Back in a town, we had the choice of a few caravan parks, my favourite place to be! One was doing a deal of ‘stay 4, pay for 3’…not really wanting to hang around we were hesitant to commit. That as it may, it was late in the afternoon by the time we got to Carnarvon and knowing the re-stocking / re-fuelling / washing takes a full day, that was 2 nights gone already. We’d also got the exciting task of trying to replace new roof struts for the failed ones on Minty and other admin tasks that surprisingly mount up, which can only be done while we have the luxury of internet, we decided we’d opt-in so we could have a nose around the town and make sure we got some schooling done.

The first couple of days we expunged ourselves from the red dirt and sand invasion of our recent peninsula experiences. The red dirt doesn’t really come out of anything, so we basically diluted the colour to a light hue on the clothes and returned them to their respective drawers. We got all the bikes down and kids raced around like loons, mainly to escape schooling I think!

One of the main highlights of Carnarvon is the Space and Technology Museum and as it was only a few kilometres away we took to our bikes and ensuring it was getting close to lunchtime (true Towns’ time) we departed camp. It was an easy, if not sweaty ride in the high 20’s heat and we arrived bang on lunchtime, with no lunch – one day we’ll get organised! We also forgot our fly nets (BIG MISTAKE) and had a rude reminder of how awful the buzzy things were, it was a welcome relief walking into the air-conditioned museum. The museum has a rich tapestry of little-known history the role Carnarvon played in the manned space program and in the Australian communications industry. The Carnarvon Tracking Station was commissioned in 1964 and operated for 11 years, built to support NASA’s Gemini, Apollo and Skylab programs. It was the last station to communicate with the space capsules leaving the earth’s orbit, and last to make contact before splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. The station also enabled the first live TV broadcast between Australia and UK.

There was a lot of information to read and look at, movies to watch, yet the best bit of all was we got to dress up as a spaceman and experience blast-off! An interactive room presented the opportunity to play with gadgets and build things. The afternoon passed quickly and before we knew it the museum was shutting. It was a quick ride back to camp…for the other 3, I went over a thorn, got a flat tyre and ended up walking my bike back. The following day a kids fishing competition was on so we ventured down the pier for Lexi & Reo to try their hand. There were kids in abundance, however it appeared that it was all the dad’s holding the reels while kids were playing with their new-found friends! It was a fun morning even though nothing was caught. In the afternoon we decided to go a bit loopy… a drive around working plantations. Many of the growers sell seasonal fruit and veg; a real foodie adventure known as the ‘Fruit Loop’. We bought up as much fresh produce as we could and then tried the infamous chocolate banana. Delish.

Our next stop was at Quobba Blow holes and then camp nearby. When we rocked up we were welcomed by a gazillion flies – no joke! A little overwhelmed by the tumultuous welcome, we quickly locked ourselves in the van. And didn’t come out again! It was horrendous. To pass time we ate fruit from the Loop and drove ourselves a little crazy. On arriving we’d decided to stay just a night and move on, but the following day after shutting ourselves away we felt we needed to explore and do some snorkelling in The Aquarium, a sheltered pocket of water with an abundance of sea life. We spent the morning completing school work working up the courage to face the flies and after lunch made our way to The Aquarium. As we advanced towards the water, we could see peaks of the coral jutting out of the surface, low tide. We gave it a go, but our tummies were nearly scraping the coral so gave up and came back to say hello to the flies. We needed to wait for high tide the following morning.

We packed up ready to go after brekkie the next day and once we’d ploughed our way through the throng of flies, donned our wetsuits and snorkelling gear we waded out into the water, away from the party of black buzzy things and sank with relief under the water. We were in for an hour or more, it was fabulous. I’ve never been one for snorkelling, I prefer scuba diving, but since being on the trip and seeing how the kids have taken to it like fish to water [pun intended], it’s brought a renewed energy for me. The coral was unfortunately quite broken, yet little fish skittered around, in and out through the holes, starfish grounded on the sea bed and then a turtle leisurely sauntered by! We had over 10 minutes swimming with it, not bothered by us at all, it lazily moved along allowing us to have a good look and take pictures. Wow, certainly the highlight of my swim. As soon as we reached shore, we were instantaneously dragged back to the reality of Quobba as the cloud of flies began to explore our noses, ears and mouths again!! It was time to move on.

