Exmouth

Day 2 in Exmouth was more just an explore around. We first drove out to the lighthouse, at the very tip of the peninsula, then a short way down the west side, the views from the lighthouse were spectacular, especially what we could see of the westside.


We then drove past a turtle sanctuary where you can sit on the beach at night and watch the turtles doing what turtles do, unfortunately we never got round to doing this as fishing took up our nights, but more about that later.

Then we passed a clothing optional beach, a polite way of saying nudist beach, unfortunately we never got round to visiting that beach either I have no idea why we missed that one?

Then it was back into town for a game of mini golf and a look around the new marina that is being constructed, very flash with lots of canals coming in towards town, wouldn't mind getting our hands on a nice piece of dirt there, and building a nice beach house and park the boat in the canal, ohh dreams are free.


Janaya and Mango the emu go for a bit of a stroll


We spent the afternoon at in the pool and I managed to capture a video of Janaya swimming. She has amazed us as she has taught herself to swim out of sheer determination to be like the big kids, in the video where she is swimming is over Seans head and by the next day she was swimming the width of the pool, without taking a breath. I am going to enrol her in swimming lessons next term if I can get a spot.



Then It was off to the town beach for a barbie and a spot of fishing. It was my turn to cook the barbie while Sean and the kids cast a line out for a look. After a bite to eat it was off down the beach for some serious fishing, I had set up the back of the truck with a mattress and my laptop so the kids could watch a dvd or two while we fished.






Lines in and as usual I get the first bite, and a big one at that, finally I get to shore a baby shark, we hummed and ahhed about keeping it to try in the fish fry but decided against it and let it go, 5 Mins later Tayden was struggling with his line, so I helped him reel in Shark number two, Then it was my turn again and yep you guessed it another shark. We sat there happily till 11pm (and 3 bottles of wine) while the kids slept in the truck, we caught a few more sharks and lost a bit of gear but was a really fun night.

My Shark

Taydens shark

Taydens Birthday

Well my boy turned 9 on Tuesday and with the two cyclones putting us on yellow alert, Birthday plans were changed. We had planned a trip to Exmouth on Sunday, returning the day after Taydens Birthday, but all this had to be put on hold as the cyclones came and went. But by Monday afternoon the weather was good enough for us to set off, so bookings were changed and the decision to go down on Tuesday was made. We hadn't told the kids we were going so Taydens birthday was going to be not what he had expected. 5am Sean and I were up packing the car before we woke the kids at 5.30am. Tayden opened his presents and was stoaked with the junior golf clubs Sean had got in Perth.


After opening his presents from NZ and talking to Nana, Poppa and Mark, It was normally time to get ready for school and as they had had thurs, fri and mon off school,they were looking forward to going back to school. They were pretty excited when we told them we were going on Holiday for the week.

By 7.30am we had set off on our first Holiday since being here. The 5 and a 1/2 hour trip was the quickest and easiest trip I have ever been on. It really felt like we had just driven in a straight line from start to finish, with maybe a couple of bends. There were two roadhouse stops along the way and nothing else. I would hate to have to drive that too often as the monotony of the landscape could do your head in but it subtly it changed on the way.

As we got closer to Exmouth we spotted these termite nests, then after a while they were dotting the landscape for as far as the eye could see, so many of them, it kinda made you shiver at the thought of how many termites would be in each nest.




We arrived in Exmouth around 1pm and had a look around and liked what we saw. In the holiday park where we were staying there were these emus hanging around. Janaya was beside herself with excitement never having seen before, she was fascinated and for a little girl that's afraid of kittens and dogs, she wasn't afraid of the emus. She followed them around and just giggled at them. It was so cute.

We then went and spent a couple of hours in the pool, it was so nice to cool off after a long drive.

When we got back to our cabin, Janaya shrieked Mummy the mango is here, I had no idea what she was talking about but when I saw what she meant I just cracked up. It was the emu back again. With the correct wording of the bird sorted, we named this particular emu Mango and Mango was to become a regular visitor to Janaya for the next few days.

We went out to a nice restaurant for Taydens Birthday dinner and both Tayden and Kahayla turned their noses up at the kids meals, they ended up ordering garlic prawns, ka-ching ka-ching. lol I guess they are growing up. It was a very nice meal, but it was back home for the birthday cake, which wasn't up to my usual standards but I couldn't make anything too fancy to take away, but it tasted pretty good.

