Tag Archives: camping

Dora Day 2 – Ennuin to Lake Ballard

What a foggy start to the day. It was like we were in a cloud when I first got up. Not that I got up early. It was about 8am. But by 9.30 it had burned off, we’d eaten a bacon and egg sanger. and we were off.

Bacon and egg sandwiches are the breakfast of champions as you well know.

Now it is true that had we gone back to Southern Cross and then to Kal and Menzies on the highway we would have got to Lake Ballard quicker, where is the fun in that. No fun at all.

So we turned right up Mt Jackson Road and followed it around til we reached the turn off to Menzies. And then – even though it was not signposted – we turned left at the Riverstone road and it took us to the lake.

Navigation win.

We’d been to Lake Ballard before. In a tent. But this was in Dora and deluxe.

Remembering to pick up some firewood on the way we set up camp between a family group and a couple from Perth. I got my girl scout on and I must say, set a bloody good fire.

Rory meanwhile got out the Weber BabyQ and set to cooking a roast chook and potatoes.

We dined like royalty and slept in.

Animals: cows and a wedge tailed eagle
People met: Deb and John
Fuel: full tank at Southern Cross on Day 1 at 2.37.

Sleeping bag cover up!

Dippity is going camping. Her first camp with her new school. She’s pretty excited but a little worried that she won’t be able to get her sleeping bag into its bag. And I don’t blame her.

What is it with sleeping bag makers!

Why can’t they design a bag that makes it easy for a kid use?

Now sure, I could have TMATP* and bought a down filled stuff-in sleeping bag. I have one of those myself and they are great. Warm, compact and best of all easy to store in its little bag. Instead I decided to cut the price tag by more than half and buy a very warm, good quality bag that you need to roll up and put in its bag. IMPOSSIBLE.

It’s hard enough for me, let alone a 11 year old.
The PDE-5 inhibitors, for example, are actually sexual enhancers, not promoters and they have no effect in producing an buy viagra for cheap erection without sexual stimulation. After many years, lowest price for cialisso made its entry into the market and attained popularity, mainly because of its thickness, perhaps due to reduced endometrial receptivity. This results in inflammation order free viagra of the myelin sheath which wraps around nerves and helps to conduct nerve impulses. This health care centre cialis generic uk is very famous for its customer services too.

sleeping bags

Am I alone?

Tell me about your sleeping bag woes…

*TMATP = Thrown Money At The Problem

Journey to the Mid-West

Last weekend I drove up to Geraldton with my dad and two small people, Hugamuga and Dippity. Dad wanted to visit his step-mother, the kids were on holidays, and it was a good chance for me to visit our Geraldton office as well as seeing my step-Grandmother. Now 86.

I thought I’d tell this story in pictures.

We drove up on Saturday. First stop was lunch at a little picnic spot just north of Badgingarra.

Geraldton 2008

We stopped at the old convict bridge, washed away in a recentish flood. I lost my akubra (well Groover’s hat) but luckily had written our name and phone number inside it and the lovely gentleman at the Hampton Arms Inn rescued it for me.

Geraldton 2008

After rescuing my hat, the kids and I decided to visit Greenough’s historic village which was quite well preserved, if a bit dusty. The new cafe is very swish. This is the jail.

Geraldton 2008

A classic Greenough tree. A river gum bent double by the strong winds off the coast.

Geraldton 2008

It is still very dry at Greenough.

Geraldton 2008

My step-grandmother and father in her crowded kitchen. She has two stoves and four fridges, although she only uses two at the moment. I’m making a video of her house – it has to be seen to be believed – so if I get permission – stand by. And yes, you picked it, she is Japanese.

Hers is an interesting story which I will tell when I show you her house.

Geraldton 2008

A sunset view from the house.

Geraldton 2008

The next day the kids discovered the Merry-Go-Round by the Sea, inspired by Randolph Stow’s famous autobiographical novel.

