It’s now been 16 months since we moved into our little lifestyle village, albeit with many reservations at the time of moving. We made a promise to ourselves – absolutely no committees, and we promised we wouldn’t attend any of the meetings. As anyone who has ever been on a committee will attest, it’s often a thankless undertaking, an undertaking that’s often associated with much bickering and squabbling, as can be the case with General Meetings too, sometimes subjecting the poor members to much angst and frustration.

The ordinary general meetings within the village have come and gone, without us attending. Last years Annual General meeting took place without us in attendance (much to the disappointment of more than a few residents who felt it was our duty to attend). We decided the price we would pay was to accept whatever was decided at any of the meetings without complaint, and that’s exactly what we’ve done. Everything has been going along brilliantly, and we’ve not had one complaint.

We participate in many of the events and activities in the village. In fact my life has become so full, both in and outside the village, that I no longer have any completely free days in a week We both play Bridge in the Busselton Bridge Club on Monday and Wednesday afternoons.

I play Majong in the village on Tuesday afternoons. Then there’s bowls in the village on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and on Wednesday and Friday mornings I walk with my ladies walking group. Paul’s schedule is similar. Our calendars are full.

We love the special events, the dances, the occasional dinners, and things like Melbourne Cup day lunches. For my overseas readers who may not be familiar with Australia’s Melbourne Cup Race, it’s the horse race that stops the Australian nation, the biggest event of the year on the racing calendar.

Since Covid took the world by surprise though, I believe some of the special events within the village have diminished somewhat in both quantity and possibly to some extent, vibrancy, with the Melbourne Cup lunch being no exception. For this years event for the Melbourne Cup, a special lunch was scheduled in our main hall. The tables were booked, the menu organised, and people delegated to take care of the sweeps. The day was scheduled to commence at 10.30am. Most ladies would take the opportunity to dress up in their finest dresses with matching hats or fascinators as befits a big racing day. Most of the men would don a tie and possibly even a hat.

The sweeps would be organised, and the big screen lowered for the watching of the race. The day was to have prizes for best hat, best dressed lady, and best dressed gentleman. The race would run at 12 noon, after which we would all eat our lunch, and then the day would be over. A few weeks before the race, in a moment of madness I may add, I convinced Paul to assist me in adding some foot tapping entertainment for the afternoon by way of a music quiz. We approached the Social Committee with our idea, an idea which seemed to be very welcomed.

We organised our questions. Paul sorted out an app that would allow him to select a small segment of all the chosen songs on which our quiz questions were based – What’s the title of this next song? What’s the next line in these lyrics? What is this piece of music the theme song too, etc etc…. Paul worked out how to use the sound system to play the questions in the big hall, and had several practice runs in the quiet of our own home. We arranged people to collect and deliver the questions and answers for each round, people to mark the answers, and we arranged prizes. We had no idea how many people would stay on after the lunch.

I’m pleased to say almost everyone stayed on after the lunch and made a full day of it. Although some of the answers to the questions may have alluded some participants, the songs and music chosen, almost without exception was clearly well remembered. I noticed many a foot tapping in time to the music, and knew the purpose of our moment of madness in volunteering had well and truly been successful. Despite our nerves at getting up in front of a rather large audience, I think both Paul and I enjoyed our first real moment in the spotlight. I say first because……

Your remember I started this blog by saying we made that promise to ourselves – no committees. Well, as you’ve probably guessed – our little stunt of volunteering put us in the limelight. So much so in fact that before we were aware of what was happening, the current members of the Social Committee, many of whom had been looking to step down, seized upon the opportunity to snap up some new replacement members. Before we knew it, we had both been seconded to the Social Committee, and Paul also to the Residents Committee. By the end of the Melbourne Cup lunch it seems that not only are we to take our places on the committees, but Paul has been suggested for treasurer on the Social Committee, and I for president. (I’m not sure the suggestion of me to be president is that flattering actually, I think it’s more a recognition for my ability to be bossy! – yep that’s me, Miss Bossyboots). The Annual General Meeting is coming up soon, and that’s when I think the new committees will be announced. Of course, it’ll then be up to the committees to choose the roles for their members, and they may decide someone else will be more suited to being president or/and treasurer. Either way, it’ll be ok with me. Whether or not we’ll be regretting all this remains to be seen, but for now, speaking for myself, I’m finding it all rather exciting, and anyone who knows me well, will understand that. I love entertaining, especially I love organising fun times.

