Day 47:

When we left Bremer Bay we drove north, turned east, then south for 170kms as we were just hopping from one bay to the next but via a huge National Park. We stopped for lunch at Ravensthorpe which is pretty much a one-horse town, a pub and an IGA but it is the only civilisation for some kilometres so a loo stop etc was needed. Lots of heath lands and varying colours with the wildflowers in bloom and paddocks of wheat as far as the eye could see. Arrived at Hopetoun and it has certainly grown in the 7 years since our last visit. Apparently, a mine is taking over and they are mining Lithium so the future is secure for some time. Nice little town on the water again, a pub, an IGA and two cafes is much the go at the moment but a lot of new housing and land being developed so am sure it will open up soon.

Booked into another bush camp caravan park near the beach, rustic, primitive but quiet. Went exploring the eastern side of the coastline to 2 mile, 5 mile and 12 miles beaches. Got to about 7 miles out of town came around a bend to a road closed sign and water as far as we could see. Met an old bloke walking back to town and he told us the land was flooded in Feb for the first time in 100 years and that's the way it is staying with the inland lake nearly joining the ocean and the farmers are not happy with the outcome as their land is underwater and they want it to be drained, not happening as far as this block is concerned. Huge storm coming in so we left him to walk (he was one of those old dudes that walks every day all day) and drove back and just made it back till we were hit with torrential big blobs.

Day 48:

Finally woke to a beautiful blue day and went for a drive into Fitzgerald National Park, yes the same one we did two days ago but the other end and they don't meet up. The old guy yesterday told us of the causeway being swept away into this park in February but they had rebuilt and only opened a month ago for the wildflower tourists coming as this is a huge part of the towns profits. Wow, we did not realise how huge the causeway was that had gone under, massive reconstruction to get a road across a waterway just for us lot.

What a beautiful National Park, we may be late for the season but saw some stunning samples of plants that are so unusual for us from the eastern states. We only travelled about 50 kms but took us from 9 till 2 to complete all the ins and outs of beaches. The parks people have done just the most amazing job of the facilities and drives in this area. So clean fresh and well kept, a pleasure to even go to the loo even if they are long drops. Lots of flowers, magnificent beaches facing the Antarctic so fairly fresh and windy but hot in the car. Rugged coastlines with varying degrees of rock formations. Just love the whites of the sands and amazing blues of the oceans and the native pristine bushlands. Beautiful part of Australia.

Off to Esperance tomorrow, Hopetoun has a caravan/car wash area on its way out and we plan on giving Gina and The Fonz a decent wash as the red dust is disgusting and Fonzie is going in for a colonoscopy in Esperance and we would be so embarrassed for them to work on him. Four days in another lovely town, hopefully the weather will stay beautiful so we can take more magnificent beach photos. Love to all. xxxx