeme is getting very fit as Kiera gets too tired and always wants a shoulder ride. Lots of rocks and up and down hills. The flies were really bad (it reminded me of my trip I did through Northern Territory years ago). Drank heaps of water and very hot. We were all red faced. Well worth it. The kids and us will sleep well tonight. Went to the pub for dinner tonight and watched the sunset. Beautiful!!
Day 32 - Thursday 4 May 2006
Kalbarri
This morning Graeme and Duane have gone out in the tinny in the Murchison River. This river is 700 km’s long but it is usually very clean but because of the flood in March it is very murky. The pelicans usually come in to feed at 8.45 am
Pink lake
How lilace is this? but since the flood they haven’t been seen. Very disappointing because the kids can feed them under supervision. Today we tried to find Lucky Bay which is where they go sandboarding, snorkeling and swimming. Unfortunately I don’t think we found it as they say at the visitor centre “you are lucky to find it’. Although we met up with a family of 6 that are from Nannella (near Echuca) that own a dairy farm. We drive past it everytime we drive to Echuca. We will pop in when we get home to see the cows get milked. How uncanny is that? Kaye said to me I bet you don’t know where Nannella is and I did. They followed us onto the beach and Duane especially enjoyed the 4 boys company. They are even staying in our caravan park. Nice family but I don’t know how they are going to get home in 6 weeks. They will be pushing.
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Sue Walls
non-member comment
Camp
Hi Duane, We have all just got back from our camp at Anglesea. We now understand what it has been like for you to be stuck in the caravan when it has rained because it poured down the first day. Luckily on the second day, we had some fine weather to go out and complete our activities. We had a low ropes course, orienteering, mini-golf, initiatives, archery, bush shelters and bush walking. My favourite was going on the walk to the eagle's nest which was almost 2 metres across. On the last morning, the wedge tailed eagle was there sitting on the branch next to the nest, before it took off and soared around above us. Most of the kids went to sleep fairly quickly given it was camp, but we all needed a good sleep by the time we got home, especially the teachers!! I am copying your travel blogs and reading them to the class and also saving a copy in the class folder so they can take a close look at the photos. Glad to hear you are working hard on your distance ed work. Have fun from 3SW and Mrs Walls.