Sat, 5th Apr, 2025 Bob & Margaret’s place, Dawesville to Tom & Sandy’s place, Thornlie, WA

Packed up the camper and loaded it back onto the truck. No wind which is handy.

Said goodbye and many thanks to Bob and Margaret for their generosity and friendship and left them with a gift. Hopefully we will see them in a few months when they find us in the bush.

Across The Cut. Probably our last visit here, a very nice place, except if it is cold and windy!

Into Halls Head to find a Street Library and swapped a couple of books. Along the Old Coast Road and across the bridge over estuary area. Can’t see any dolphins.

Along the foreshore - all the renovations in the park area have been finished. Looks nice. Continued along the coastal road (rather than the freeway for a change) to find a spot for a cuppa. Ended up at Safety Beach which has a big dune between the parking and the beach. Made our cuppa and walked up over the sand - nice view. People learning to surf.

Programmed ‘girlie’ then to get us back to the Kwinana Freeway to head up to Thornlie for a couple of days with Tom & Sandy. Passed a Hindu Temple at Gosnells - elaborate.

Around to their house and set up on neighbour’s driveway again as he is away at the moment. Chatted for a while then had lunch. Warmer day - 29 degrees.

Got out the Skipbo cards for the girls vs boys challenge. Fairly even.

Drinks outside with another neighbour calling in to join us. He had very interesting stories about working with the police in the disposal of drugs and guns.

BBQ dinner then a couple of games of Dice then Skipbo again.

Back to our camper at 11pm - late night but we were having fun. Clear sky and cooler so we closed up the windows.

1-4 Apr, 2025 Bob & Margaret’s place, Dawesville, WA (my birthday)

Tues, 1^st

Another lovely morning. Into the car with Bob & Margaret and down to Bunbury to visit Kev & Linda. Lovely to see them again and we chatted away. Kev welded up the exhaust for Steve then we had lunch. More chatting then we headed back home.

Steve put the bracket back on and I checked with Tom & Sandy when they were free. We will head up on Saturday and catch up with them before we head to Kalgoorlie.

 

Wed, 2^nd

Cool breeze this morning, had to close the window! Few clouds about.

My 62^nd birthday - the years are flicking by!! Just don’t look in the mirror and I’m all good!!

Margaret as a white hibiscus here called the Rose of Sharon but it isn’t multi petaled like ours at home. Thought it was time for a comparison. The other one was taken at Mum & Dad’s on my 40^th birthday!!

My lovely Tuckshop ladies sent me a photo of my birthday morning tea that they are having in my honour. So thoughtful of them.

Into town to get the new tyres and do some more shopping. Steve will cook us pizzas for dinner tonight with something yummy for dessert.

Lots of lovely birthday messages, phone calls, video chat from family and friends. Sophia clapped hands and waved and Beau walked across the room. So glad we have this technology so we don’t miss out on much.

Drinks with Bob & Margaret watching Tipping Point then the news. Steve prepared and cooked the pizzas then we had Magnum ice blocks while we watched 1% Club. That worked our brains.

 

Thurs, 3^rd

Min temps dropping, down to 18 this morning, overcast and cool wind.

Margaret and I went down for a fish but there was a big swell, top of the tide and no fish. Well I did catch one whiting so we had something to show for our time. So nice to be out with Margaret fishing that it doesn’t matter if we don’t catch fish.

Back home to do some washing. Steve is redoing the silicone on the roof so hoping those dark clouds stay away.

A few light showers of rain passed over during the day but I got the washing dry and packed away.

Continued with my cross-stitching and chatting with Margaret.

Windier afternoon and getting cooler.

 

Fri, 4^th

Cold windy overcast morning. Min of 18 and max forecast of only 23!! Jeans and jumper day. Steve and I walked to Coles and back to get a couple of extra things and get some exercise.

Showers of rain whizzed over us with the strong wind. Steve finished sorting things in the truck and I continued with my cross-stitch.

After lunch I gave the camper a clean all ready for us to head off in the morning.

Last Fish &Chip night with Margaret and Bob as the wind howled around us. It has been wonderful to have such great friends who kindly let us park up here at their house. Hopefully they will come up and see us in a few months further north.

 

 

29-31 Mar, 2025 Bob & Margaret’s place, Dawesville, Qld

Sat 29^th

Another lovely clear sky morning, 21 degree minimum. Steve back to working on the trucka and Margaret & I went fishing again. Only one chap here this morning, not a good sign but we started catching some Herring and had a great time. I brought the camera today to get a photo of the changed beach look from the other times I have been down here.

I got ‘dubs’ 3 times though one got off just at the shore so that didn’t count. Margaret took photos - the first photo, one fish got off the hook so I had to hold him but the other photos has both fish on the hooks.