We’d been told that the majority of flies had gone on vacation a little further up the coast at Red Bluff, brilliant, off we headed. Another amazing spot, Red Bluff is exactly that; red dust and a steep cliff to the waters edge. The travelling grapevine had been misinformed though, as the buzzy little black buggers were around in the gazillions here too That afternoon we played on the beach and Reo met a new friend Bobby. Bobby and his family were camped just behind us and we ended up chatting the night away around their camp fire. The kids, Alex and Naomi (Bobby’s mum) went ghost crabbing while Sam (his dad) and I manned the fire. The following day we said good bye to Bobby, Naomi, Sam and Sunny, as their next destination was a no flies zone in Bali, whilst we had a lazy day.

The wind was blowing again (WA – Windy As) and we played on the beach, decked out with the latest beach accessory, the fly net. I got the drone up for more playing once the wind had died down. As the tide ebbed, plunge pools were exposed, a great opportunity for a dip and drone shot, rather them than me, water was fresh! We ended the day with another glorious sunset, the red cliffs illuminating in the dusk light and a fire to eat our tea around.

“Mummy… MUUUMMMYYY… MUUUUUUMMMMMYYYYYY, Reo’s vomiting on me!” What an awful dream I was having… I suddenly sat bolt upright as I came to my senses, Lexi trying to hide under her bunk as Reo is in full force leaning over the side bringing his last meal up. It was 1am. Poor wee mite, pasty white and so forlorn. It was a rough night for us and while the vomiting had finally stopped by the morning, he was lethargic and reticent – very unlike our Little Fella. I was feeling pretty rough by the morning too, although thankfully I kept the contents of my stomach and we made a quick exit back to Carnarvon. Even I can admit that it was the safety of a caravan park we needed to just lie down and then start the clean up from last nights antics. All their bedding needed to be washed and while that was one job I managed to do, I lay down for most of the day while Alex organised the kids and re-stocked bits we needed. The wind was blowing more than normal which was great to get everything dry, but a storm was coming and I managed to just take it off the line before the heavens opened.

We had a slow start the next day, Reo had bounced back to normal, I was still feeling delicate. After dodging the rain and getting the rest of the jobs done we hit the road again. We weren’t going to make the camp we’d intended so had a road side overnight stop and then continued to Warroora Station, conveniently situated on the coast alongside the start of the world famous Ningaloo Reef. Here you needed to be fully self-contained. Whilst shower isn’t an issue, we’ve tended to stay at camps with toilets to make it easier – although Reo’s enthusiam for the shovel cannot be denied! The toilet we had lugged around for the last 6 months was going to get it’s inaugural outing!! From reviews we’d read on Wiki and other families posting on Insta, getting a beachfront camp at Warroora was like striking gold – it was first in, best dressed – surely a foregone conclusion knowing our ability to get up ‘n out early…well, we hit jackpot as most seem to make a beeline to 14-Mile Beach deterred by the 4WD only track that takes you to the other camp spots, we continued merrily onto Sandy Point & boy what a spot!

Pulling up to the camp, there were a couple of spots to choose from and as we slowed down by our chosen one trying to work out how we were going to get Minty in, Brad aka Grommet, our friendly neighbour popped up and started chatting – trying to suss us out I reckon making sure we’d be compatible neighbours. 😊 Suddenly a blond-haired girl came haring up asking if there were kids in the car, Mia, Grommet’s daughter became instant besties with Lexi and off they ran to the beach to explore. Quick squeals of delight as a turtle swam by, this was going to be a good camp! Once we’d set up home, we introduced ourselves to Deb, Grommet’s wife and chatted the afternoon away. Grommet made a fire that evening which we all ate tea round. Conversation was flowing and as Grommet & Deb rolled up a ciggy to smoke, in true childlike innocence, Lexi asked why they did it. Grommet lectured her on the why’s of not to smoke and was explaining addiction to her. Suddenly she announced, “my mum and dad are addicted to alcohol! At home they never drank, now they drink every day.” Hmm, the side effects of home schooling I believe! LOL.

