May 2007

Day 19 Sunday 6th May
Woke up to an overcast day but still pleasantly warm. Top temp today of around 28 degrees. On the road early once again (Rick has already gone!). We have to do the long drive out of Denham 139 Klms, before we get to the Highway. 1 Hour out to the H/way then 1 more hour to our first stop of the day WOORAMEL road house. Brenda cooked breakfast, had the usual tea and pee stop then underway again. By the way fuel there was $1.48 per litre.
This next part of the journey was horrific!! Never seen so many dead animals by the side of the road. Roo’s Sheep, goat’s, Emus, Cows, and a huge variety of squashed things that I could not tell what they were. Saw our first big Wedge tailed Eagle. What magnificent birds they are. Mind you the farmers don’t like them very much!!
We drove past Rick just outside Carnarvon, tooted , waved but kept going. Once again tea and Pee stop at MINILYA. Rick drove past tooted and waved but kept going. Off again still heading north and it’s getting warmer. Finally Reached Coral Bay hasn’t change much since last here except the price of a site. Last time here it cost $19 a night this time$30 per night, ah well that’s inflation for you!!!!
Our site is right on the road, very noisy late at night and early morning!
Happy hour again, this time Ricks pad! Dinner bed for some well earned sleep. Like I said it’s tough on the road!!

Day 18 Saturday 5th
Up early 0615, got to be at Monkey Mia by 0800 to see the feeding of the Dolphins. First time we have used an alarm since leaving Melbourne. By the way which way is Melbourne ? We might not be able to find our way back to work!
Rick and Co beat us out of the park. Reached MM 0730, looked pretty quite, then we heard someone talking about Dolphins. Yep! they were already in and performing! About 60 people there already and 7 dolphins. Great animals they look so intelligent. Time came to feed them and Ricks little girl Bianca got chosen to help. Best part of this was she was standing with Brenda so she had to help Bianca. So she got to feed them too and wasn’t she happy!! Off to the coffee shop, must have that morning hit!
We had a little walk and looked at the camels, something that wasn’t here last time we were. A little bit expensive, $30 for 10 minutes! PASS.
We went back to have a second look at the dolphins , as they had come in again. Better news I got to feed them also!! smirk smirk
Then came time for our cruise on the SHOTOVER. Nice boat has been up here for about 14 years. The guy that owns it told me he goes to Tassie for his holidays!!
Left the dock for 2 hour cruise, no we didn’t turn into Gilligan we got back on time. Saw lots of animals including Logger Head turtle. Green head turtle, loads of dolphins and heaps of sea birds. Very sunny and a little windy out on the water. Got a bit red faced with the wind.
Returned to the dock went for a swim then back to the park for some lunch and some relaxation, Hey it’s tough out on the road!! Brenda told me on the way “home” that she had a headache. I said “will that interfere with my dinner “ she said “no but it will with later ‘ Ah there’s life in the old dog yet!!!
Brenda cooked dinner, Prawns and salad yep sure is tough!!
After dinner drinks tonight is at Ricks van Brenda is not going as she still has that headache.
She wasn’t kidding about later!!!!!!

Day 17 Friday 4th

Left Kalbarri at 8.30 Heading for Denham. We have noticed that the fuel prices are starting to increase dramatically. Obviously further you go the cartage price increases. We paid $1.48 per litre for ULP, which really isn’t that bad this far north. Stopped at the Billabong road House for coffee,20 minutes on the road again ( sounds like Willie Nelson).
The best part of today is that for the first time we have beautiful blue skies. The prayers to the sun God have a last been answered!! 350 Klms up the road, we reach the turn off for Denham. Only a short ride in from the highway139 Klms. It seemed like an eternity but we got there. Place hasn’t change much from our last visit, a few new buildings, but that’s all. Still one of the nicest spots on the west coast. We were allocated our site overlooking the Indian Ocean magnificent view!! Rick arrived about 1 hour later, he had to stop for bacon and egg breakfast!! Because of the size of their van they got a back site. So happy hour at our ocean view site tonight.
We organised out day for tomorrow, cruise, Monkey Mia to see the Dolphins and beach.
Nothing left now but to have happy hour or two!! All this fuel is making me fat!!! But I think I can handle it!
Dinner over, watch a bit of footy then sleep.
What a great day, what will tomorrow bring us? Anything except rain Brenda say’s!!
HOO ROO for now
The Pynes travelling circus!

Woke up saw the sun, wife smiling. (happy wife happy life)!!
Off to see the Pelican feeding. These pelicans are smart, hang around, do a waddle and look good get a free feed!!

After that we headed to the Rainbow Jungle. Parrot lovers paradise, every sort and type of parrot you can imagine. What magnificent colours some of them have. You start to think some of them are just stuff toys the colours are so vivid! The owners are now building a outdoor cinema here, so maybe we will see that next time. Bad news though, it started to rain again@#$%^&!!! So off to the Cafe.

After lunch we went to the Nat.Park to see Natures window. A great show on what mother nature can do! (see pic).
Did a lot of walking here, Brenda's knees are starting to argue!!
The trip into the park was by 44 klm's of unmade road mainly sand and lots of corregations. Still "the truck" handle it well.
Back to the C/park for a little sit before "Happy hour"

Collingwood interchange bench!!
Some more bad news, is that Brenda reckons she has got a new illness!!
It's called CARARSE! read it as two syllables and you will understand.Hope she does't read this or the trip could end about here!!!

Left Geraldton at 915am onwards and upwards towards the sun! This time we are heading for Kalbarrie. Great spot loved it last time we were here.
Arrived and set up, nice en-suite site. Had a chat to some new neighbours. As usual he knew someone who was in the fire brigade,
Bob Attoni who now works up at Puckerpunual.
Sun is shining and quite warm, this is what we came for!!!
Rick and Co arrived they ste up while we had a walk along the beach. Got back had lunch, we all went for a walk to the beach and park for the kids!
Happy hour started a bit early tonight. A few pre dinner drinks before we all go out to a BBQ place called Finlays. Finlays is a Fish BBQ resturant very reasonabally priced. You take all your own drink, they cook for you. Serviettes are dunny rolls!!! very La de da!!!
We had a great time there, plenty of food and drink.
Brenda still misses all you people at Myer! But boy is he having a good time!!! The tan is starting to get a bit deeper and she is now drinking Champagne. must be the outback that does it to her.

Got back to park and Rick wanted to get stuck into the Port had to pass on that, one thing I don't need is a hangover!!!got some good pics to put on but will do them in the morning