Albany to Esperance

Well Mark's day almost started at 1 am as he awoke due to wind, which none of us heard and then he's on the Internet checking the wind and if we are going to cop a storm. He was worried about the huge pine tree we happened to be camped under also. I think he was having flash backs from the time we were in Fremantle. He apparently was up for 2 hours. I did wake at some stage but that was later and it was quacking ducks. Glad I wasn't reminded of the huge pine tree up above. We all got up and got organized and had breakfast by the river. The ducks were all around and we thought, yes they can have some left over bread, so the kids and Mark threw the ducks some bread.

Mark and Lily feeding ducks

 We got on the road by 8.50am, not bad, but not as good as the Lorimer family by the sounds of things. They were on the road before the sun rose, how? I say.  It was the normal again, Lily saying,” Can I have the ipad", and at least we get a little peace for a while. We timed her this time, and it took her 40 mins to say’ I’m hungry". We have a special blue bag in the car with all snacks and each day it is filled. When empty, it’s too bad. We had aimed for a 3pm arrival at Esperance, and looked again in our Camps Australia book for a spot to stop for lunch. Ravensthorpe rest area looked good, it had toilets and picnic tables. This was something we would always do, looking for a suitable spot to stop. Mark was weary and he stretched his legs and filled the stomach. I had said this drive Dylan could have a turn in the front for 1 hour and then Oliver for 1 hour.  Okay I'm in the back feeling like a kid again playing games with Oli and Lily in the back seat. Mark pipes up and says;” Can you have a drive Hayley". He hasn't once asked me this all trip, but I guess he had a bad night worrying about weather."Okay", I said.  I was nervous I hadn't driven this trip at all and had forgotten how it felt with a camper on the back. We pulled over and I jumped in and off we went. It was no worries and I didn’t even know the camper was on the back. I kept at the speed of 110km and Mark drifted off to sleep. He must have been very tired to ask me to take over. I came across a road train, and I sat behind it, not too close, but as it was my first one I encountered I wasn't passing it at all. I hate overtaking normally let alone 3 carriage road trains. I reduced speed and sat well back, then came a stretch of straight road and the road train driver puts his blinker on, and I’m like that must mean for me to over take. But I didn’t want to; I’m a little frightened. Mark woke up; he must of sensed something and said go, pass him. Oh my, here we go, blinker on and foot flat to the floor to overpass. I was so happy when I got back into the correct lane and I felt a sense of achievement that I passed a road train. I had driven a whole 100km and ended in Esperance, and drove to the information centre to get some prices and ideas from them on where to stay and what to do. We stayed in the Seafront Holiday Park, and hence the name, we are on the beach frontage. We are not camped right on the front but nestled in away from any wind and are right opposite the toilets. Kids ran straight to the park while we set up and were done by 4.30pm, however due to my driving ,arrived in Esperance at 2.30pm, earlier than expected. It was the driver that got us there in better time, I think. 

Half set up at Esperance

We had to go do groceries so we all piled in and did the usual shop. Kids now know all about prices, and where things are in the supermarket now, they have learnt alot about shopping. Dylan wanted to buy everyone and ice cream, so he bought a packet of 4 Magnums from Woolworths out of his own money and shouted his brother and sister to a white magnum. Mum and Dad didn't have one so Dylan got 2. How kind is he doing that. Dinner and bed by 9.15pm. Little noisy as we are opposite the Laundry too. Oh yes have to mention this caravan park is the cheapest for a washing machine $2 a load of washing and $1 to use dryer, a bargain. Most caravan parks are $4 a load and the dearest I have paid is $5 a load and $6 to use dryer.