ROAD TRIP BEGINS!!

Day 1:

We left Fremantle on Friday, March 4th heading south to Busselton.Mike had to make arrangements for one of his company yachts at the marina there, so we stayed our first night there, and then he was setting sail the next morning.

Mike, Nick & I had a great time travelling down the coast from Yallingup to Margaret River....wine country!!We got a touring map which was peppered with vineyards to visit for wine tastings, and an assortment of breweries!!Our first stop was one Nick & Mike had visited a couple of years ago...Bush Shack Breweries.Upon first glance, I didn't think it was anything to spectacular....however, after I sampled the product, I knew why they wanted to return!It was the most unique & greatest beer ever!!Nick ordered me a Screamin' & Creamin'....which was pink and tasted like cream soda!!I LOVED it!!We got a taster platter with minis of all the kinds.....Kickin' Kola, Passionfruit, Chocolate, Strawberry Blonde..... best ever!Nick & I got some for the trip...the cream soda ones ;)Greatness has a price though....$$100 for 24!!Well spent though ;0)

Next we went to Cape Naturaliste Vineyard in Margaret River...we sampled one of the nicest Rose wines we ever had, so obviously we had to bring a bottle with us!We will try to bring it back to Canada with us to share....NO promises though lol!!

We also visited Saracen Estates & Duckstein Brewery....billion dollar estates that did not reflect in the calibre of their wine or beer!!Bootleg Brewery was next...enjoyed a ginger wheat beer shandy (2/3 beer and 1/3 sprite!!)....also fantastic!

Well that had to conclude our wine/beer tour for the day!! Hahaha!!We headed back and visited the Busselton Jetty before going back to the marina.The Busselton Jetty is over 1.8km long...the longest timber jetty in the Southern Hemisphere!We were there at sunset.... very beautiful!!

Road Trip Day 2: Sat, March 5th

Mike had left us to sail the yacht back to Mandarah...so Nick & I set out for some more adventure!First stop was A Maze'n Margaret River...a hedge maze that just opened this year, after being planted in 1994!There are 2000 cedar trees making up 1.5 km of possible trails through the maze.Very fun!We heard one guy was in there for 4 hours and still didn't make it out...so we thought finishing in an hour was pretty good!

We hit the next stop by fluke but it turned out to be incredible!It was a coastal walk in Ellensbrook...we thought there was a lighthouse there...but it turned out in was a trek along the entire coast of WA...so the lighthouse was about 50km away!!Needless to say we gave up after 3km of walking....but the scenery was gorgeous!Upon our return to the carpark...a friendly tourist advised that he had seen a dugong just a few moments before....luckily we did not see this large black SNAKE on our trek!

We didn't have much luck finding a caravan park since March 5, 6, & 7th is a long weekend here (Labour Day)...and the end of February is officially the last day of summer :0(So I found on the map a National Park Campsite, that seemed a bit out of the way....but I didn't expect the goat path we travelled on for what seemed like an eternity!!I wanted to turn back several times, because I didn't think that there would be a campsite way out in the willy-wags!!However, we finally found it and there were several people there....apparently popular with the local folk...and luckily our camp neighbour serenaded us with his Eminem music for hours :0) lol!!

Off to bed ...in a van down by the river...lol!!Those of you who know this Chris Farley SNL skit can appreciate this!! Lol!

Road Trip Day 3: Sunday, March 6th

We began our day by going to the Berry Farm for breakfast...Nick had been there in trips past, but he thought I would like it...so we made our way there.The Berry Farm is a vineyard but also grows pears & avocados.As we sat down with our freshly baked scones with jam and whip cream ;0) I understood why Nick thought I would enjoy this place.Tiny little birds hopped up on our table, and I was able to feed them whip cream from my finger!!It was so cute!

We set out for another adventure after brekkie....Giant Caves!!We were issued helmets and flashlights, given some general instructions and we set out to journey through the deepest and longest self-guided caving experience available here in WA. We scrambled over rocks, through gullies, up ladders - an awesome experience.... that made us both a little weak in the knees at times!!The view of rock formations, stalactites and stalagmites were incredible!

Off to Augusta for our next tour - Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse is a historic 115 year old lighthouse that is still operational today.It is the tallest lighthouse on mainland Australia and situated at the most southern point where the Indian and Southern Oceans collide!The tour allowed us to climb the 176 steps to the lookout deck...39 metres up with 360 degree views of the two oceans merging!!This lighthouse protects sailors from one of the most dangerous coastlines in the world.During the whale migration season (June to Sept) hundreds of whales seen in the harbour!!Our guide advised of a wonderful sight...baby whales and local dolphins chasing and frolicking in the harbour!!I would have loved to have witnessed that!

We spent the night in Hamelin Bay Holiday Park and met up with some very nice Aussie folks, who have offered for us to visit them at their home upon our return to Perth :0)We enjoyed probably the most awesome sunset ever - I will post the pictures...so beautiful!Sunset in this area also brings another local tradition...petting the stingrays!!There were four huge stingrays washing in and out with the tide, and some local people feed them fish and petted them!Very cool to see!

Road Trip Day 4: Monday, March 7th

We set off to Pemberton through the Karri Forrest!Sounds like a storybook....the size of the karri trees were unreal!We were driving along and suddenly Nick pulled off to the side of the road...I was oblivious at first but then I jumped out of the van (camera in hand)...two kangaroos were sitting alongside the road!I was so excited to see my first kangaroo!!

In Pemberton we went to the Gloucester National Park - home of the Gloucester Tree Lookout - a 60 metre tree that was used from 1937 to 1952 as a fire lookout.Neither of us felt inclined to climb 60 metres to the top...as there was no ladder!The steps were pieces of rebar that had been pounded into the tree!In the Warren National Park we had heard there was a similar size tree (Bicentennial Tree) that had steps, so we decided to go there.BUT...no steps!It was the same sudo-ladder as before!The only difference this Bicentennial Tree standing in excess of 60 metres, making it the highest treetop lookout in the world!It also had three lookout decks at different heights, instead of just one at the very top...so this looked a little better!I decided to give it a whirl and climb halfway up to the first lookout deck ....Nick agreed to stay on the ground and take pictures ;0)It was really freaky...and mmmm getting back down was worse!Though it was a great view and worth it...check that one off my bucket list!

Next we were off to Walpole and set up for the night in Peaceful Bay...very beautiful spot as well!We took in the sunset at the beach and then Nick suggested that we seek out some friends....ROOS :0)There are several farming fields close to the campground, so at dusk, the best time to see roos, we drove down and sure enough there were kangaroos everywhere!!Driving back there was a huge one bouncing alongside us in the ditch of the road....fantastic sight!!We even saw a baby kangaroo....so cute!!

Road Trip Day 5: Tuesday, March 8th

We packed up and left for Denmark...just got on the road as two adult and one baby kangaroos were hopping across the road!!I love seeing them in the wild!!Though I wish they weren't so close to the road!

The tree top walk is a major draw here...a 600 metre ramp gently rises from the forest floor, and the ramp gently sways in the breeze to give the feeling you are walking on the tree tops!!At its highest point we were 40 metres from the ground!!The tingle trees in this area are enormous....and this area is known as the Valley of the Giants.Some of these huge tingle trees are over 400 years old!We loved the tree top walk so much we did it twice!!It was awesome!!Australia has brought Nick & I to new heights!!

That is all for now...I am trying to catch up on my blogging, but there is just so much adventure :0)

Take Care & Love you all!!