Day 76 – 30th March 2018 – Fremantle

Col and I took the bikes out for a bit of a ride today.  It is reasonably hilly where we are staying which proves more of a challenge for me than for Col.  It didn’t help that I was having serious issues with my gears not changing.  Still nice to get out and about and get some use out of the bikes.

We headed over to the new house for a BBQ and the kids had friends over and went swimming. Continue reading “Day 76 – 30th March 2018 – Fremantle”

Day 75 – 29th March 2018 – Fremantle

While the boys were at school and Maya at camp, Ken, Raegan, Col and I thought we would head into Fremantle and go for lunch and a beer at ‘Little Creatures’ brewery.  We were approximately 5 minutes away when Raegan got a call from the Teachers at Camp to say that Maya had injured her hip on a rope climb excercise, so we turned around and headed to camp to pick her up.  I am happy to say that she was just a bit sore but nothing serious.  So Maya came along with us to ‘Little Creatures Brewery’.

There is an excellent outdoor area with a huge sandpit for kids, so the they can play while the Parents relax.  I am impressed with WA that they seem to cater so well for little ones.  It is a pity that we are on a budget over here as there are so many restaurants and Cafes that I would like to check out.

Little Creatures Brewery, Fremantle WA
Little Creatures Brewery, Fremantle WA

Our view at lunch.

Little Creatures Brewery, Fremantle WA
Little Creatures Brewery, Fremantle WA
Kris and Raegan, Little Creatures Brewery, Fremantle WA
Kris and Raegan, Little Creatures Brewery, Fremantle WA

Day 74 – 28th March 2018 – Fremantle

Raegan and Ken picked up the keys to the new house today so we will start moving a few things each day.  They have both houses for a few weeks, so there is no rush, which is great.

In the evening after dinner, we headed into Fremantle for an Ice-cream and went to the ‘Dolce Vita Gelato’ shop.  I had the ‘Freo Special’ and it was Amazing!  Ken and Raegan’s youngest daughter, Maya, had to go to school camp for a couple of nights so it was just us and the two boys, Callum and Owen hanging out with the adults.  They didn’t mind too much as there as ice-cream involved.

Dolce Vita Gelato, Fremantle WA
Dolce Vita Gelato, Fremantle WA
Family and Icecream, Dolce Vita Gelato, Fremantle WA
Family and Icecream, Dolce Vita Gelato, Fremantle WA

There was also a very cute little bookshop next door that is worth a visit if you like second hand books, it is called ‘Elizabeth’s Secondhand Bookshop’.  They have a cute idea where on a couple of racks out the front of the shop the books are wrapped up so you cannot see the cover, and a few details are written on the wrapper – it is called ‘A Blind Date with a Book’.  Raegan bought a couple of books for Maya and herself.  I am interested to see how they go with their blind book dates.  We will see if you really don’t need to judge a book by it’s cover.  You could seriously spend hours in this shop, they are packed in from floor to ceiling.  You could grab a book and sit down for an icecream while you read!  We went for a bit of a wander round and it was great to see Freo at night.

There is a place called ‘Bathers Beach House’ down on the waterfront and there are seats with umbrellas on the sand.  You can apparently buy cocktails and sit down here during the day.  Might have to come back in the daylight I think.

Bathers Beach House, Fremantle WA
Bathers Beach House, Fremantle WA

We also wandered around the dock and there are so many cool restaurants and Cafes to visit.  The seafood looks pretty amazing too.

Fremantle Dock at night, Fremantle WA
Fremantle Dock at night, Fremantle WA
Kris and Col, Fremantle WA
Kris and Col, Fremantle WA

 

Day 73 – 27th March 2018 – Fremantle

My Cousin Raegan, who we are staying with, is getting ready to move house soon.  She had a few pieces of furniture that she wanted to paint in preparation for the move.  So we all pitched in and had a day of painting, which was fun.