By the evening, another family had pulled up, ‘Cruzin’ round’ who had 2 older girls Bella (15) and Chloe (10). Another family ‘Ganon roadhouse’ were settled the other side of Grommet with their 3 kids Conner (10), Zephir (4) & Mackenzie (2) and suddenly we were 4 families alongside the beach front. It’s great having similar aged kids, they entertained themselves and ran themselves ragged. We’d been hoping to spend a week here but with the extended detour to Carnarvon, we could only stay 5 nights as the booked camps in Cape Range NP were waiting for us.

Weather was a little mixed initially with the ends of storm bringing some rain and high winds but it didn’t dampen our spirits and didn’t last that long; a good excuse to lock kids away and get a bit of school done. As all the older kids were being home-schooled, they were keen to have class together. Knowing this could have gone 2 ways, the parents agreed that if they all worked hard that morning individually, the following day they could have class. You got to love motivation, I’ve never seen school work get done so quickly! The following day, kids were up, dressed and teeth brushed impatient for school – that doesn’t happen often I can tell you… All the kids congregated round the tables so they could start their work. My 2 were the youngest and so needed a lot more help than the others, they get distracted very easily and by their own admission were keen in the end to finish their work by our van. I think the flies may have had something to do with it too, although not as bad as our last 2 camps, they were still keen to explore every orifice they could wriggle into.

The wind had substantially died and both Grommet and Shaky (Cruzin ‘round) had tinny boats they were keen to get out. One afternoon Shaky took the 4 older girls out for a snorkel on the reef which they thoroughly enjoyed, Lexi especially I think as this was a new experience for her. Reo was a little disheartened being left on shore but soon got lost in play with Conner and all was forgotten. Grommet had promised him a ride later anyway. The time passed quickly. It’s nice to have longer time in one place to unwind a little and just chill. I’m sure that may seem like a contra-indication for some, given we’re not in the doldrums of paid work, surely our life is one looooong holiday!? Well, while it’s certainly nice not having a daily office job, life is life, currently just a moving one and there are still the highs and lows that come with that, especially with the close confines of 24/7 in a 1.5 x 4.5m box. Of course we mainly post the highs, of which they greatly outweigh the lows!! 😉

Grommet took Alex and the kids out one afternoon for a snorkel and then Deb and I went out cruising for sharks and turtles. There was still quite a swell, but eagle-eyed Deb was a pro at spotting turtles and sharks, although none were hanging around for long enough to allow us to play. We had a great snorkel on the reef. On returning from our trip, Shaky and Bella had just returned from fishing. On a closer inspection of their boat, they found an octopus had been riding shotgun on the hull. Firmly attached, it squirmed and slithered underneath as they tried to dislodge it and return it to sea. Finally, it extricated itself and with the shallow waves lapping at our feet hung around for a while. The kids were getting a little excited in its presence and all of a sudden as a bigger wave came in to shore, the octopus wrapped itself around Reo’s ankle as if trying to pull him back to the deep. Quick thinking on Shaky’s part, he lifted Reo up and disentangled the ankle and tentacle, both saved to live another day and much laughing by the rest of us!

The evenings were sat by the fire, alternating nights between Grommet & Deb and Shaky & Kerry’s camp, as the kids ran wild playing laser tag which we gave Reo for his birthday earlier in the year. It has night lights and a fun game to play in the dark.

Before we knew it, time was up although it felt like we’d been there much longer. It had been a great 5 days and sad to say ‘Bon Voyage’ to our new firm friends. However, The Cape was calling along with a couple of booked sea adventures.