It was decided that on Thursday we'd all head off on a road trip. We picked Margaret River as our destination. We chucked our gubbins in the truck and we were off on our 4 hour jaunt. Nick wanted to drive so it was never going to be a non stop journey. We'd only gone 15 minutes down the road and he had us stopping at Maccas for breakfast. Bit further into our journey and another pit stop. This time so we could peer at the sea and have a wee. There was a car park and some toilets and that was it. There was nothing for miles except a general store so we stopped off for snacks. It looked like one of the scenes from a film where someone is kidnapped and has their face skin sliced off by a bloke with an apron, manky teeth and hair like a rats back. I really fancied some crisps but there was no way I was going in there. Instead I waited in the UTE. Not alone I might add. Richard was in no rush to go in their either so we both sat tight. I wasnt completely selfish though, I filmed Nick and Billy going into the shop so we could show the police if they never came out.

We'd read in a magazine that a place called Bussleton has the longest jetty in the southern hemisphere. Luckily it was on our way so we made a detour to see it.

We arrived at the jetty and at 18km long, its quite a size. There's a little train that runs from one end to the other but it really is quicker to walk. Would you believe they make you pay $2.50 just to walk on it! Whats that all about? We all parted with our cash with a promise from the little ticket bloke that the resuce boat that would scoop us out of the sea should we fall in, was included in the price. Sounded like a bargain to me! We dilly dallied along admiring the view and trying not to fall off the edge. Its surprising how far out to sea 1.8km is. We made it all the way to the end, turned around a headed back. It was almost a pointless excercise but I loved it. Except the breeze. I didnt love that. Made my hair look like nothing on earth.

By the time we got off of the jetting time was pressing on. Nick had insisted we worry about finding somewhere to stay when we arrive, so we hadnt prebooked anything. Every fibre in my body was screaming as this goes against everything I believe. I am a serial planner. I am not, and never will be, a fly by the seat of my pants kind of girl. We had no idea what to expect of the Margret River, what, if anything, would be there. It was actually a beautiful little town and I oohed and ahhed as we drove along the one and only main street. Its a quaint little place with the main street lined with boutique shops, coffee shops and restaurants. It struck me as a bit american actually. It was bank holiday on Friday so everywhere was really busy. We found a nice pub with a motel and sent Nick inside. He soon came back out. They were full. We checked 3 more places and they too were full. With each rejection I got more and more anxious. I had no desire to sleep in the UTE, thank you very much. Nick, ever the optimist was certain we'd find somewhere. I could tell by the look on Billy and Richards faces that they were not so convinced. Nor, might I add, was I. It was looking increasing like we would be driving back the way we came, through the night.

As a last, desperate attempt to find somewhere, we pulled over at 'Peppermint Brook Cottages' Again Nick leapt from the car and went bounding off while the rest of us sat in stoney faced silence. Just as we were expecting him to come back, out of luck, he appeared, tripping along, giving us the thumbs up like he had the whole thing planned! I let out as massive sigh of relief and hadnt realised until then that I had in fact been holding my breath! We were all stunned that he managed to find somewhere and Nick was as cocky as ever. I couldnt help but wonder why this place had vacancies. There had to be something wrong with it....

And there was. It was a cottage in the woods!! Am I the only one to remember the films? I know how this s*** ends. Having said that, once I looked past the fact there could be a man with an ice hockey mask lurking just being the tree, the place was really nice. It was spotlessly clean, (another of my issues), had 2 bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen and living room area. Everything you could need prior to being dragged into the woods kicking and screaming. Outside there was a table and chairs and a bbq/fire pit. All thoughts of being shot with a bow and arrow by an austalian inbred vanished from my mind and was replaced with the romantic notion that we could all sit together, huddled round the fire pit, chatting and laughing. We nipped off round the shops for provisions and came back to light the fire. What a faff! I was sorry I ever suggested it. The boys put some wood on and tried to light it. Nothing. Something to do with the wood being too damp. Or too chunky. Or too woody! Bear Grylls they are not so they chucked cardboard box on top. That ignited all right. Into a thick cloud of cloying, grey, billowing smoke. People at a nearby cottage asked if we were ok, which we clearly werent, as the boys energetically wafted the smoke, all the while acting like this is exactly what was meant to happen. That, coupled with the raging fire the people next door but one had, was enough to tip ,me over the edge and I laughed hysterically. They had a beautiful fire with huge orange flames dancing high into the air against the inky blackness of the night sky. We had a couple of pathetic little flames that flickered for all of two minutes and died. Obviously there was no option but to rib the boys endlessly about their lack of fire building ability. They reckon that if they'd had, drier wood, smaller wood, more paper instead of card, fire lighter etc etc it would have been a different story. Yeah, yeah boys! I believe you. Fella wasnt going to feel like a failure for too long though, and reminded us that he did in fact have a car racing medal!

Taking all of these things into consideration I was actually really brave and sat outside for ages. I didnt make Nick check for creepy crawlies once. Billy made more of a commotion than me and that wasnt even over a spider but a wasp! The sudden increase in creatures and the lack of a fire drew the night to a natural conclusion. It was as we were getting ready for bed that I spotted a lizard on the kitchen window. The outside I'm glad to say. It had a while belly and its little sucker toes were splayed wide so that it didnt fall. I wasnt satisfied just seeing its belly. I wanted to see the whole thing. There was no way, however, I was venturing out into the pitch black woods with god know what lurking out there to see it. Instead I sent Nick armed with my camera. I leant my moral support though and watched from the kitchen as the camera flashed about 10 times.

After searching under the pillows, inside pillow cases and at the foot of the bed, for any unwanted visitors I was finally able to settle down. I went off into a lovely sleep and was soundo until Nick woke me up by walking into the wall!

We all made it though the night (I was the only one ever in doubt) and in the morning we headed off into town for a wander. It was Anzac day so not all of the shops were open but it was still nice to have a stroll. It was a beautiful town and me and Billy decided it would be an ideal location for a weekend break. One that was a bit more well thought out than our own. Billy had heard that the beach was nice so having got directions from a woman in a gift shop, we were off to have a look. It never crossed my mind there would be a beach. I assumed it was all river, as its name would suggest. Having co-erced Rich into taking us we pulled up in the little car park. There was a crescent shaped beach on one side and the mouth of the river on the other. The sea was really choppy so there was loads of people surfing. Kids paddled and canoed in the shallow, still water of the river. We bought a much needed coffee from a bloke in a camper van and watched the world go by. What a life? Selling coffee to surfers and holiday makers from a stunning old camper van, overlooking the beach. There really are worse jobs! I got snap happy again and got some brilliant shots of the waves breaking on the rocks. The white foam leapt a long way into the air as the big heavy waves smashed against the rugged coastline.

It was almost lunch time by the time we were all back in the UTE and on the road again. We were due at Kirsty and Walts for dinner so we headed straight home. There was time enough for the boys to have a nap when we got back before we all headed out again. Much to our delight Kirsty had made a massive roast dinner. We were delighted! After all the junk we've been eating a roast was just the ticket. We were like a plague of locusts. I have to give Kirsty her due, she did a really good job. So impressed were we, it was the only topic of conversation for the whole journey home.