Stuck in Albany

We had been in Albany, which is an old whaling town south of Perth, for about an hour when there was a bit of an incident which means we'll be here for a whole lot longer than we planned.

The Gap, Albany, WA

After finding a caravan park in town we went for a drive along the coast to see the Blowhole, Gap and Natural Bridge.  On the path down to the Gap, we passed some young guys heading back up to the car park after doing some fishing.  Just as we started to head back up one of the guys came running down to us to see if we owned a 'gold x-trail'. As you say 'yes' to a such a question you just know it isn't going to be good news!

Natural Bridge, Albany, WA

He explained, very apologetically, how he'd only just got his license and car a few days ago and as he was backing out his car door swung open and he panicked and hit the accelerator instead of the break . . .

It must have been quite an impact because the back door of the car, bumper and back window were damaged extensively.  Oh, and he also explained that he hadn't got around to getting any insurance yet.

That was on Saturday night.  We went and bought a tarp to cover the back window and cleaned out all the glass from the car, which was everywhere.  On Monday we took it to the smash repairers to get a quote and the young guy's Mum called us to say they would pay for the damage. We have a car on loan from the repairers so we can get around and our car should be ready on Friday.  So, it's all working out okay.

Hey I'm sure there are a lot worse places to be stuck than Albany.  There are lots of lovely beaches, yesterday we went to Whale World and today we visited Porongurup National Park.

Mutton Bird Island Beach, Albany WA

But when your on the road and then you suddenly have seven days to spend in the one place, well what can I say . . . we're headed to Margaret River next and I kinda wish we were stuck there.  Sorry Albany!

Rescued

It's the first time I've ever been glad that a car wouldn't start!

We set off for a drive to look at more of the stunning Esperance coastline, stopping along the way at Look Outs, etc.  At Observatory Beach, after a quick look, we all piled back into the car only to find that the engine wouldn't turn over. A little shocked, the car has been traveling so well and had an extensive service before we left home, we all got back out and stood looking in the engine.

Really we had no clue what was wrong - starter engine maybe Keith suggested?  

A lady who had been walking her dog on the beach and was about to leave came over to see if she could help.  There was no mobile reception and she was the only other person around.  Very quickly she offered to take me and the children back to her house to use her phone and hang out till the Roadside Assistance man came and hopefully got the car started.

So, I took her up on her generous offer.  We headed back to Deb's house, quickly covering many topics and by the time we reached her gorgeous property we felt like old friends.  The kids were very excited to meet her four alpacas, including two babies.

Deb is one of those people who is always rescuing people. She's widely traveled and after settling in Esperance with her husband four years ago has created a very beautiful lifestyle based loosely on permaculture principals.  There was so much to talk about, including the care of those alpacas. I'm sure we'll end up with some one day. . .  Deb has even started learning to spin their fleece.

Keith arrived all too quickly.  The Esperance man had been very prompt and quickly worked out that our cars battery had simply come to the end of its life. Luckily for us it chose Esperance that morning, at that beach, and not any of the few days before when we were driving across the desert!

Meeting people along the way always adds to the experience of traveling, but there was something more to meeting Deb and seeing how she lives at this particular time in my life. There were so many similarities to someone very close to me who is going through a difficult and frightening time at the moment that I was a little thrown by the whole experience.  But very glad of it none the less.

A new adventure

So, it has been a while since I've wanted to return to my Journal here at Pretty Essential.  A lot of changes have taken place over the last year.  Family have moved close to us in Blackheath, I've been working a few days a week, Keith has been working like crazy around the property and of course the children have grown up a lot.  My energies have been fully occupied to say the least!

Over Christmas and the New Year, I started to feel like we needed a little break to our regular routine.  The end of a school year always gets me thinking like this, but this time it was different. We have always talked of taking the children out of school and doing the 'trip around Australia' but I've always felt like the time wasn't right or preferred the idea of taking them to Europe instead.  But the more we thought about it the more keen we became.  "Let's just do it now while we feel like it" we kept saying to each other.

So, with very little planning we set about buying a caravan, finding someone to look after the dog, talked to the school and pretty much that was it - we were ready.  

At the end of January 2010 we drove out of Blackheath, NSW with a very vague plan to head west, then south and travel as far across Australia as we can in approx. 10 weeks!

Tonight, I right this from a town called Esperance in Western Australia, surely home to the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen.  We've packed a lot in already, and there are many highlights from Victoria and South Australia.  Keira and Caley are having a great time.  They're keeping a daily journal of life on the road and making the most of an extended summer . . .

Camping under the Koalas, Otway National Park, Victoria 

12 Apostles, Great Ocean Road, Victoria 

Flinders Ranges, South Australia 

Crossing the Nullarbor Desert, South Australia and Western Australia 

As we travel along, seeing new places for the first time, it feels very special to have my family together like this.