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We left Wagin and headed towards Hyden where we were meeting up with Jo, Phil and the girls. We have waited so long for this time of being together and travelling for a little while. These guys are on their own adventure and being on a time limit, they have a lot to see and do. We are just happy to spend a couple of weeks with them!
We met up at the Hayden campground which is a big clearing in a bush setting on a private property and with only flushing toilets, it suited us just fine.
We headed out to explore Wave Rock, walking along, up and around it before then walking to the Hippo's Yawn, another large rock structure that really does look like a hippo yawning. The next day we drove the short distance to Mulka's Cave. Legend has it that Mulka was the illegal son of a woman who fell in love with a man with whom marriage was forbidden. Mulka was born cross eyed which prevented him from being a good hunter so he turned to catching and eating human children and was the terror of the district. We had great fun teasing Olivia and Ruby with this story. After Mulka's Cave, we did the Humps Walk trail up to the top of a very large rock formation. The story here is if you can do this walk without stopping then you will lead a long and happy life. Glad to say, we all made it to the top!
We spent a few days at this lovely bush camp, enjoying the peace, space and more importantly our time together. We all help make fly swats for the girls to sell on their journey and enjoyed camp fires and marshmallows. We even had a visit from Brad and Leann, friends of Jo and Phil from their Coolah days. Chris and Phil got in a game of golf and looked forward to another at Brookton.
We left Hayden and headed towards Brookton, another small town where we have stayed before. This little caravan park had everything we needed and with a kids play area, flying fox and cricket nets, it had plenty to keep the girls happy.
From Brookton we headed to Fremantle where we booked into the Woodman Point Caravan Park. We had a week here, exploring the area and a day trip to Rottnest Island. The crossing over to the island was a bit choppy and poor Ruby felt a bit the worse for wear but soon came good as we hit dry land. We got the hop on, hop off bus tickets and proceeded to explore the island. We did a couple of the organised walks and a full loop of the island. We had our lunch up at the lighthouse in the bitterly cold winds that followed us that day. We didn't feel the need to swim which was just as well at time was against us as we caught the 4.30 ferry back to Fremantle and the courtesy bus that awaited us. We saw lots of quokkas that the island is famous for and the girls got their selfies with them which they were pleased about.
We met a couple of families at the pool who we discovered knew Phil's brother Graham. He was an ex teacher at Coonamble High School where one of the mums was a pupil in Grahams time and the grandmother was the secretary. It's a small world!
We had one day to ourselves while Jo, Phil and the girls went into Perth and saw the last Giant of Mandurah in Subiaco and then into King's Park.
We spent time at the beach and the jetty where the girls were fishing with no luck and practicing their snorkelling ready for the Swimming with the Whale Sharks trip they have booked in Exmouth later this month.
From Fremantle we moved onto Wundowie, again another place that we have stayed at before. This was a great little free camp to spend a few days in to see out the Anzac Day long weekend. We attended the early morning service and enjoyed coffee and Anzac biscuits with the locals. I wanted to give the ladies in the kitchen a donation, especially as there is no donation box at the camp but they wouldn't hear of it. They were all such lovely and friendly people.
We spent our last day together at Wundowie doing school work with the girls, not something they are enjoying doing but it has to be done. I worked with Livi while Jo worked with Ruby and we got nearly a whole week's worth done. We ended their schoolwork by making chocolate Rice Bubble cakes and writing out the recipe and method. Eating the cakes was the best bit of this schoolwork.
Olivia and Ruby had sleepovers in our van every night we were together and they came in our car when we went out anywhere. We had the best time with these guys and were more than just a little bit sorry to say our goodbyes. The caravan seemed so much bigger and quieter when they left.
The next day the Jones family left and we were sorry to see them go but understood that they have their own adventures and memories to make. Them going up the coast, first stop New Norcia and us down, heading towards Albany.
We left Wundowie and made our way to Wagin where we based ourselves again. This time we drove out to Dumbleyung where Donald Campbell made his land and water speed records in 1964. We saw the replica of the Bluebird and looked at the small history museum in the visitor centre where we also spent a while chatting with the lovely lady working in there. We then drove out to the lake where we walked up to the lookout and saw the view over the lake and the monument dedicated to Donald Campbell.
We visited the old Heritage Museum next door to where we were staying in Wagin and explored all the old buildings which included the Bakery, Post Office and Railway Station to name a few. The museum was very interesting, well laid out and looked well cared for by the locals. We visited the Op shop and the craft centre but again they were closing soon so we didn't get much time for a good look. Chris chatted with the guys from the Men's Shed who were busy chopping up pallets to make kindling to raise money for charities in the town.
From Wagin we drove to Kendenup, where we are now. Not far from the Stirling and Poronganup Ranges so we decided to base ourselves here. Yesterday we drove the tourist loop through the Stirling Range and stopping at a couple of the lookouts to admire the beautiful views. Disappointingly the weather was dull and overcast so probably not the best time to see them. Then we went on to the Porongarups and did the Granite Rock Skywalk. This was a 2.2km walk up with a lot of scrambling and rock climbing to reach the magnificent skywalk at the top. We wondered how it was even possible to build the massive structure so high up and onto the steep side of sheer rock. The wind was so fierce as I climbed the ladder at the top that I nearly gave up but with encouragement from Chris, I made it! The views were spectacular and worth all the effort it took to get there, I think! The way down was so much easier, even the scramble bits and we were back down in what seemed like no time.
We stopped in Mt Barker for a very late lunch of the best fish and chips we have eaten in a while. The shop was called Geordies and was owned by a family who came from Newcastle in England (hence the name) We chatted with the wife and swapped stories of how we have come to be where we are in our lives. We wandered around the town, spotting the murals and Op shops before heading back to Kendenup and our van.
As I'm writing this, Chris has just arrived back from a game of golf and the sun has come out for a while. We have been experiencing not so nice weather these last few days and that wet stuff that we haven't seen for so long, Rain!
Tomorrow we will reach Albany and back on the coast again for a while. Bring on the sunshine and beaches.
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