Day 16 - Tuesday 16th April 2013 (Travelled 510 kms)

5.30 wake up to a beautiful sunrise, cooked breakfast and broke camp at 8.00 am with a big day of travelling.

After fuelling up at Caiguna's Roadhouse, we travelled the longest stretch of straight road in Australia (90 miles -151 kms) between Caiguna and Balladonia, then onto Norseman. A quick look around, then from here southwards towards Esperance, with our night stopover at the Salmon Gums Community Caravan Camp (or Ralph suggested the Salmon Gums shunting yard), around 60 kms from Esperance.

Day 17 - Wednesday 17th April 2013 (Travelled 205.6 kms)

In Esperance this morning, there were duties; laundry and tyres being top priorities. Much of the day was spent completing all the chores, including the washing of a couple of cars and caravans. After a fish and chips lunch, our destination for tonight's camp was Quagi Beach, around 70kms out of town. Enduring some rough patches on the road, the banksia forest lined both sides as the beach was approached. Camp sites selected and off for a beach walk. A sheltered bay, plenty of sand, water that looked inviting and many variations to the rock formations. The clouds were a little threatening and some rain was expected. Anne found some Quagi Beach Art; some very clever people having utilised materials that have been washed up on the beach (driftwood and shells). After dinner, a game of Canasta (Deb and Charlie coached by Ken and Ralph), before heading off for an early night.

Day 18 - Thursday 18th April 2013 (Travelling distances vary today)

On waking up this morning, after a good drop of rain last night, an early morning walk along the beach with more Quagi Beach Art to be found. Amongst the rock crevices, many crabs waited for their meals as the waves rolled in.

We are all heading in different directions today.

Deb & Charlie are heading off to Cape Le Grande National Park for some sightseeing. Tonight's destination being Lake King.

This morning Charlie and Deb headed back to visit Le Grande National Park which is 43 kms SE of Esperance. Fantastic roads and camping facilities if you are lucky enough to get a spot for the night. Visited all 3 bays/coves which had islands nestled in their bays. Also called "Bay of Isles" region. Squeaky clean beaches, lava flows directly into the ocean: lots of large monoliths and rock formations. Headed off then to Lake King for the night then onto Perth to visit Deb's family on Friday.

Anne and Ralph head south to Albany to collect some car parts on order. Tonight's destination being Denmark. (Travelled 506 kms)

Anne and Ralph made Albany at 3.30 pm , a lovely town with old buildings, very hilly and a busy harbour. Albany was the first European settlement in Western Australia, 3 years before the Swan River Colony (Perth) which was established in 1829. Albany was the place of assembly and departure of some 30,000 troops serving in the Great War and Gallipoli in 1914. In honour of this, it was Australia's first official place of the Dawn Service.

Pressed onto Denmark (around 50 kms) and camped at the junction of the Denmark River and Wilson Inlet (with amazing birdlife). Anne and Ralph ate at the Tavern, having an expensive but substantial meal.

Fi & Ken head northwest to Hyden to check out the famous Wave Rock. Tonight's destination being Corrigin. (Travelled 456.4 kms)

The Leyland Brothers made the Wave Rock famous for me as a child after watching many episodes of "Ask The Leyland Brothers". But the Wave Rock actually became famous after a keen photographer named Jay Hodges won world recognition for his photograph of Wave Rock at the 1964/65 New York World Photography Fair. Wave Rock was famous here in Australia when the photo was later printed in the National Geographic and Walkabout magazine. The granite cliff is 15 metres high and 110 metres long and it is exactly as depicted. Its round wave shape was caused by weathering and water erosion and the rock colouring is caused by the water from the springs running down the rock during wetter months dissolving minerals which adds to the colour. A walk around and up and over the rock was had and of course a few special photos to prove that we visited. A most commercialised spot now to cater for the tourists and here in the Wave Rock Village you will find a Miniature Soldier Display, The Lace Place, Wave Rock Wildlife Park, Souvenirs, a Caravan Park and Café, an Airport and a Resort.

Day 19 - Friday 19th April 2013 (Travelling distances vary today)

Anne & Ralph On waking, an early morning start to the Valley of the Giants Tree Top walk. It was an awesome experience. After the morning walk, a nice pie and coffee was enjoyed at Walpole. Beautiful forest country. Pretty towns along the way including one, Ballingup, where the streets were lined with scarecrows made of mops with buckets for hats.

Stopped for lunch at Kirup where Kathleen Bloomfield (daughter of friends) lives. Travelled through Perth along the freeway viewing a most beautiful sunset as we headed north. Large day of driving, doing 622 kms to catch up with the Challengers at Guilderton.

Day 20 - Saturday 20th April 2013 (203.9 kms)

Heavy rain this morning, with the sun peeking out a little later on. Ken had the Pajero mechanic dropping by to take a look at an engine rattle, which turned out to be not serious, but will need repairing in Geraldton on Monday morning. Anne, Ralph and Fi strolled along the beach after checking out the lookout overlooking where the Moore River meets the Indian Ocean. A tranquil town that is very popular spot for anglers, and a great holiday destination for families (as not too far out of Perth). After pack up, we travelled the coast to Lancelin where we purchased fish and crayfish for future meals. We visited Wedge Island which refers to a mainland settlement (but also has an island just located south of the coastal point). This settlement is unique and is home to approximately 350 leasehold shacks.

The Nambung National Park's countryside was treeless plains except for acres of huge native grass trees, and many white pristine sand dunes that followed the coastline.

Further north, but still within the Nambung National Park we called in to the Pinnacles Desert Discovery Centre. Here there is a most amazing view of ancient rock formations that are regarded as one of Australia's most unique landscapes, limestone pillars known as the Pinnacles. Some of these formations are jagged, sharp edged columns rising upwards to a point, others are smaller and rounded. Some were even arranged similar to the Stone Henge. It is believed that the Pinnacles were created millions of years ago as seashells were broken down into sand and then eroded by water and wind. An easy walk to the view the structures and walk amongst them, a quick lunch and onto Cervantes, home of the cray fishermen. Camped at Sandy Cape just out of Jurien Bay where we enjoyed our crayfish for dinner.

Charlie & Deb caught up with us this afternoon and so we are now all back together!!

A wonderful beach, and Keen Ken, the fisherman caught a spotted cod.