Cyclones Geroge and Jacob

This is a bit of a late post but never mind.

We woke last Thursday to a yellow alert, and no school. This is what I had been waiting for a good storm, As we had known that the cyclone could be coming our way for about a week, we were well prepared and ready. The only thing we were missing was Sean. He was down in Perth for a weeks fire training.

Tayden and I set about getting the shutters closed on the windows and the big grate things over the ranch sliders. (or glass sliding doors as the Aussies call them, they have no idea what a ranch slider is) Then it was a quick walk around the yard to make sure nothing was lying about, bikes put away etc. We were set.

ALL SHUT UP AND READY



A few of the Woodside people came around to see if we were organised as they knew Sean was in Perth. Which was nice and I just about everyone I know (which isn't that many people) rang to see if we were ok

It seemed like everyone else was panicking, by lunch time the town was out of diesel, so its not hard to work out the town is full of 4WD's with the exception of ours being a petrol, and the queues at the supermarket checkouts was over an hours wait.

I think they should rename yellow alert, PANIC alert. The alerts are BLUE alert (which never happened in our case) means the community should commence taking precautions, and keep up to date with the cyclones development, fuel up, stock up on food, tidy yard etc.
YELLOW alert means there is a significant risk of a cyclone occurring, secure all cyclone screens, fill containers with water. Schools close and people start thinking about finishing work for the day. Evacuations are usually made in a yellow alert, and a few people in the lower lying areas here where evacuated.
RED ALERT, means the big one is coming. no one is allowed outside until given the all clear with cautions. The people in Port Headland had to stay on RED for about 24 hours after the cyclone had crossed due to downed power lines all over the place and lots of flooding.

So we waited and watched with interest the cyclones track map which was being up dated every hour at this stage. The kids created a cyclone of their own in the family room, but they were happy.

THE CYCLONE IN THE HOUSE!!




Poor Sean was worrying and was frantically trying to get on a flight home that afternoon. He managed to get on one, only for the airport up here to close, just as they were about to leave, so he had to spend a stressful night in Perth.

The kids and I were fine, we all slept in my bed and had a great night sleep, by morning the cyclone had completely missed us and had given the people of port Headland (150kms north of us) a really rough night.

We were given the all clear but still no school. Sean managed to get a flight home that evening and we braced for yet another cyclone (Jacob) This one looked to be heading directly for us this time, and we were again on Yellow alert, but as it got closer it weakened down to a Category 1 and then at the last minute changed direction and crossed at port Headland again!

So the cyclones were a big non event for us here in Karratha. I feel sorry for the people of port Headland, they have a huge clean up ahead of them and sadly there were 3 fatalities, which occurred in the small mining camps. It could have potentially been allot worse if it did hit us with a Cat 4 as we have 3000 people in those little working mans camps on the edges of town, as opposed to 500 that they had up there. I hope the shire council people take note of the tragedies and make better shelter facilities for the people living in caravans and dongas, as our evacuation centre here is a cafeteria at the College which is an all glass small inadequate room that would barely fit 100 people.

THE BIGGEST EXCITEMENT WAS THE RAIN!

WICKHAM AND COSSACK

We decided to check out a new beach on Saturday so it was up early to beat the heat. Car all loaded up with everything it was off to port Walcott beach, near Wickham.

We had never been to the town of Wickham before even though its just 20 mins out of Karratha and we pass it all the time to go to Point Samson, so we decided it was time we had a look around. The town was nice and cleaner and somehow alot greener than Karratha, its smallness made Karratha feel like a huge metropolitan. We saw things that made us laugh, like the big massive dump truck in the kids playground, a fish body proudly displayed on a fence post, and the community chalk board at the end of town.


On the way out of Wickham going towards the beach we were stopped by an iron ore Train. I haven't mentioned it before but these things are 2.5kms long! So it was quite a wait.


We finally got the the beach and was surprised how nice it was. We had a nice swim and a bite to eat then set off for a bit of a walk to the other end of the beach. By the time we got back it was really starting to heat up so it was back into the car and off for a look at Cossack.





Cossack is an historical town and an interesting place to visit, the buildings have been beautifully restored and the town itself is like one big museum. Cossack was originally the first port in the North West back in the 1800's with thousands of people seeking their fortune in the Pilbara gold rush. It was also home of the fast growing pearling industry, but sadly once the pearling grounds were all fished out the industry moved north to Broome. Then a huge cyclone hit the town and it was finally abandoned in 1950. We also found a really nice beach (another one) called settlers cove but unfortunately by this time it was way too hot to go and have a swim.




