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Well everyone this is an extra blog for no special reason apart from I thought I might talk a little about the downsides of caravanning! Now there are no pictures this time, I was on a mission to express myself so didn't make time to do the piccie thing. This blog will talk about some bodily functions that you may think are off limits, if that is the case either turn your device off now or put your hands over your eyes and sing La, La, La until I’ve finished.
I have explained previously about “freecamping” and the fact that it is not always free from the cash side of things but it usually lacks power, water and a toilet! In caravanning parlance, places to wash and wee are called “Ablution Blocks” or “Ablutes”/”Abluters” if you are an old hand at this. Bad ablutes can, and often do, cause constipation which is one of the special downsides of this life! Also, the worst part about these bush toilets, is they are usually “long drops” and if the actual state of the convenience hasn’t already caused the onset of the aforesaid constipation, the thought of hovering for any length of time over that great big, dark, smelly cavern will most certainly cause the worst case of being “bound up” that you’ve ever experienced. Over the last few days, we have camped in some beautiful places, the best of which was Cliff Head North, roughly 50 k’s south of Dongara. Ruth and Geoff had discovered this place and very kindly shared it with us. We were right on the Indian Ocean, it was FREE $$$wise and not too many flies. There was a toilet but after John checked it out, he recommended I don’t even think of going there! Now I can hear you asking, why would I want to go there if we have a toilet in the van? Because you can only do number 1’s in the van cause if you do number 2’s the person who has to empty it may jack up and make you empty it yourself! And you really don’t want to do that!!!!! Now Cliff Head North was just wonderful - the most beautiful sunset and later in the night the moon rise and the reflections on the water (and the multi storey oil rig with flame attached about 20km out) were stunning. We only stayed the night and luckily I managed to hang on and not need the abluter and the drive to Dongara and civilization was not too far.
After a couple of nights in the comfort of a Big 4 (read Top Class) Caravan Park in Dongara, just a gorgeous setting on the ocean again but costing $40 per night because the ablutes were smashing, we headed out to Coronation Beach, a recommendation from the Square Dancers back in Boyup Brook. Coronation Beach is 36 k’s north of Geraldton and is a favourite summer hideout for the Geraldtonians... This time we paid $6 per person ($1 discount for Seniors!) and there were marked sites with no power or water but a couple of fairly clean toilets. Funnily enough there was a shower, it consisted of a little room next to the toilet with nothing but a concrete floor with a drain hole. You had to BYO water! How good is that??? We arrived around 5 pm and everyone was wearing their fly nets, a good indicator that the little buggers can be a pest around Coronation Beach. (For my overseas readers, flies can be a problem in Australia, not so much in the suburbs where I normally live but out here in the wilderness they can carry you away, so we wear what looks like a mosquito net over our heads. Very unglamorous but does save you eating handfuls of the little buggers!) Luckily we stayed indoors until nearly sunset which is ‘night, night’ time for flies and then were able to have a lovely walk and climb up to the lookout and watch a fab sunset. It was wonderful sleeping to the sound of the waves - we also got 21 channels on the TV and better reception than anywhere else we’ve been so John was a very happy chappy having watched the ABC news, 7:30 Report and Foreign Correspondent.
So today we have continued north, stopping at a few places along the way to check out the free camps. There’s not a lot else to do between big towns - and arrived here at Gladstone Campground at around 3 pm and it’s $5.50 per person. (no Seniors Discount - I may have to write some letters!) Well people, the flies are unbelieeeeevable here. We set up camp very quickly wearing our nets and then decided to go for a walk as we’d been sitting around in the car all day. It’s quite breezy and John informs me that if you walk into the breeze the flies don’t bother you so much - you’ve still got to go back though haven’t you? I’m thinking on our next trip we should bring some of those headpieces that beekeepers wear - as a matter of fact I might even set up a roadside stall selling them and then I can earn enough money to never have to freecamp again!!!!! No I don’t really mean that ....... So finally in my whinge, I’ve retreated to the van to put some of these very important thoughts on paper but firstly visited the toilet and what a treat! It is reasonably clean and FLUSHES with real water!! But hold on, no paper - so now I’ve found another thing that is free in freecamping - free of toilet paper as in BYO toilet paper.
Now you are all wondering why would I do it? Why would I accompany the love of my life (who is starting to resemble a woolly mammoth cause he doesn’t shave when we are in the bush) on these expeditions into the wilds of Australia (the place I still call home). Well for a start because I’m alive and I can, I love the freedom, (there’s a joke there if I think about it) it is startlingly beautiful, generally peaceful, sometimes free, you meet some absolutely delightful people, and there are four noisy grandchildren living in my house at the moment. (No, that’s the reason to go home sooner rather than later!) I’ll leave it at that before I discourage some of you from following in our caravan tracks.
You can’t believe how wonderful it is out here!!!
PS. I have just seen the most beautiful sunset with a scotch in one hand and a camera in the other. The flies have gone to bed and the curtain that is daytime has been pulled back to reveal the world you can only see at nighttime. There are more stars than I could count in my lifetime. BBQ chicken breast and salad with a glass of wine, a lovely hot shower (in the van) and I am now in bed with a cup of tea, a chocolate biscuit and a good book, all before 8.30 pm. You really have to get out here!!!
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Lee Morgan
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Sounds like you guys are having an amazing time Aunty Jo! Making Ben and I very jealous! We're so keen to do this one day! After visiting Margie's, we're absolutely determined to see more of the West Coast! Have fun! xxx