Catching Up with Mike, Kaz and James - Jurien Bay, The Pinnacles, Perth and Rottnest Island

We threaded our way down the coast, past Geraldton and on to Jurien Bay to catch up with lifelong friends Mike and Kaz Donn, and their new addition James. Upon rolling up at the caravan park we were told they were full – yes we are slow learners!  The desperate look on Kelly's face, and the fact that our friends were checked in to their cabin, must have worked on the lady at the desk who offered up a couple of spare unpowered sites if we wanted to go and check them out.

We ended up in a hilarious skinny site, fenced all round, with a garden and two sentinel stumps at the entrance to make reversing extra challenging.  Wondering at our good fortune in getting a 'garden view' site, we soon realised we were parking in a spot that used to be a permanent resident’s car park and garden. He (and several others) looked on while we backed in, with a look on his face like Rich had just shit on his shoe. Rich and Kel’s joint effort in perfect reversing half won him over, Rich got him over the line by joking with him, telling him that we were afraid that we were parking on his lawn, but that there were no more spots and that we should go into the Caravan Park business in Jurien Bay as there was obviously a pretty strong need for it. Only stayed in this spot for one night anyhow and moved closer to Mike and Kaz’s cabin for the next night.

Caught up with Mike and Kaz and baby James and had a nice time at Jurien Bay basically chilling out on the jetty, flying (well, in Kaz’s case repeatedly crashing L) the stunt kite on beautiful Jurien Bay beach, and soaking up the sunshine.


Hmmm - had to 'borrow' this photo of the Jurien Bay jetty from someone else's blog as we forgot to take a photo - shhhhh don't tell anyone!




Rich collecting his Bundy on the morning after / Bad Hair Day



After a couple of nights at Jurien Bay, we headed on to  Mike and Kaz’s place in Perth via the Pinnacles where the flies nearly got the better of us.  Had a fairly brief look at the rock formations being hounded by flies and waving like maniacs.  Eventually Dylan point-blank refused to get out of the car.  Ventured back to the visitors centre for some fly-less reading and learning.  With no toilets on site, Mike and Kaz had the thankless task of changing James' nappy outside on the verandah - a two person job on account of those fiendish flies.

Thumbs up for the - ahem - Olympic Torch

Back on the move, we then stumbled upon what may just be the best beer garden in Australia at the lovely (but mighty windy) Lancelin Bay, having lunch at the Lancelin Beach Hotel where the views from the beer garden are great and the burgers even better!

Travelled on to Chateau Le Donn, unpacked and then hit the Wii. A bit of noodle sword fighting and martial arts on the back lawn then ensued. After the kids went to bed, the adults hit the Wii again with some alcohol and chocolate for endless challenges – which Rich won most of!

The next day started off catching up on chores, Kel did some washing while Rich cleaned all the red dust and salt off the car. After lunch we headed into Perth to Kings Park to check out the new Nature Park where the kids could climb high structures, mix ‘potions’, and climb under tunnels and long ropes.

Headed over the bridge to Mill Point Jetty and hired a couple of catamarans which we sailed on the Swan River, Perth as a stunning backdrop. Mike teamed up with Ari, Rich and Dylan sailed the other one, Kel, Kaz and James chilled out on the beach.  The girls got in trouble from a passer-by for enjoying ice-creams while leaving James to suck his toes.  

As the sun was sinking, headed back home for dinner, a Skype session with all folks back home (and the dog - not surprisingly, dogs don't really get the concept of Skype) some more Wii action, and some planning for the next day before bed.

Next day we were up early and headed out to Hillarys wharf with the kids’ bikes to catch the ferry to Rottnest Island. The ferry ride left Kel a little green, but she came good once she went out the back to get some fresh air. Upon arriving at Rotto, Rich hired a bike.  Rich, Mike, Dylan and Ari went for a bike ride around the western side of the island to a beach with a shipwreck where they stopped for a swim and snorkel around the shipwreck before riding back.

The kids were hot and hungry but pretty pleased with themselves for managing the 5km ride.  Rich and team met Kel, Kaz and James near the bakery and we all grabbed some lunch. The kids petted some quokkas near the picnic area while we waited for lunch. Rich had one of the best chocolate thickshakes he ever had.

After lunch we rode / walked over to a beautiful bay on the eastern side of the island and swam in the (frigid) blue water.  Rich and Mike went for another fun snorkel around the reef and rocks and enjoyed chasing the multitude of fish there. Baby James seemed to enjoy his paddle as well.

It was starting to get late so we headed back to the ferry (Rich grabbing a sneaky second chocolate thickshake on the way), and then back home to Chateau Le Donn for some copying of Mike’s CD collection and 100 pin bowling on the Wii – even Kel got involved in this one!

On our last day at Chateau Le Donn we cleaned up all the stuff we and the kids had left lying around the place. Kel and the kids went shopping while Rich spent 2 hours giving the caravan a long overdue wash (yes, he missed a spot).

Eventually we were ready to head off, so we said our goodbyes to Mike, Kaz and baby James, and hit the road down to Pinjarra and Margaret River.