The existing Social Committee will continue on with their plans up to and including all the Christmas functions. The new committee with take over from there, starting with the New Years Eve dance. The entertainment has been booked, but we’ll need to organise the posters, tables, decorations etc for the night, and it’ll be up to us to ensure the night is a success. Wish us luck, I’ll let you know how it goes.

That’s not all though. Recently our ageing Bridge club called for new committee members, advising that the club was in danger of having to close if new members were not forthcoming. You guessed it – We’ve both put our hands up for that as well. So 16 months after our promise to ourselves – absolutely no committees, and no meetings, and now Paul is to be sitting on three committees, and myself on two. Our already busy lives have suddenly become even more busy. It’s all going to be a big learning curve, I hope we manage to do a good job.

With a few hours to spare today we headed to Meelup National Park for a short bush walk.

The short section of the coastal walk track that we chose for today’s walk commenced at Castle Rock, just over 30kms from Busselton.

From there we walked north/west taking in Meelup beach, Gannet Rocks, and then on to Point Picquet. The walk is less than 5 kms return, but at this time of year it’s a favourite walk of ours. It’s a shame it’s through a national park though as in Australia dogs aren’t allowed in National Parks. Mr Tilly would have loved the trail, and we would have loved to have him with us. Some owners aren’t in control of their dogs though, so we understand the need to protect the native fauna. The South West of WA is full of national parks, so Tills has to miss out on a lot of walks that’d he love. Never mind, he always gets his early morning beach walk whatever we happen to be doing later in the day.

It’s an easy to walk track that follows a stunning coastline.

Once we arrived at Pt Picquet we sat a while to look for whales. This section of ocean has a deep Chanel just off the shoreline, so thousands of Humpbacks, Southern Rights, and Blue Whales can often be seen as they head back down to Antartica after their journey north to bear their young in warmer waters. We sat for about 40 minutes today and saw about 20 whales, all humpbacks I think, although I’m no expert. None were in very close today. We saw a few approximately 100 metres off shore as their massive bodies broke the surface when they rose up to breath, but for the majority we only knew they were passing because of the splashing out towards the horizon. Some were clearly breaching, or slapping the water with their fins, as whales do, or we’d spot their big blow when they’d come up for air. Sometimes we’ve been blessed with whales that will put on one of their slapping displays, or will repeatedly breach, throwing their massive bodies right out of the water only 20 or so metres from the shore. Just depends on the day. We call there as often as we can at this time of year, as when we’re lucky enough to get a small pod close to shore putting on a show, it’s one of the most magical things one could possibly see.

Finishing our walk back at Castle Rock, coffee beckoned, and what better place to enjoy a coffee than at the Bunker Bay Cafe. Bunker Bay is a few more kilometres up the road towards Cape Naturalist.

Today we were lucky it seems. As the staff shortages that started with Covid continues to plague our hospitality industry, service just ‘ain’t what it used to be’. It was around 1pm when we arrived, but we didn’t need lunch, just a coffee and one of their famous muffins. We were told that due to staff shortages they normally finish their coffee and cake service in favour of full meal service at 11.30am, but as it was unusually quiet today we were in luck. Bunker Bay Cafe is a dog friendly cafe, so it’s one of our favourites – we’ll have to remember the new food service times if we head there with our fur baby hoping for just a coffee in future. We might not be so lucky next time.

Twas a lovely couple of hours – mild weather, a gentle bush walk alongside stunning coastline, and we were lucky enough to get to enjoy a coffee and muffin afterwards. How lucky are we!