Painting preparation with the Howards, Fremantle WA
Painting preparation with the Howards, Fremantle WA

Continue reading “Day 73 – 27th March 2018 – Fremantle”

Day 71 – 25th March 2018 – Mandurah to Fremantle

Matt and Kym have totally spoilt us during our stay with them and we really are very thankful for everything.  We awoke to this amazing breakfast on our last day.  Currently Matt runs a Windscreen replacement business in Mandurah (in case you need one done!), but we encouraged him that he may want to consider opening a restaurant or at least joining ‘My Kitchen Rules’ or ‘Master Chef’ as an alternative.

Matthew Durdin's amazing breakfast, Mandurah WA
Matthew Durdin’s amazing breakfast, Mandurah WA

Continue reading “Day 71 – 25th March 2018 – Mandurah to Fremantle”

Day 70 – 24th March 2018 – Mandurah

Kym and Matt made great suggestions of things to go and check out while in Mandurah.  There is so much to see and do but unfortunately we had only planned to stay a couple of nights so couldn’t fit it all in.  Col and I would be keen to go back and spend some time exploring this area.  It was such a mix of West Lakes and Glenelg in SA.  The area is surrounded by water, the beach on one side and Estuary on the other.  Lots of canals and marinas.  Apparently the Estuary is good for catching Blue Manna Crabs (known as Blue Swimmer Crabs in SA). Continue reading “Day 70 – 24th March 2018 – Mandurah”

Day 69 – 23rd March 2018 – Greenbushes to Mandurah

So much to say and so little time!  This was one big day.  The most significant item that I feel I need to start with is that we got our Annex back!  Yes that is correct, after going AWOL for two weeks and Col and I were coming to terms with it’s absence, we got it back.  This is how the story unfolds.

Col and I plastered Facebook with the missing Annex posts on the 22nd March and we requested people to share the post.  We were truly humbled by how many friends and strangers alike offered assistance and shared the post.  We also posted it on the Augusta, Margaret River and Bussleton Community Notice Pages.  It just happens that it popped up in the news feed of someone in Margaret River called Donna Martin.  She thought that the story sounded familiar on the dates and area we were talking about and took the time to respond to our pleas for help.  She asked me to send my number.  We communicated via Messenger, voice calls, and she explained that someone from the Margaret River Bike Tours found our Annex on the 6th March near Hamelin Bay and tried to hand it into the Turner’s Caravan Park.  They were advised to take it to the Augusta Police Station.  The sad thing is that we had contacted the Augusta Police Station multiple times since that date, to see if an Annex had been handed in, and we were told that it hadn’t been.  We raised a police report and was advised they would contact us if it was returned. Continue reading “Day 69 – 23rd March 2018 – Greenbushes to Mandurah”

Day 68 – 22nd March 2018 – Denmark to Greenbushes

We left Denmark Ocean Beach Caravan Park today and drove approximately 250km to Greenbushes today.  There are a few camps here to choose from.  One has a beautiful swimming area but is relatively small, called Greenbushes Pool Camp and this is a donation only site.  There is another free camp near the Sports Complex.  There are toilets and water at the free camp and you can stay for 7 days.  For us it will be an overnight stop, as we will heading to Mandurah tomorrow.  Tomorrow morning we will go and check out the Greenbushes Pool campsite, as the photos looked really beautiful. Continue reading “Day 68 – 22nd March 2018 – Denmark to Greenbushes”

Day 67 – 21st March 2018 – Denmark

It is our last day in Denmark today and I am not sure that I am ready to leave.  I do really like this place.  It has been nice to take it easy and unwind a bit this week.  I guess that is unfair to say considering we have been on this journey since mid January!  Sorry everyone.

Col was keen to do a surf lesson, so we arrived at Ocean Beach just after 8.30am but unfortunately the Instructor that runs the lessons had to head into Albany today, so there were no lessons being run.  Col was sad.

Sad Col as there were no surfing lessons at Ocean Beach today, Denmark WA
Sad Col as there were no surfing lessons at Ocean Beach today, Denmark WA

Continue reading “Day 67 – 21st March 2018 – Denmark”