The last of the West!

Well we have some catching up to do!

Where did we leave you last? hmmm Denmark I think?

From Denmark we made a small little detour to a lovely sea side town called Bremer Bay.  Situated between Albany and Esperance.  It was a little chilly when we arrived and it drizzled most of the night but  Bremer Bay made sure the sun came out for us to take some more awesome shots of their wonderful beaches.

Frolicking at Little Boat Harbour beach

The wind was still windy but it could not stop the kids from wanting to skip and jump around in the shallows

Sand dunes at Blossoms Beach

Paul and I very cold on Blossoms beach

Out Handsome Jack loving the soft, white, fine, squeaky sand. As you walk on these beaches they would squeak under your feet. Pretty Cool

We would recommend stopping in Bremer bay, we think it would be absolutely stunning with the right weather and probably a little less crowded than some of the beaches in Esperance or Albany.  There is not much in town other than a general store that sells everything from bread, milk to fishing tackle and camp chairs (your typical seaside shop)

From Bremer we did quite a big drive to Cape Le Grand National Park via Esperance for supplies.  It was a big day, but so well worth it.  I am really glad we decided not to stay in Esperance and waste a day or two as Cape Le Grand is pretty spectacular! 

There are 2 camp grounds - Le Grand and Lucky bay.  We stayed at lucky bay campground which was very well catered for a national park, running toilets, BBQ's and even solar hot water showers!  very posh national park camping! 

Lucky bay was a great place to camp and we met up with our travelling companions the "Foot's". The Le Grand camp ground does offer just a little bit more privacy and has only 9-10 camp spots again right on the Le Grand Beach, which is one of the longest white sand and turquoise water beaches I have ever seen I think it might go for 20+km s

Le Grand Beach

There are coastal walking trails connecting each beach, very well sign posted and providing spectacular views

Self taken pic of Emma and I with the view of Lucky bay in the back ground on the coastal walk between Hellfire bay and Lucky bay

Frenchman's Peak!  you can climb this and.......

Jack and I did!  

It was a great morning, a little bit windy on the way down and a little steep in one spot. Jack was awesome and lead all the way pointing out the posts and instructing which way to go.

Jack standing on the very top of the mountain.  It was a lot of fun and I am so proud of Jack he did not complain once or try and do anything silly!  which is helpful or I might have had a heart attack from being so anxious.  

We decided to climb it in the morning when the wind was low because by the time we started going down the wind had picked up it became very blowy

This is the first view of Lucky bay as you drive in.. 

Pretty amazing right?

Thistles beach.  This was a lovely little beach to escape the wind!

IF the wind just nicked off for a day or two it would have been perfect!

Our kids just love getting naked! They had a great time playing in this fresh water inlet

Cape Le Grand saw us draw a close to our WA coastal advetnure :-(

We have absolutely loved the WA coast and all it has to offer.  We will be back! 

But the price you pay to experience such spectacular, often secluded beaches and coastline is the Dull long drive of the Nullabor!

We where too busy driving making up km's to take pictures and I had my head in the 2nd book of Steig Larsson "the girl who played with fire" to even worry about the salt bush and 90mile straight road......

I did take one pic just out or Eucla.

 The Great Australian Bight

It took us 2 days to cross the Nullabor and we have just spent our first few days of SA at "Cactus" or Point Sinclair.  We would not have even known about this place if we had not met Emma and Adam - so thank you Foots for sharing this very special place with us xxx

Cactus from the dunes

Sophie and Anais clambering up the dunes after rolling down together

Paul and Adam getting ready for the great sand dune challenge.

Hmm it did not go as planned.  looks like the $20 boogey board from the supermarket is not as streamlined Pearlo

Whoa huge dunes......

Paul and Sophie going down the Dune

Jack and Paul going down the dune.... 

We sadly said farewell for the last time on this trip to the Foot's.  Meeting the Foot's was an unexpected but lovely crossing of paths and travelling with them has made the trip more memorable - thank you Emma, Adam, Amelie and Anais

SO here we are in SA!  We spent so much time researching the WA coast and what we wanted to see that we are not really sure what we will do in SA.  Currently we are in Streaky Bay and it is really nice, except for a few people at the camp kitchen at the moment being a bit rowdy at 11pm!

Oh and what is this thing called Daylight savings hey!  Gosh 10yrs without it really is a bit weird and I think Paul and I are the ones having trouble readjusting.  I am loving the idea of have a bit more daylight once the kids are in bed!

Where to next ... well we really are not sure but we will keep you posted xxxx

Yallingup, Gloucester Tree & Denmark

Good Evening All :-)

From Freo we hooked up and travelled down to the Margaret River region for some surf, wine and gourmet produce.

We stayed at Yallingup Caravan Park = Best location.  Right on the beach with some of the best views!

This is the view from the FREE BBQ's - Not bad for whoever is cooking the meat!.  We would hang out here and sip on a veno or two.