We farewelled our son and daughter-in-law, then packed up the caravan and said what we know will be our own final farewell to Broome from a caravaner’s prospective. Five days later we were home. It took us two days to get the caravan completely emptied and cleaned up. Five days more and the caravan was sold, and so that era in our lives has come to an end.

This blog started so as to record our full time caravan travels when we set off from Perth in 2014 with the intentions of living on the road for many, many years. lifeofrileyow.com begun with the ‘ow’ being an acronym for ‘on wheels’. It seems the universe had other plans for us, and after several unplanned interruptions to our journey we rejoined traditional house living late in 2016. The blog morphed from its intended travel journal into being virtually a diary in which to record our travels, our home renovations, and all manner of other things. The ‘ow’ in lifeofrileyow.com, changed from ‘on wheels’ to being an acronym for ‘on whatever’. I wrote on whatever inspired me to write. Of late I’ve been finding less and less inspiration to write about anything. So I’ve been pondering, what next for my little blog?

I enjoy blogging from time to time. Sometimes the desire to have something to write about will encourage me to get out of my comfy chair and get out exploring the great outdoors just so as I’ll have something to write about. When I’m out exploring I take more notice of my surroundings knowing I’m going to be writing about my experience. Anticipating writing enhances all my senses. If I know I’m going to write about something I tend to see, hear, feel smell, and taste with much more awareness than I otherwise would.

I’m not sure which direction this blog will go now, but I think it’ll find a new direction. Perhaps it’ll showcase more of our beautiful south west. Being surrounded by all the Margaret River wineries, restaurants, picnic areas, beaches, and glorious outdoor walking trails, there’s plenty to write about. Perhaps I’ll seek out more of the ‘dog friendly’ local places to review. And as we’re now intending to fly to our holiday destinations we’ll have a whole new holiday experiences to review and record. I know I’ll continue to write, and I know I’ll continue to write ‘on whatever’ takes my fancy. I’d kinda like to develop a set theme, but somehow I don’t think that’ll happen. The blog will probably just continue on its merry way, just as eclectic and erratic as I am. One things for sure though which ever direction it takes won’t include caravan wheels any more. That era was great, but for us, it’s now a by-gone error. For this blog, a new life awaits….

We’ve been in Broome for a little over two weeks now. Checking into the caravan park we were given what has clearly become a standard spiel, ‘don’t leave anything valuable out, especially car keys, and don’t leave your car keys hanging near the door inside your caravan’. This was followed up by an email stating the same. Apparently it isn’t uncommon to awake to find someone inside your van who has managed to snib the door open while the occupants sleep.

We’ve seen and heard things over the years that indicate the local youth and sadly, in particular, the local indigenous youth, have been becoming aware that the tourist season opens up opportunities for theft, especially car theft. Now it seems that Broome is joining the rest of the northern parts in Australia in resembling what can only be described as a lawless society. The crime rate is definitely escalating. Broome is losing its sleepy little town in paradise feel. Sad indeed!!

Our son and daughter in law were due to leave Darwin a couple of days after we arrived. They were bringing a tent, but not being able to get a site at our caravan park, had booked somewhere a little out of town. Hearing about the warnings heralded a change of plan. They cancelled their site, and instead have their tent sent up on our site, their portable fridge chained to our caravan wheel, and when we go out, their electronics and valuables are hidden away and locked in our caravan.

Kelvin has spent time in Broome previously, but this is Dara’s first visit. With everything secured as best as possible, we’ve been out and about. They are loving it.

Swimming during the day at Cable Beach, then playing around as the sun go down in the evening.

Exploring Ridell Beach and Entrance Point.

There’s no way I would have been tempted to climb into that hole…. He may have turned 50, but there’s still plenty of the thrill seeker from his teenage years left inside. Pleased there weren’t any snakes down there.