Margaret works with one hook trailing behind a burley thing whereas I have two hooks floating above a sinker. Great fun when they get on with a big pull, just have to be careful coming in as they have soft mouths and seem to get off just at the shoreline!

Back home for a cuppa and count up - 28 today. Bob comes down with his ‘goafer’ and tows the ‘wagon’ back for us.

Steve is making progress with a few grumbles along the way. All done so he packed his tools away. There are big white bulbous clouds to the east - storm building?

Margaret invited the neighbours over for drinks and nibbles. We had a wonderful afternoon chatting then continued into the evening. The wind picked up and then we could smell rain in the air. Didn’t worry us up on the patio. Someone looked at their watch and it was 10pm so they headed home and we tidied up then went to bed. Great night.

The strong wind is rocking the camper and things are being blown around the place as we have had calm weather for a few days now. This will be the end of the ‘heat wave’ they are having.

 

 

Sun, 30^th

Big cloudy and still windy but not too strong this morning. Good for a sleep-in.

Packed up a bit and then moved the truck and camper across to the shed front so Steve can drop the camper off. Next expense - new tyres for the truck so he didn’t want the camper on to get them replaced. Also he needed to take the truck for a test drive. All good so far.

Cooler day after all the wind - 31 degrees. Sky cleared.

Got a lot of work done on my cross-stitch.

Messaged Kev & Linda to catch up on Tuesday.

 

Mon, 31^st

Cooler morning, 19 degrees.

Put some washing on then had a cuppa before we headed into town to get prices on new tyres. Ended up with a smaller business in Mandurah, City Discount Tyres, who was a lot cheaper than Tyrepower. Booked in for Wednesday morning. Into the Forum Shopping Centre for a big shop up of non-perishables for our trip into the bush soon.

Back home to pack it all into the cupboards! Will do some more shopping on Wednesday after we get the tyres on.

Steve checked under the truck ‘again’ and noticed a crack in the exhaust pipe!! He took it off and will get Kev to weld it up tomorrow. Must be more welds on this pipe than pipe now!

Drinkies with Bob & Margaret watching Tipping Point again.

26-28 Mar, 2025 Bob & Margaret’s place, Dawesville, Qld

Wed, 26^th

Had a good sleep. Rebecca’s birthday - sent her a message.

Margaret drove me to the shops to get a few things for lunch and dinner etc. After an early cuppa Bob & Steve headed up to Perth to pick up the automatic. Bob had a couple of things to pick up near there too so they were gone till late afternoon.

I did our washing and emptied the suitcases and did my baking. Much warmer here, 35 degrees and not much breeze.

Back home and they unloaded the gearbox and I got the bill!! Now the slow job of putting it back in for Steve.

Started on the new baby’s cross-stitch pillow.

Had drinks upstairs and then we provided BBQ dinner and Margaret did the dessert.

Watched 1% Club then headed down to bed.

 

Thurs, 27^th

Margaret and I walked to Coles as I had forgotten a couple of things - good exercise too.

Steve got to work on the automatic.

Annalise posted on our Geck FB page that they are expecting another son in October (of course we knew but she likes to wait till the 12 week scan to announce). I have booked my flight back for the month to help out and get lots of cuddles of both boys and Sophia again too.

Another hot 35 degree day in the camper.

Rang Kaylene to update here on our new grandson.

Lynda sent a video of Beau taking 5 steps to Annalise - won’t be long and he will be running!

 

Fri, 28^th

Another clear blue sky to start the day. Steve went back to putting the transmission together. Margaret and I headed down to the beach to fish. Lots of people here this morning so we had to go further along then our usual spot. Lots of herring about too. The beach has changed - no weed but high bank so our legs are getting a workout. One chap left so we went back to Margaret’s favourite spot and started catching more herring. I got Dubs (two at once) then lost 4 in a row at the edge of the water!! Got a nice whiting too and a couple of little ones for Meow. We ended up with 26 herring so fresh fish for Fish & Chips tonight.

Steve slowly progressing, making sure he is happy with everything as he goes.

Rang Terry to tell him he has another great grandson on the way. Jon & Annalise had told him they were expecting when he rang for Beau’s birthday. He is happy with his alert watch and hopes he won’t need to use it but it is good to have it for security.

Another hot day with only a light breeze.

Lovely fresh Fish & Chips by Margaret tonight, I supplied the ice cream dessert.

 

 

 

Tues 25th Mar, 2025 Jon & Annalise’s place, Kanimbla, Qld to Bob & Margaret’s place, Dawesville, WA

Up early, had breakfast then loaded the suitcases into Annalise’s car. Gave Beau a big hug before putting him into the car seat. He will be a big boy walking by the time we see him again.

