we are going home due to our need to be with friends

We have decided to return home a little earlier......Our dear friend Larry passed away from his brain tumour .....now our dear friend Lee of Lee and John that joined us in Esperance is coming to the end of her battle of her terminal cancer........so Len and I want to be with our friends and of course my mum could be tempted to have a hug.
We will back to our trip in Jan sometime as we were going home for Christmas anyway....so I am sure we will be able to catch up.
In Adelaide now on plane tomorrow.

Coffin Bay - what a name!

We have just spent 4 days in Coffin Bay - a nice place. We have driven out in the National Park (6 hour round trip) there is lots of rocks in South Australia.....makes for bumpy driving - but the sites were good. We drove on the 7 mile beach. The park had lots of dead trees.....now there are 3 sites for revegetation of the sheoaks as cattle, rabbits and kangaroos destroyed the new growth.

Locks Well

We stopped in at Locks Well after we left Elliston. It was amazing fishing spot at the bottom of 283 steps. We went for a look and walk down the hill...as the hill was too steep for Tim and vans had to be left at the top. A storm was brewing at the time and an amazing view.

Elliston SA

Drive to Elliston today.....went via Colton, and drove into a roadside bakery (A farm cooks the bread and sells it roadside via honour box...everything is $3.50 we bought small sticky bun (yummy with a cup of tea and multigrain loaf.......haven't tried yet. After we set up in caravan park we went for a drive along the cliff tops and wow what a view

Venus Bay

Venus Bay a mixture of ocean, cliffs and the bay with many islands in a river system. Our van is at the waters edge - great view. Today we have gone out fishing a little slow to begin with....but Jude had the edge today on keeping fish. She caught 5 size K.G's to Len's 2 and Jude caught a salmon and herring which will go in smoker later. Ah yes we both caught a sand crab which have been in the pot and eaten for our lunch (quite tasty) but we are only having small lunches these days! Will take the camera out tomorrow to show you the cliffs.

On the move from Haslam

21st October We have been at a little placed called Haslam - a lovely spot, free camping - a jetty, but due to big tides we didn't go out in the dinghy - but caught squid (5) off the jetty. The weather while we have been here was awful - temps of 35 and a strong hot wind. We spent the day hibernating in the van with the generator working overtime - reading snoozing and......One night we drove 40 kms to Streaky Bay in the a/cond car and had tea at the pub - what a good idea....but the van was hot upon our return and you don't use the gen set after 9pm.

More King George....yummy

Yesterday we went out fishing  - the tide was right and other great day, temp of 27. More razor fish....15 King George Whiting our biggest was 36cm. 11 crabs and 1 squid although we didn't chase the squid much - end of a big day. We have a saying "what happens on the boat stays on the boat", but I can laugh about it now......a little womany crab bit me on the finger.....actually latched on and the only way I could get rid of her was to put finger and crab into the water......yes you are allowed to laugh.....we did when the shock left me.

Today, Friday we have had a lazy day in Smoky Bay as it is very windy and we had a storm last night.

A trip to Streaky Bay - thanks to telstra's stuff up!

Today was a trip to Streaky Bay ( a round trip of 100kms) as we had to collect our new next g sim cards, and then get activated......all is now good....telstra may have redeemed itself! The weather was beautiful and the water just glassed off. We will stay for longer in a few weeks.

Fishing at Smoky Bay

A great day fishing was had on Tuesday, we gathered Razor fish for bait, caught 14 King George Whiting and 2 crabs a great day out. We are stilling getting organised with the boat off the roof of 4wd and the most tricky is putting the motor off the trolley onto the dinghy (and not get in the way of the oyster fisherman) but we are getting there. We may look at a collapsible boat trailer for the back of the caravan, where we can leave it set up for a week when we stay somewhere for the ease and less stress.

Ceduna - and the best oysters

We had a great trip to finish the crossing of the nullabor. Eucla was a great spot...however we have had great problems with Telstra (we thought we had organised the correct prepaid cards for travelling, but oh no everyone else has phone coverage, but not us. Len spent 2.5 hours on the phone when we got to Ceduna and should pick up new cards from Streaky Bay later this week.

Had a couple of days at Fowlers Bay and the evening we arrived the thunder storms and rain arrived. We are wondering if the the suns shines in SA!. Went over to another bay Scotts Beach and Len caught a good salmon off the beach. Did I mention left all his shorts at home and he had to wade out in the water. The salmon were seen going up and down the shore line and yes we even ate it.....surprise surprise it tasted good....one night egg and bread crumbs, and then fish curry.

Ceduna, we stayed there 5 nights had a good look around, checked out Baldy's fishery and bought smoked oysters, fresh prawns, and fresh King George Whiting. All were delicious....various meals and the odd bottle of bubbles.

Today we have had a very long drive ......36 kms to Smoky bay where we will stay for a week.

Tomorrow is an adventure in the dinghy and catch our own.

Sat 24th Sept - Return to Esperance

What a great time we have had. A couple of days is Esperance - stock with fruit and veges. Go out to dinner with Lee and John and had a fabulous seafood platter - a great night.
We left Esperance to go out to Cape Le Grande - but no camping spots left and a very weedy beach and a very cloudy windy day we went to Lucky Bay. We got there in enough time to set up and have the cuppa before the wind picked up and the storm hit. We hibernated in our vans till the next day - showers of rain that was so heavy - wind and thunder and lightning a real storm. Cuddles, a nap and a good book. Another day at Lucky bay - was still windy but comfortable. Adventure the next day we went out to Cape Arid, Thomas river and what a treat we saw whales from the carpark swimming away - so off to the next carpark and a walk on the rocks where we sat for 2 hours watching the mother and calf and what a treat - they swam up and down the bay a lot of the time they would have been only 30 m away from us - great for the soul.
That trip we also saw a baby seal, oyster pickers. On the way back we stopped for a beer and cuppa at the local tavern, before returning to our camp site.....oops did I mention somewhere left their handbag on the chair in the tav so it was a trip back to collect and it was still hanging on the chair.....did I memtion how patient John was...we wont talk about losing keys will we John!! We returned to lucky bay - had daily visits from Mother Kangaroo and joey, who was allowed out for a hop. Saw a snake that was escorted away by the ranger and plenty of onlookers. It was amazing how dosile the snake was for a black one! but they told us it was a dugite

Hopetoun 27 degrees today

We arrived in Hopetoun - Sunday 11.9.11 about midday. About 15 mins before catching up with John and Lee. Hopetoun Caravan Park is fantastic and we are set up nicely 50 m from the beach.
All set up and a great walk on the beach although the beach was a little lopsided. Len rescued a birdy....(feathered).....and we tried to identify birdy from the Bird Book that Lee and John gave us....we think Shriek, but juv.
We tried the oven out and had a great roast although the veges took a little longer to cook sitting on the bottom of the oven......but cooked and we agreed delicious.
Monday, John drove us through the Fitzgerald National Park and what a great drive saw Qualup bells, Royal Hakea and lots and lots of different wildflowers pinks, blues, egg and bacon.
Tomorrow is another day

The journey begins

Jude and Paddy Hannan

Len, Judy and tim on the Road: Hello World

Hi .....we are away and have just worked out how to get back on to the blog!!!! We eventually left home at 12 pm Monday 5th Sept and here in Kalgoorlie Tuesday 6th Sept. Caught up with Jane and Mark - which has been great. Had a tour of the Town Hall. When we remember how to post a photo - it will be done. Heading for Esperance Friday am. Hugs to all Jude and Len

Hello World

Judy has got 1 day, Len has got 3 and Tim is just ready to go!

Whos Counting?

so that means no more!

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