We decided to base ourselves here as Margaret River the town is not on the beach and a lot of the wineries and more importantly cellar doors are on Caves Rd heading toward Margaret River.  

Jack trying out his model pose at 3 Bears surf break

A pick of the 2 of us! Gosh we really do look to be in holiday mode..... 

Whilst in Margret river we went to Vasse Felix winery purchased some red! Kiss chasey and swings and roundabouts winery.  I really wanted to go to Xanadu but it was closed for a private Harley Davidson bikey convention!!!!! Must be trying to change their image?

Gee it is nice to drink red wine again.  It has been pretty cool at night and even a couple of nights of light drizzle rain, so we are really enjoying some Vasse Felix theater red at the moment.  We went halves in a case with our friends xx

Smiths Beach, literally around the corner from Yallingup beach.

 Just a quick plug for a dear Darwin friend Megan and her Family

http://www.chandlerssmithsbeach.com.au/

You should check these villa's out.  They are in an awesome spot only a quick hop skip and jump from the beach.  Really Meg's I don't know why you don't live down this way permanently.

Sophie being cute on Yall beach

Too handsome young Jack xx

Another view from the caravan park @ Yallingup

From Yallingup we drove a little south to Hamelin Bay.  The day we left was when the prescribed burn was issued for the Leeuwin National Park between Gracetown and Prevally beach.  

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-25/fires-contained-not-controlled/3693576

We noticed a plume of smoke as we were driving down caves road, but did not really think to much of it as the day was calm and not much wind but the forecast for the next 2 days was Temperatures of 35 degrees with big winds!  Go figure.....

Anyway it looks like the DEC is in a world of worry now and many people have lost their homes, thankfully no lives where lost.  There is so much fuel around this SW corner that I think it could happen just about anywhere with not much help.

Hamelin bay was ok but we have stayed in better spots and I sort of wish we had stayed in Augusta.  It is a pretty little town on the surface and I think it might be underselling itself! 

Below is the lighthouse at Augusta, we did not go in as kids under 5 are not allowed to climb and they wanted to charge us $20 each to go have a look!  I like a lighthouse but.....

From Hamelin Bay we turned left and headed in land a little to the town of Pemberton and the Gloucester tree.

http://www.pembertonvisitor.com.au/pages/pembertons-climbing-trees/

These huge Karri Trees were used for Fire lookouts.  There are metal rungs all the way to the top I think this one is around 60 metres tall.

Jack desperately wanted to climb it, and tried and would have kept going but we stopped him.  Paul was worried he would get vertigo.  I am just too unfit and well Sophie nearly fell through trying to get up the first step!

Pretty bird at the lookout

From Pemberton we drove a short distance to Walpole and camped the night got up and drove on to the   Valley of the giants tree top walk between Walpole and Denmark.   I get the feeling Walpole and Denmark are fighting over ownership.

http://www.valleyofthegiants.com.au/

It was great fun.

Very high up!

Don't look down!

Within the same precinct is the Ancient Empire walk, which is a combination of Karri and Tingle tree's

This was really good as well

Karri Tree

Some of the Tingle Trees are over 400yrs old

They all have very shallow root systems and are hollow!

When we got to Denmark there was a fire about 14km's NE of the township in a national park.  Yep from another prescribed burn this was 24hrs after the Margaret River fire.  

These photo's where taken from the Ocean Beach Inlet.  It was a really hot day and we went down here to cool of in the most crystal blue water hmmmm

Denmark is a great little town.  We preferred Denmark than Albany, but the day we went to Albany it was raining and a bit miserable.  We have stayed in Denmark for 4 days.  There is a lot to do just out of Denmark visiting beaches, wineries, and toffee makers yummo.

We stayed at a Big4 Caravan park at Ocean beach just a short distance from the township but very close to the beach and the park has had some serious renovations.  All the sites are grassy and most are shady.  Very clean with brand new amenities and camp kitchen.  Highly recommend 

Greens pool 

Greens Pool this was a popular spot on the day of the fire and the following day as the schools had been cancelled there were kids everywhere here.

So this next bit of info is for those considering travelling to the SW Corner around Denmark!

Parry's Beach!  I really wish we had stayed here - see below

This is a quiet little camp with solar hot water showers, no power and I am not sure about fresh water. But it is cheap.. $7 a night and you are right on a beach which does get surf.  You can drive on the beach, have camp fires! Anyway we found it too late as we are leaving tomorrow and our motto is that we don't go backwards

This is the caretakers house at Parry beach.  Supposedly he does not get paid to caretake the campground but he gets free lodgings in this very quaint, humble cottage

Parry Beach = pretty nice and isolated, just what we like xx

We leave tomorrow heading toward Bremer Bay for a couple of days and then onto Esperence. We have heard that Cape Le Grand is a must not only from our old Darwin neighbours (John and Di Scott) but also many other travellers.  I only hope the weather improves a little so we can really enjoy it.  Keep you posted xx