Perth (May 2015)

Firstly we need something fixed on the light weight trailer we have for the boat, which is done in no time. We can stay in this street overnight. The next day we set out to find a spot to camp. It needs to be a campsite that will allow dogs, can house big rigs and will have a cabin for Pieter and Els (Jolmer’s parents) where they can recover from a jetlag when they arrive. We settle at Banksia Tourist park, but it’s not a red hot favourite of ours.

Picking up Pieter and Els is a highlight for the children, they even make a banner. 

They are bringers of lots of hugs kisses and also quite some gifts. 

After a goods nights sleep a delegation goes into the old harbour town of Fremantle. We hope to go to the Shipwreck museum but unfortunately this is closed for renovations. Luckily we find the "Duyfken", a replica of a VOC sailing ship from the 17th century Which gives us a nice introduction to further explorations of the Dutch /Australian history of the 17th and 18th Century. 

On the farmers market of Margaret River we had bought a box of tomatoes that we still need to transform into Tomato sauce. Oma Els gives her undecided attention to stirring the pot until a perfect sauce is created. This went very well with the Fish and Chips made with the Salmon captured earlier in the week. (for Beer Batter Recipe click here).

Other business we have in Perth is getting the Toyota in for a service. Laura and I decide to make a day of it. We bring in the car in the morning and are advised it should be ready at 3pm, so we have time to stroll into town for breakfast, a haircut, some shopping and lunch.

The only thing left now before we can pick up the Campervan for Pieter and Els, is to get them both a nice camping chair, forget the cheap rental stuff. They will be on the road with us for four weeks, they need to be able to sit nicely. So Jolmer sorts that out and then we’re ready to go on Monday morning sharp. Unfortunately the rental company is not nearly as ready as we are, and after a fairly long wait, we end up getting a 4WD, with the promise someone will bring out the camper-van to our first destination that evening.

 Cervantes it is. We go and visit the pinnacles. Interesting lime stone formations.