Settlers Beach with Jarmin Island in the back ground



Then It was off home for a rest before heading out to Woodsides first social club event for the year, Dinner drinks and two movies. A very enjoyable night.

New Vehicle

We have a new vehicle, more of a shopping trolley for me. Don't get me wrong, I love the landcruiser but going shopping is always a drag with having to get the back Wheel undone and locked out of the way before opening the back, and it is very thirsty being a petrol.

The new one is awesome, so nice to drive, parallel parking is a breeze and general handling is awesome. We got it nice and cheap and have decided to spend a bit of money on it and "hot it up" a bit. We are going to get it lowered, get a new flare kit on it and spoiler, shiny new alloys and a big bore exhaust. I will be the envy of everyone in Karratha.

Towing Seans dream boat will be easier with this one too.

The kids will love going to school in it. and you can see why

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Things have been really quiet the last couple of weeks with the kids being back at school and Sean working weekends, the reality for me is that the holiday is over and this is my normal life now. I have even begun baking!

The kids are happy to be back at school, and Janaya is doing her last two days this week of half day kindy. Next week she will be doing two full days a week, which will really give me and Sean a chance to spend a bit of time together and do some fun stuff alone. Planning to play a bit of squash, some swimming, and Sean has promised to teach me how to play golf!!!! Having being part of a co-ordinating team for the onerahi Kindys Golf Tournament for the last 5 years, and My brother and Sean being avid golfers I am still yet to have my 1st game. (though I am a mini golf queen, that just doesn't count)

We are missing the greenness of home alot, but its funny, the longer we stay in this environment, the more it tends to grow on you, and you begin noticing the beauty of some of the landscapes etc. We drove off road after a swim at the beach the other day, and had roos leaping out at us along the way, the kids being quite taken with a baby one hopping along. There was a massive escarpment that dropped vertically down to the beach, and with the sun low in the sky, the different reds and colours shining from it was quite scenic. We are really glad we didn't buy a brand new car now, we seem to pop off road quite often and take a drive, something we wouldn't have done in a flash shiny Holden.





We took a drive out to have another look at the jump up, (I mentioned this in one of my first posts). Its quite impressive though a little more over rated than what I was expecting. It is classed as extreme 4wd driving but its only very short. It is steep and narrow (only just wide enough for a vehicle) with a very rough surface made up of loose smooth round boulders, which isn't really a problem but at the very top there is are two big rocks that you have to somehow negotiate your way over. You would definitely need someone guiding you up thru there, which I am happy to take that job and leave the driving to Sean. We are planning a camping trip out there soon when it cools down a bit. We will have to take the side steps off the wagon, even though it has had a lift kit put on it making it higher than most landcruisers, (The top of the bonnet comes up to the top of my shoulder and its higher than Tayden) I will probably need a ladder to get in it being somewhat vertically challenged.

Looking up "The Jump Up"



Looking Down





And finally the rocks at the top, the photo doesn't do it justice as those rocks look 5 times bigger in real life.

Back to school

The kids started back at school today and it was Janayas first day at kindy, They all had a really good day, and Kahayla was glad to be in the BIG school. It was a bit rushed to get all the kids off to their new classes this morning, Sean took Tayden while I took Kahayla to hers, we were going fine till I stressed Kahayla out by taking her into the wrong class duh!!! By that time Sean had arrived back so I told him to wait with her as she was looking abit lost, while I took Janaya off to kindy. Got Janaya to her class only to find out that she wasn't starting till the afternoon, as the teacher had split the group into two for the first day, so poor Janaya who was already grumpy as she had the idea of going home on the plane to go to kindy to see Helen, and announced in her BIG voice that "This isn't my kindy", had to be told that she was going home for the morning. We took her back in the afternoon and Sean and I walked out of the door 10 mins later leaving behind a very happy settled girl. We got home to a very quiet peaceful house and didn't quite what to do next, but we enjoyed the break.
Kids were very tired so we went into town to get a wendys icecream, which most of Janayas chocolate one ended up on her new uniform, fingers crossed it all comes out in the wash....

MY BABY!!!!!!

you gotta love the hats!!