We’ve managed to get into a few restaurants, you have to book, sometimes weeks in advance. The Aarli Bar has been the stand out so far – it always is. We went to Ladies Day at the Broome races – left early, and decided we’d give the Broome cup race day a miss. Went fishing a few times from town jetty, caught nothing except a cold.

Today we’re heading up to Cygnet Bay pearl farm for a boat tour. I’ll let you know more about later, but now I’d better go and get ready.

We spent our last night at Sandfire Roadhouse before getting to Broome. It’s not normally a place we choose to stay at as usually we take advantage of the free 24 hour roadside stop overs, but on this occasion we had an engel full of frozen things so we needed power to keep everything frozen. As well as that, as this is most likely our last hurrah in the caravan, it will be the last chance for us to see the peacocks that Sandfire is famous for.

Even though they didn’t fan out their feathers for us, they didn’t disappoint. There certainly was plenty of them, and they were stunning.

In the evening we had a beer and shared a burger in their el fresco area. I hadn’t realised peacocks roosted in trees overnight, but they clearly do. We were very careful as to where we walked.

We’ve been in Broome for four nights now. The weather has been absolutely perfect, approximately 30 degrees every day, soft breezes, and cool enough for a good nights sleep overnight. Meanwhile storms, winds and heavy rains are lashing our home town of Busselton….. We’re happy campers!

As a teenager Alice went to Kalbarri on a school hike – she hated it! But that was almost 35 years ago, and gear has changed considerably over that time, as has Alice. As I remember it, the hike was in the inland gorges and took several days, with the gear divided between each of the hikers to carry. They didn’t have two person tents weighing less than a kilo as we do know, nor did Alice have any lightweight hiking gear, or sturdy boots. I think her pack weighed approximately twice the recommended weight for a person of her weight. She now loves hiking, and I’m sure given half a chance she’d gladly re-trace her footsteps from her school days, and with today’s gear, I’m sure she’d love it.

Kalbarri is almost all national park, with rugged and beautiful gorges inland, all fringed by the most amazing rugged coastline. We had intended to do a couple of the shorter inland gorge walks, but it was school holidays, and the amount of cars in the car parks at the start of the walks caused us to think again. How wonderful that so many families are taking advantage of the school holidays to immerse their children in nature at it’s best. We left the inland gorges for the families to enjoy and Instead headed for the coast. I posted several of the photos a few days ago. Here are a few more, including a couple of videos.

We stayed at Red Bluff Caravan park for this visit, which is a little out of town. We’re so pleased we did as only two minutes walk from the caravan park took us down to, what we thought was the best of the coastal cliffs area. On the first night the sea was quite ferocious so we couldn’t safely venture to far, but on our last night the water was a lot more gentle allowing us to venture around the rocks far enough to take the above photos and videos. On a wild night, such as the first night we were there, the power in the ocean is frightening, and has to be respected. Hence our videos show a gentle sea in comparison to how wild it can be. I hope you enjoy them anyway.

We enjoyed Kalbarri. We’re now in Carnarvon, the fruit bowl of WA. We’ve restocked our fridge with delicious avocados, cucumbers, capsicum, cabbage, beans, broccoli, and loads of sun ripened tomatoes. Our washing is all done, the sun is shining, and tomorrow we’re ready to move onto Coral Bay – a place very close to our hearts. But tonight the spud van is due to arrive, and with it I believe there’ll be entertainment (we’re at the Wintersun caravan park, and there’s always plenty going on at the Wintersun). I’d better go and tidy myself a bit …..

The humpbacks are on their journey north. can you spot the whale in the first photo?

The waves crash into the rocky shoreline. i wish you could hear them in these two photos.

Wild country – just stunning!

We’ve been to Kalbarri twice before and both times it’s been so windy that we’ve left earlier than planned. Arriving at the Red Bluff caravan park at 11am yesterday we hoped this time would be different. A gentleman came out to us on his quad bike, ”do you have a booking?” he asked. We confirmed that indeed we did. ”You’re to early”, he says, ”check in time is 2pm”.