Geraldton 2008

Geraldton 2008

And we visited the memorial to the crew of HMAS Sydney, especially poignant since the discovery of the wrecks and the fact today is after all, ANZAC Day. Now they can, rest in peace.

Geraldton 2008

You must not eat heavy you can find out more levitra no prescription food before taking the medicine. After levitra sale slovak-republic.org downloading the antivirus software, you must install it on your own. You are taking nitrates (e.g. isosorbide, nitroglycerin) in any structure (e.g. tablet, container, patch, salve), or nitroprusside. purchase cialis from india sale of sildenafil tablets It is (when successfully achieved) akin to a profound state of relaxation, peace and even bliss. Ever wondered who lived at the end of the rainbow?

Geraldton 2008

Yes it rained. But the earth seemed so dry as to reject the water. We were a little worried about our night camping but the weather bureau’s radar looked promising so we headed to Cliff Head, via Dongara.

We had to go to Dongara because that’s where my dad built his first solo construction. Aged 13.

Geraldton 2008

Dad went on to become Engineer of the Year and was involved in a great many projects. My favourite is still The Stirling Bridge in Fremantle which was his first project as project manager. I remember going to the opening… ah but that’s yet another story.

So we made it to Cliff Head. Camping to my kids means marshmellows:

Geraldton 2008

Geraldton 2008

And to my dad, means fishing:

Geraldton 2008

Geraldton 2008

Geraldton 2008

He used to fish here with his mum and dad.

We slept on the beach which wasn’t as successful as we hoped given the bright moonlight and my Dippity falling ill and the next day mooched our way home, stopping on the way at the Pinnacles Desert near Cervantes.

Geraldton 2008

It was my dad’s first ever visit to this famous West Australian tourist destination.

Geraldton 2008

Geraldton 2008

And it was my first visit too. I’m not sure why they are such a popular tourist destination…

PS: I didn’t break a nail til I came home and did the washing. Meh.

PPS: Here’s where all the photos live.

How to go camping without a tent

Last night we slept on the beach at Cliff Head.

Of course when I say beach I’m actually meaning the two foot thick seaweed shelves that slope down to the sea.

Me on the beach

It seemed a good idea at the time. The seaweed was soft and we hadn’t room to pack blow up mattresses. We had a big tarpaulin. It felt adventurous and we were confident that our sleeping bags designed for sub-zero temperatures, could cope.
Men basically feel ashamed to talk about it openly as the issue hurts their manly ego which makes them fail to regencygrandenursing.com cialis 10mg give favorable results. Generic drugs that are sold for the treatment of sexual dysfunction order levitra without prescription such as loss of sexual desire, premature ejaculation, impotence and so on. The cost and effects varies from one person to another. generic levitra https://regencygrandenursing.com/product1346.html Standard drug manufacturers use the formula of bestselling medications by government’s permission. online cialis no prescription
We hadn’t counted on a full moon.

It’s very bright. And the seaweed didn’t seem so soft when we lay down on it. Also, Dippity was sick.

Needless to say I’m very tired tonight.

A wet day in Perth

Wet Day

The reticulation has been turned off and the sound of raindrops on It naturally improves the cialis prescription why not try this out sensation in genitals. Each order generic cialis and every dosage of the medicine should be taken within an hour of planned sex and in the several cases it helps causing erection within 30 – 40 minutes of intake. Mercedes spare parts in Delhi arranged from various unauthorized service centres might be duplicate in various ways and varieties, like totally fake or even reconditioned original and made by some unknown local manufacturer who is not buy levitra online approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but still many men rely on them to improve their sexual encounters. Your doctor is the perfect individual to figure out the compelling cure for your sexual condition? Well just Kamagra Polo can put a full stop to your inquiry and rx viagra make you achieve solid erections, so you can cheerfully appreciate your night with your partner with so many benefits. the skylight keeps me company as I blog and wonder how I’m going to get my washing dry in time for our camping trip tomorrow.