Dropped Beau off to Daycare then Annalise dropped us at the airport. Jon had used his Virgin points up for the flight and to get us extra leg room which was wonderful of him. Gave the Annalise a hug and baby bump a rub then waved goodbye.

Into the terminal and put the suitcases through - we fly to Brisbane, have an hour there, then on to Perth, arriving 3.30pm WA time. Through security, no problems, then got a cuppa to wait for our ‘priority’ boarding as we are in Row 3.

On board, three seats in our row, plenty of leg room but just enough room for the ‘hips’! Nobody in the seat beside me. The first two rows pay even more and have two big seats and get ‘butler’ service with flash food, drinks etc. We get free coffee, tea and water! Major complaint though is the front toilet is only for the 8 front seats, from our row back we have to use the two toilets at the rear. Long walk back and if the drinks trolley is in the aisle you can’t get past.

It was a good flight - nice view over Green Island and Fitzroy and some of the reef as we took off then the cloud cover blocked the view. Bit of rain on the window as we headed down into Brisbane. Front people got off first - the attendant blocked the aisle till they were off then we were next. Got some lunch then boarded the same plane but different crew at 12.30pm. A lady beside us this time and she was a from NZ so we chatted about places to go etc. She is off to Perth to then take the Indian Pacific back to Perth. Read our books and time slowly ticked over. Into NT/SA - wish the pilot would tell us where we are, asked the attendants and they had no idea. Lots of sandridges etc.

Eventually we saw some salt lakes which I think is around Kambalda as we can see mining.

Crossed over into the wheat belt area. The tree lines show some rivers - I think maybe the Avon etc.

Guessing here but I think we went over Collie, saw lake that could be Wellington Dam then over the forest area and then the Darling Scarp and dropped into the airport. Clear sky here.

Got our bags and helped the other lady get the train to Perth Underground then she has a short walk to her hotel. She was very grateful for the help. We caught the train to Mandurah then Bob picked us up from the station. The sun was just setting as we cross The Cut to head home to our camper.

Opened up the camper and turned the fridge back on then upstairs for dinner. Meow is still with us but getting frailer. Margaret cooked us a lovely dinner and dessert then we headed back to the camper to bed.

It was a long day. It was nice doing a day trip to see the views but at least with the night one (as long as you have the extra leg room) the time goes quicker.

Mon, 24th Mar, 2025 Jon & Annalise’s place, Kanimbla, Qld

Rain again. Beau and Annalise headed off early - Daycare and Work.

We decided not to go up the Tablelands so I rang Grace & Fred instead and sent them some photos of our darlings. Will get up to see them in October. Rang Maralyn & Greg too. They are picking up a new van so might make their way to Woodgate around Christmas.

Sorted our our bags ready for the trip across Australia tomorrow by plane.

Dan sent through a close up of Sophia with wishes for our safe trip back to WA.

Annalise and Beau came home. Beau was feeling grumpy so she decided to stay home with him tonight as we were all going to Kaylene & Rick’s for dinner. We went and had a lovely evening eating and chatting.

 

 

Sun, 23rd Mar, 2025 Dan & Fran’s place, Gordonvale to Jon & Annalise’s place, Kanimbla, Qld

Packed up our gear and headed around to Freshwater where Dan was playing Disc Golf with his friends. Sophia and Fran are having a sleep-in.

It was interesting to watch and we chatted with him and the other two players as we walked from the start line to the ‘basket’. The discs have different weights etc. Lots of trees to dodge too.

Kookaburra was having a good laugh at us wandering around in the wet grass.

View back down the park from the top end. They set up the baskets each time and are mindful of other people using the park.

Found some history near on the of the ‘baskets’ near the car park.

Brendan bought our van - small world. He had a good game, Dan and Andrew’s wasn’t too good today. Dan hasn’t played for a month. Hopefully the weather will improve and he will get in more games.

We dropped off our gear at Annalise’s then Steve drove Jon’s ute and we headed back to Dan’s for lunch. Had our last cuddles with Sophia then headed back to Greg’s to drop off the I20. Caught Greg just before he headed to the airport to go to Brisbane for work conference tomorrow. Thanked him for the car and we headed back to Annalise’s.

Beau was down for a sleep so Annalise caught some Zs too so we relaxed for the afternoon.

Fun time playing with Beau. He found the vitamin bottles in the Just Right and had a great time shaking them about.

Steve’s time to play with Beau. He laughed at whatever Steve said or did.

Beau charged off pushing his ‘walker’ sideways. Won’t be too long before he is walking by himself.

After his dinner I played with Beau in the toy room - we had great fun.

The rain is back - misty drizzle blanking out the view. The creek is still roaring.