Mmmm – welcome to Kalbarri. We drove into town, parked up and went in search of lunch. Lots of places not open, two pubs that served lunch between 12 and 2. We arrived at the first at 12 only to be told that as two tables of people had already arrived, nothing would be available until 1pm. We tried the second pub, they hadn’t finished their lunch prep yet, and weren’t taking orders until the prep was finished. Next we tried the bakery, but they didn’t have tables. We wandered on.

Next stop, a fish and chip shop with a couple of outside tables. That’d have to do. They didn’t do coffee. We sat outside and ate our mediocre fish and chips, and yes it was windy, and a little drizzly, but we were under a roof, and managed to drag the table to a spot with some wind protection, so that was ok. Next we went in search of coffee. I think we managed to find the only place in Kalbarri serving coffee on a Thursday lunch time. Thank goodness it was before 2pm, as they closed at 2. Paul also ordered a cake. The coffee arrived, but the cake had been forgotten. They were apologetic though when reminded, which was the first indication since arriving in the town that someone at least had a general idea of ’customer service’. The coffee was really good.

Back to the van park at 2pm to join the queue of arrivals. We both went to reception to book in, however there was one person already there. ”only one person in the office at a time”, we were told. ”as per covid mandates, and the sign on the door”. I went back to the van, while Paul waited his turn to humbly enter reception on his lonesome.

From then on things magically transformed. The gentleman on the quad bike escorted us to our site, and skillfully directed the back in before presenting us with an envelope with the key for the ensuite, and the park rules inside. The park only has grassed, ensuite sites. The grass is immaculate (no ground sheets allowed), and the ensuite was spotlessly clean and completely dry. Ah! now I understand the later than usual check in time for caravanners – they use the time to bring all the sites up to their high standard. All is forgiven.

We set up, had a cuppa, then the noise of the waves crashing to shore close by beckoned. It looked like quite a distance to the water, but it was only about a three minute walk, and what we saw when we arrived took our breath away. I’ll let the photos do the talking!

We were gobsmacked. Raw nature at it’s absolute best, and soooo close to where we’ll be spending the next four nights. I’m happy.

It’s now 7.50am on the morning of our second day. I’ve been typing this in bed, as I listen to the waves crashing onto the rugged, rocky coastline only a few hundred metres away. There’s no wind today and the sky is blue. I’m thinking – I‘m going to like Kalbarri!

We had planned to leave early this morning with Cervantes as our first stop. However, by 3pm yesterday we were all packed up and were eager to get going. We set off and took an hour and half off todays trip by staying at a free overnight stopping place on the way. Without power it was freezing, but we were still pleased to have shortened today’s travel time.

Setting off before 8am this morning and with only 302 kms to travel today meant we arrived before lunch. We usually travel long days so when we arrive at each day’s destination, there’s usually only daylight hours left for a quick leg stretch, dinner, and a game, before we hit the sack for the night. It was a nice change to have a relax for a bit before making a sandwich for lunch, and then setting off to explore the surrounding area on foot.

Cervantes is a very small Cray-fishing town. Nearby are the famous Pinnacles – a sort of desert with fossilised tree trunks. (don’t quote me on that rough description, I have been there many years ago, but I’m a bit vague as to their origin).

Today’s walk took us down the beach with the big Cray-fisherman’s houses on one side and their cray-fishing boats moored just off shore on the other side.

And just up the beach from the big houses is the surprising Lobster Shack. We were so tempted – but I had roast chicken in the caravan all cooked ready for our dinner.

The place is huge, with just as many tables inside as there are out. Some of the meals looked really enticing, as did their iced coffees….. I resisted (that’s a first). I imagine a lot of tour buses bring their Pinnacle tour patrons here for lunch. I think they’d be impressed.

We’ve been promising ourself shorter, slower days in the caravan for ever. It’s taken us to our last trip to actually do it. It’s rather nice – I wonder why it took us so long!