Easter week

31 March Saturday

Moora is the largest town between Perth and Geraldton. It was a cold night will get out big sleeping bag tonight, sun popping it's head out. Colin sent a text to Sandra before putting vehicle back together, took out footwell but can't get to anything. Went to local Autopro and able to buy the nuts,bolts and oil Colin needed, then walked to local school to look at old cars. The cars are on a creative car cruise raising money for the charity Variety (supporting local projects for children). This particular school needed to replace it's old school bus and had raised $35000 themselves and Variety gave them the other $35000 to puchase the new bus. There cars we recognised such as a Forc Capri,

Mustang, 2 Rolls Royce

even an old ute and Holden Panel Van.

It was good to see something else other than scenery and museums. The local Lions were doing free hearing tests near the camp so I booked in for 4pm, I passed with flying colours, so when I don't hear Colin it's because he's mumbling. Rang Marion and had a long chat and then rang Karen who is just recovering from a virus, it was good to hear about her house move and catch up.



1st April Sunday

Up early, washing done, bacon butties, sunny. Colin finished putting the vehicle back whilst Rose did the laundry and checked AULRO for where to get parts needed, again very helpful with people giving us names and phone numbers to contact. After lunch had a walk round town taking photos of the murals,

discovered the place was flooded in March 1999

and had to be evacuated to Perth. It was a once in 300 year flood. They had 2 further floods later in the year. Moora was voted "community of the year" in 2001. At the war memorial saw sculpture of "Digger Scrapiron".

Nice small town, bigger than you would think at first. Decided we need to fatten up a bit, Rose can pull her black skirt over her hips again, so we had burgers and onions in buns with chips for dinner, followed a bit later by chocolate-and we are still healthy!! Went for a walk after dinner to the clock tower, it has stained glass panels in each of the 4 sides which are lit up at night,

 really pretty.



2nd April Monday

Yesterday Colin tightened up new wheelbearing and discovered a crack in the chassis. Spoke to Tracey the caretaker and she told us about a mechanic, when we got there they did'nt weld but there was a guy in the unit behind that did, the young lad could do the welding while we waited, he even spotted another bit of welding and done that for a total of $100, did a very good job, Colin even found a scrap of metal to make a bracket to hold the kettle on the back door. Will stay another night in Moora. Visited the Telecentre and caught up with blog and finished reading the update Emma sent us in January, it was great reading about the good times they had at Christmas and New Year. Spent afternoon sorting stuff out ready for the off tomorrow. Had another healthy dinner cooked on camp BBQ. we have fellow tent campers, they are French and took nearly an hour to put up a pup tent, they look to smart to be campers.



3rd April Tuesday

Up early, cloudy start but not cold, leaving Moora today, left at 9.30 after saying goodbye to Tracey (oops forgot to pay for last night) On the road to Mingenew, passing through Carnamah saw a sculpture of a man so stopped and took photo,

there is a quarry nearby, might have something to do with that! Just driving into Three Springs and saw a helicopter with a man strapped to the side,

looked like he was inspecting a pylon, rather him than us. Decided to stop at Mingenew Springs Caravan Pkfor the night, it is another town on the "painted highway".

Arrived just about lunchtime, talking to the owners about the helicopter and they told us thats the way they put the lines onto the pylons(bloody dangerous), after lunch walked into town and saw the Big Weatsheaf sculpture Known locally as Big Ears

in Cecil Newman Pk. Mingenew has the biggest grain receival in the Southern Hemisphere. Went into the IGA to get a few bits and met a young English girl who was bought up in 30 Orpwood Way, Abingdon, Rose lived at number 13(surname Skeets)she lived next door to Jemma and Michelle, who were friends with Karen whilst we lived there for 4 years, what a coincidence. Back at camp sat and talked with the owners again Carol and Brett, they went over to the U.K. in 2009 for 5 months to follow the Ashes Tour. Good afternoon. Cooked our $3 steak in camp kitchen, had a walk round site then early to bed.



4th April Wednesday

We have a misty start, cant even see the wheatfields across the road, but it is warm, left site 9.10 sun trying to come out, then it started raining. Heading to Geraldton via Dongara, stopped before Geraldton for a coffee and a silver camper pulled in behind us, they were an English couple who had travelled extensively including Africa in a Unimog then U.S.A. we carried on talking to them for about an hour. Finally carried on to Geraldton and then onto Coronation Beach (30k north) where we stay for the Easter weekend, on internet cost was $6 per night but reality is $15 per night. After set up tent had a 50mtr walk to the beach. There is not a lot of beach but a lot of surf, water isthe warmest yet. In the distance you can see the grain barges off Geraldton Port. Got speaking to a couple on the beach with their 2 kids, they have been travelling over 12mnths and if a job offer comes good they will settle in Perth. Her name is Karen and her mums name is Robyn-another coincidence. He has said that he will buy the petrol from us, what luck. It has turned out to be a very hot day.



5th April Thursday

Warm night, had a walk to beach, surf not as high as yesterday but windier,sun is out. Rose had a walk to gazebo at back of camp,you can see for miles up and down the coast. The English couple we met came into camp today at lunchtime, then after lunch the heavens opened with driving rain, didn't last long before blue skies again.Walked to beach to watch the kite and windsurfers,

brilliant sight seeing the speeds they get up to in the surf.

 By the time for bed the wind had got up so took down the awning just in case.



6th April Friday

FRIDAY FACT;- IN AUSTRALIA THERE ONLY 3 PEOPLE PER SQUARE KILOMETER, MAKING IT THE LOWEST POPULATION DENSITY IN THE WORLD

Very windy night, wind has changed direction and coming straight in to tent, jumper weather to start the day. Mid morning walked to high gazebo Colin took photos of the barges,

beach

 and camp ground

whilst Rose found we had internet access and checked Emails. A couple called Deirdrie and Alan came up, they are in a purple caravan called "Rambling Rose",

it was the same people as at Moora Caravan Pk. Sun has come out and forecast is for 30+degs today. The campsite has filled up and there appear to be a lot of day trippers. Ian a Brit bought over a book for us after lunch so we were able to give him one back. Just after 2.30pm went over to have tea with Alan and Dee ("Rambling Rose") lovely chat about books, travelling,familly, weddings, just about everything really, nice people good characters. Had pancakes and custard for dinner-delicious. Lovelly sunset tonight, just a bit to late to take photo. Wind has died down a lovelly warm evening.