Setting off at mid morning, cruising gently along the freeway trying not to bash anything with the trailer, we take our last look at the Perth skyline when crossing the Narrows bridge. We head north along the Indian Ocean Highway with mixed emotions of excitement, joy, sadness, fear of the unknown and relief just to get going. We decide not to be too ambitious on the first day and stop for a picnic lunch at Lancelin before heading to the Pinnacles although we've both been there before. We feel we can't just drive by them. Petrified tree root, or whatever they are, they're still fascinating. We take the mile or so walk through them and then feel bold enough to unhitch the trailer, try out the new lock and leave it in the deserted car park (being more or less the last people there) so we could take the longer drive. It's far more organised, and there seems more greenery than before, but they remain worth a visit. Feeling pleased with ourselves we hitch the trailer up without too many mistakes and set off for Cervantes arriving just before dusk (not a good idea for the first night).

Firstly we park the wrong way round, but fortunately our electric extension is just long enough and we decide not to hook up the water. Then after struggling to remember the order in which to do everything, we find we have no lights or electrics working in the van!! Where's the kettle? What did we do with the tea? Can't get the gas hob lit and we forgot to buy some matches for a reserve way of lighting it. We're getting tired and hungry so make some frantic calls to Chris and Andy for possible guidance with the electrics. After some searching we find a loose cable has come adrift, but have we got a small enough screwdriver...no we haven't. The evening starts to improve when we find someone to lend us a small screwdriver, so by the light of a head torch the wire is finally reconnected, but still no lights. Much head scratching and some despair (are we really cut out for this) later we find the fuses. Thinking one might have blown, we start to move them around as they're not labelled at all logically or meaningfully. Eventually after refitting the main cable and reseating all the fuses we have success. The stove is started and a pre-cooked meal heated up and the mood starts to lighten. We survived but retire to bed a bit disillusioned and with some self doubts about our ability to survive the months ahead.